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Diffrient World

Name: Diffrient World
SKU: diffrientworldchair
Rating: 4.8 (24 reviews)

Diffrient World is Humanscale's first foray into all-mesh task seating. Designer Niels Diffrient wanted to create the most minimal, full-function task chair ever made. With an innovative tri-panel mesh backrest that provides custom back and lumbar support and a lightweight design, Diffrient World is, like all of Humanscale’s products, simple, beautiful and functional. The design eliminates the need for traditional mechanisms, instead using the laws of physics and the sitter’s body weight to offer perfect recline for each individual sitter. Diffrient World offers the ultimate user-friendly sitting experience.

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Diffrient World

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Niels Diffrient designed Diffrient World to offer ease of use and effortless functionality. With weight-sensitive recline that adjusts automatically and armrests that are attached to the back of the chair so they move with the user for ergonomic comfort, Diffrient World provides custom comfort for every sitter. A high quality, affordable task chair with minimal parts, Diffrient World was built with longevity in mind and will look as good in ten years as it does today.

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Features

Invisible Recline Mechanism

Diffrient World uses the laws of physics and harnesses the user’s body weight to automatically provide the right amount of recline for every individual, every time. Its groundbreaking mechanism-free recline action leverages two parts of the chair’s frame to provide automatic, balanced support throughout the full range of motion for maximum support.

Responsive Bracket

Diffrient developed the chair’s back using the laws of physics, which eliminates the requirement for a separate lumbar support, which tends to create a pressure point and requires manual adjustment. With patented Form Sensing Mesh Technology, the backrest perfectly conforms to the sitter’s entire back as if custom made for them.

Sitting on Air

A truly lightweight chair, Diffrient World replaces the standard cushion seat with a low-abrasion, non-stretch mesh. To maximise comfort, Diffrient eliminated the front edge of the chair, solving a perennial problem of hard edges placing pressure on the knees and contact stress behind the thighs, allowing long-term comfort and total supports for every sitter.

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SHIPPING

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WARRANTY

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RETURNS

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PRODUCT CARE

Download detailed leather care and stain removal instructions (PDF).

REVIEWS

REVIEWS

A Big Step in the Right Direction

First, I love the all mesh concept; it keeps the chair cool and feels like it conforms more to the body. Second, I like that there are few adjustments. However, the slickness of the mesh, and would venture other upholstery type makes me feel like I am sliding off the front of the chair as I lean back. Missing is the tilt of the seat pan as one reclines. Perhaps the guides that allow for forward movement during recline should have an upward swing to counter this and add to the feel of reclining.

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Daniel B.

Great chair

Easy to assemble super comfortable and great looking chairs. These can be used in many settings and will fit in without issue.

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Gary O.

This is one of the most comfortable desk chairs that I had found. It feels like sitting on air. Could use a bit more back support. But overall it is a very comfortable/solid chair.

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Sandy L.

DESIGNER
DESIGN STORY

DESIGNER

Niels Diffrient

Niels Diffrient's designs are grounded in the philosophy that form follows function. His work has spanned generations, consistently looking past trends to reinvent the tools we use for daily living.

With an academic foundation in design and architecture and a degree from Cranbrook Academy, Diffrient channels his knowledge of engineering, architecture, and human factors into the creation of highly functional and aesthetically timeless designs.

From his early work with the studios of Eero Saarinen, Marco Zanuso, and Henry Dreyfuss to his current work with Humanscale, Diffrient's visionary talent has been widely recognised. Included among his many honours are the 2002 National Design Award from the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, and the 1999 Chrysler Design Award. In recent years, Diffrient has focused his energies on designs for the office environment, particularly seating--a category in which he has pioneered numerous breakthroughs, from pneumatic cylinders for seat height adjustment to weight-activated automatic recline.

Niels Diffrient's designs are grounded in the philosophy that form follows function. His work has spanned generations, consistently looking past trends to reinvent the tools we use for daily living.

Design Story

"If every chair was made the way the World Chair was, we would cut in half all the material used for task chairs."

Niels Diffrient, Designer

Drawing inspiration from the three dimensional approach tailors take when creating men’s suits, Niels Diffrient wanted to build a minimal mesh task chair with a back that automatically fits the user. He collaborated with textile designer Elizabeth Whelan to create a flexible but strong non-stretch mesh, so the backrest would take on the shape of the sitter. He also wanted World to be minimal but highly functional, so he worked to eliminate tension mechanisms, knobs and adjustment levers. The result is a task chair that is simple but beautiful, supporting each user instantly and changing the way people sit.

"If every chair was made the way the World Chair was, we would cut in half all the material used for task chairs."

Niels Diffrient, Designer

DETAILS

TECH SPECS

Chair Width: 660mm (25.98”) Arms / 495mm (19.49”) Armless
Base Size: 635mm (25”)
Seat Height Range: 371 - 495 mm (14.61” – 19.49”)
Recline Range: 17° recline + 8° backrest tilt
Chair Weight: 14kg (31 lbs.) arms / 12.9kg (29 lbs.) armless
Stackable: No

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TEXTILES

Monofilament Stripe

Silver Check

Pinstripe

Catena

Lotus

Remix

Corde 4

Fourtis

Sprint

Oxygen

Ginkgo

Monofilament Stripe

Made specifically for our tri-panel, mesh-backed chairs, Monofilament Stripe has an elastic composition that achieves strength through its distinctive weave structure to provide unmatched support. Its classic stripe pattern is available in various striking colors.
Mesh | Designed by Elizabeth Whelan