David-Mehaffey Industrial Design Manager at HNI Workplace Furnishings

The design inspiration for the No. 16 chair was drawn from automotive styling, featuring chiseled or cut body styling as well as angular trends in architecture. The design has an angular, modern aesthetic and represents an intentional departure from current HNI styling, with its thin, flat back frame and angular theme throughout all components. We wanted the No. 16 chair to be customisable, allowing customers to choose from colour options for the frame, mesh, and upholstery. Our goal was to reduce clutter and complexity, making it easy for the customer to understand and use.