The Kinematic Spine

The first thing you'll notice once you sit in Setu? Nothing. There's nothing to tilt, nothing to tweak. It's mathematics in place of mechanisms. From the moment you sit down, you and the chair move as one. It's form and function working together in harmony. It's elegance in the name of performance. Design for how we live and work now.

Geometry creates simplicity.

It all starts with Setu's single kinematic support spine. Made of simple compounds for the perfect combination of flex and strength, this geometric breakthrough cradles you and mimics your every movement without the need for adjustment

Dematerialisation

Only what's needed. Not a molecule more.
Inspired by nature with its spiraling shape and contours, this unique single support spine was perfected by technology. Every bend, every corner and every line were painstakingly shaped, reshaped and reshaped again so that each molecule falls in the right order, in the right place. All in the name of less.

Setu is complexity made simple.
Never has a chair required more problem solving, given us more headaches and taken more time to perfect. But, we couldn't be more pleased with the result: Less.

More to the less story.
Thanks to Setu's spine, chair components are greatly minimized. In fact, Setu features few parts and weighs only 18 pounds. And less chair also means less time, cost and energy needed to build it.

The details are in the materials.

From the tip of Setu's polypropylene kinematic spine down to its category-first H-Alloy base, there isn't a molecule we haven't mulled. Because, as with every Herman Miller design, our products and materials are one. This honesty in materials has long been the cornerstone of design at Herman Miller, and Setu firmly holds true to this principle

Foundation Innovation.

A proven material in other industries, H-Alloy aluminum has never been used in a chair. But, to us, this material made perfect sense for our base. Not only is it durable and anti-corrosive, the unpolished and uncoated aesthetic means no added labor or harmful toxins. The result—less eco impact and a lighter carbon footprint.

Setu's not-so-secret secret - polypropylene

After testing dozens of different materials for Setu's kinematic spine we discovered the smartest solution was also the simplest. Yes, polypropylene. The same material used to make toothbrushes and garbage cans. But it's the unique combination of two different polypropylenes—a thermoplastic polymer for the spine's composite and ethylene-propylene for the spokes—that helps create Setu's kinematic spine for the perfect combination of strength and flex in such a lightweight form.

The fabric of Setu's performance.

Setu's suspension material, Lyris, works in concert with the spine to distribute your weight evenly and conform to your contours like no other chair. You'll discover it's a finely tuned elastomeric material designed to provide superior suspension as well as aeration and temperature control. It's yet another example of elegance in the name of performance.

A good fit for anybody, anywhere

Setu is designed to fit all shapes and sizes. But, equally important, Setu is designed to fit virtually all spaces and places. Adaptable like no other chair in its category. Setu appeals to your functional needs as well as your design aesthetic. It can be the feature of any room or simply be noticeably unnoticeable. It's adaptability now. Designed for how we live and work now.

One spine means many options.

Thanks to Setu's intelligent spine that contains all motion within its shell, you will soon be able to choose from a variety of different bases to fit your design. As you can see, the possibilities are virtually endless. Stay tuned.