In a sea of office furnishings, it can be hard to tell the difference between an adequate office chair and an outstanding one – until you sit in it. Until you feel how the chair supports the shape of your body, responds to your movements, and adapts to your needs. Even then, the marks of a truly world-class office chair will only become evident over time – when its solid design and high durability keep you comfortable and focused through years of work.
Humanscale is a manufacturer whose chairs meet all these criteria easily. Praised as “the gold standard in office seating” by the New York Times, Humanscale furnishings are meticulously engineered with ergonomics in mind at every layer. That’s why Copenhagen, as a retailer of highly functional modern furniture, is proud to carry Humanscale seating as a highlight of our office collection.
Recently, we interviewed Heather Fennimore, President and Co-Founder of Humanscale, for an inside look at what sets them apart as a company. Read on for a deep dive into Humanscale’s approaches to design and sustainability, and how they are embodied in their products we carry at Copenhagen.
In 1983, Humanscale was founded by Bob King in New York. Throughout the decades, their most notable product designer has remained Niels Diffrient, considered by many to be the father of ergonomics. “Niels revolutionized the world of design by focusing on human experience and by creating products that enhanced the human condition,” Fennimore explains. “He was one of the last living 20th century modernists, along with Charles Eames and Florence Knoll.”
It was in 1999 that Diffrient debuted the Freedom Chair with Humanscale, after 10 years of working on the prototype. “Niels introduced the first and only weight-sensitive mechanism in the Freedom Chair, which revolutionized the seating industry,” says Fennimore. “This unique feature automatically adjusts tension and reclining support based on the user’s body weight, eliminating the need for knobs or levers and relying solely on physics and gravity.”
Another Diffrient invention was the gas-powered cylinder for height adjustment. Previously, one would have to rotate the seat of the chair on its base to make it taller or shorter. Pressing a lever to achieve this made the process much simpler.
Today, gas-powered cylinders and weight-sensitive recline functions are ubiquitous in office seating – a testament to how influential, innovative, and essential Diffrient’s work with Humanscale continues to be.
At the core of Humanscale’s design philosophy is a consideration for ergonomics, which Fennimore defines as “the science of fitting the tools and environment to the worker, rather than forcing the worker to conform to the workspace and compromise their posture and wellbeing.”
Indeed, take a closer look at any Humanscale chair and you’ll notice features that let it adapt to the human body in a way that few other products do. For instance, the Liberty and World models feature form-sensing mesh in a tri-panel design inspired by tailored clothing – this creates a backrest that is uniquely supportive yet flexible. The Freedom Executive model has indented cushions that reduce pressure on your tailbone and spine, as well as an articulating backrest and headrest that cradle your body in any position.
Humanscale chairs are also intuitively adjustable for a wide range of body types and seating preferences. Seat height, seat depth, and armrest height are easily changeable, and multiple models also offer customizable armrest depth, backrest height, and more. Even the upholstery can be tailored to your personal style from Humanscale’s extensive library of fabric and leather options.
In addition to chairs, Humanscale creates a multitude of other ergonomic products for offices and workspaces. These include lift desks, keyboard trays, monitor arms, lighting, and foot rockers (which improve circulation and posture while sitting). They even offer ergonomic consulting services and employee trainings, having conducted over 200,000 assessments for companies around the world. All in all, Humanscale’s vision is to design workspaces that “maximize space, eliminate discomfort, and maintain neutral posture, as simply and functionally as possible all day long,” says Fennimore.
Humanscale furnishings are more than just comfortable – they embody timelessness, longevity, and a commitment to environmental responsibility. Fennimore explains, “Our design process can take 2-15 years depending on complexity, technology, material sourcing, and quality control. We don’t believe in creating products that are fashionable only; they must be simple, functional, and sustainable.”
Indeed, Humanscale has taken groundbreaking steps to become a true industry leader in sustainability. “We were the first commercial furniture brand in the US to be certified as B Corp, the first to remove Red List chemicals from our products, and the first to have all our facilities True Zero Waste certified,” Fennimore states.
As a B Corp certified company, Humanscale meets highly rigorous standards for social and environmental accountability. All their factories utilize solar power and rainwater harvesting, and all the plastic in their products is either recovered from the ocean or ocean bound (at risk of ending up in the ocean). They also prioritize fair and safe working conditions for employees and give back to local communities.
Humanscale goes beyond reducing their carbon footprint, focusing on their carbon handprint (positive climate effects) as well. For instance, each time one of their Freedom, Liberty, or World chairs is manufactured, the company takes positive actions to account for 110% of their energy, carbon, and water values.
“We’ve always taken the environment seriously; it’s in our DNA,” Fennimore affirms. “Our goal is to leave the planet in a better place and set the bar high for others to follow.”
At its heart, Humanscale has always been about more than just office furnishings. They stand for innovative design, holistic well-being, and care for the environment. Reflecting on Humanscale’s past, present, and future, Fennimore says, “We started when technology was introduced as part of work (the beginning of the personal computer era). All our products have evolved, but our pillars have never changed; we focus on Simplicity, Functionality, Sustainability, and Longevity.”
Explore our collection of Humanscale chairs online or in-store and discover how each one represents an investment in working better, living better, and protecting the planet.