London-based industrial designer Marc Newson has ventured into workplace design for the first time with his Newson Task chair for Knoll. Designed to be admired from all angles, the task chair has an organic and fluid appearance that directly nods to movement. 

Boasting a sleek silhouette that forms a continuous line, the seat cantilevers over its base and appears to be floating weightlessly. Framed in flexible nylon, the honeycombed rubberized, thermoplastic elastomeric skin is designed with a hammock-like effect and integrated lumbar support to maintain comfort through all movements, fidgets and shifts and postures, from upright to a deep recline. The floating seat is achieved through the chair’s T1 Control tilt, which has been flipped vertically and tucked beneath. 

With its highly considered aesthetic, the seat is more refined and sophisticated than a conventional office chair, with every surface, component and seams meeting Newson’s strict adherence to simplicity. Pleasingly tactile, the back and arms have a soft suede-like feel that is contrasted by the smooth knobs and handles that operation the internal mechanisms. In total, 10 different components have been carefully colour-matched to create a uniform expression. 

The back, arms, seat structure and T1 mechanism of Knoll’s Newson task chair are available in four colourways – Petal, Graphite, Umber and Ink – that can be paired with either a bright red or soft grey tension knob. A range of KnollTextiles and Spinneybeck leathers can be specified for the seat, and the five-star plastic base comes in black, grey or polished aluminum.