Humanscale Diffrient Occasional Chair
DIFFRIENT OCCASIONAL CHAIR
DIFFRIENT OCCASIONAL CHAIR
Designed by Niels Diffrient
Diffrient Occasional is a stackable multipurpose chair that is suitable for a variety of office and group settings.
A strong, linear backrest made with proprietary non-stretch mesh creates a three-dimensional form — fitting the user like a perfectly tailored shirt.
Occasional can be customised to match the Diffrient World, Diffrient Smart or Liberty ergonomic task chairs.
Urethane arms actively resist damage, no matter how often the chair’s stacked or moved. Form-sensing mesh creates custom comfort for every user.
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.
INFORMATION
BRAND
Humanscale
PRODUCT TYPE
Chair
PRODUCTION
Made in United States
CUSTOM COMFORT
Form-sensing mesh creates custom comfort for every user.
COLLECTION
Diffrient
RECLINE RANGE
8° backrest tilt
ENVIRONMENT
Indoor
DESIGNER
Niels Diffrient
FINISHES
- Black (Backrest Frame)
- Light Grey (Backrest Frame)
- Chrome 3 (Cantilever Base)
- Black Powder Coat (Cantilever Base)
- Silver Powder Coat (Cantilever Base)
ABOUT THE DESIGN
Diffrient Occasional responds to the sitter and adapts to the contours of the body. Featuring expertly welded joints that create a continuous frame, Occasional is suitable for any office or home environment. It can be configured to match our Diffrient Smart, Diffrient World or Liberty task chairs for a consistent and restrained look.
STACKABLE
Stackable Up to 5 chairs
CHAIR WEIGHT
9.8kg (21.5 lbs.)
DIMENSIONS
- Height : 932 mm (36.68")
- Width : 590 mm (23.23”)
- Depth : 538 mm (21.19”)
ENGINEERED FOR LONGEVITY
The chair’s high-quality materials and sturdy frame are built to last. Capable of stacking up to five chairs high, Occasional's urethane arms are designed to resist damage — even when moved and stacked.
CUSTOMISABLE OPTIONS
Available in a variety of patterns and finishes, you can design Occasional to suit your aesthetic needs. Its restrained and elegant style will blend into any environment.
ERGONOMIC COMFORT
Using the laws of physics as opposed to a manual adjustment, our patented Form-Sensing Mesh Technology provides automatic lumbar support for every user.
WHAT IS A NET POSITIVE PRODUCT?
Diffrient Occasional is Living Product Certified, meeting the most rigorous sustainable manufacturing criteria to date. This means that Diffrient Occasional is climate, water and energy positive. Every time we make these products the planet is better off. With a mission to create a healthier world, we are proud that over 60% of our products are certified net positive.
DESIGN STORY
“I keep thinking, 'how much simpler can this be?' and come up with the end result.”
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 chair with a back that automatically fits the user. Every detail on Diffrient Occasional was carefully considered throughout its creation, from its stackable functionality to expertly welded joints that appear clean and smooth to the eye. The result is a simple but beautiful design that raises the standard for multipurpose seating.
