Hasta La Ideas

From a product standpoint, we’re living in strange times. It took decades for brands like General Motors and Herman Miller to develop the refined products they design and build today. But in a matter of just years, Chinese brand Xiaomi has gone from making smartphones to electric cars, and Swedish PC accessory company Fractal Design has now branched out into furniture.

Released this month, Fractal’s new Refine is an ergonomic chair with a distinctly Scandinavian aesthetic. The company says it’s built for durability, featuring an aluminum base and a glass-fiber reinforced frame. It’s offered in fabric, mesh or Alcantara (synthetic leather/suede) finishes.

Though it’s aimed at gamers (the company’s original target market) rather than office drones, it boasts the same levels of adjustability you’d expect to see from Steelcase or Herman Miller:

What you may find shocking, if you’re used to seeing the four-figure amounts that ergonomic office chairs from reputable brands go for, is the Refine’s price: Just $550. Early reviews have been pretty strong, but we’ll have to wait for years to see whether it’s really as durable as offerings from the established brands.