Niels Diffrient's Freedom Chair (1999) was a breakthrough in ergonomic task seating. Often, ergonomic chairs are likely to be improperly positioned, resulting in the creation of more problems than they solve. The Freedom Chair is simpler than other chairs, eliminating many manual adjustments and creating instead a system of internal mechanisms that respond to the user's needs. A unique counterbalancing tilt mechanism self-adjusts according to the user's weight and movement, thus eliminating the need for manual fixes. Any adjustments can be easily made while the user is seated for accurate positioning. The seat cushion provides excellent shock absorption and weight distribution for unmatched comfort. The Freedom Chair was awarded the 2002 National Design Award from the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Made in U.S.A.