Role: Design Strategy; Project Management; Furniture Design
Legendary furniture manufacturer, Knoll International, engaged our team to develop a product line for the changing workplace. With the influence of start-ups, even established corporations have embraced a culture of collaboration, agile workflows, and blurred lines between work and leisure. We set out to determine what's next in office systems, and crafted a strategic vision for a new workplace system.
Scope: 1) field research and synthesis of market data to identify opportunities 2) brief creation and conceptual frameworks for design 3) product design.
With a focus on knowledge workers, we gathered research, ran a competitive audit, and observed a range of work settings from third places to corporate and co-working spaces. We articulated insights around the needs of our target audience as they move through different modes of activity through the day. We formulated a strategy for a system of parts that support the unexpected changes in today's workplace, whether it's impromptu brainstorming or sudden changes in teams. Our new system would not only support the many transitions and shifts through the day, but allow for cost-efficient changes in floor plans without construction work.
Our design strategy introduced a modular system of moveable architecture and parts that allow the workspace to grow and change without the costs of rebuilding. Portable walls, semi-permeable rotating panels, and flexible seating support cost-effective adjustments in the office floor plan without specialized labor.
Sliding and rotating panels allow for easy conversion of one large space into multiple smaller spaces.
Portable walls function to create visual separation, and also to serve as upright work surfaces.