Tag Archives: office furniture

Office furniture concept was made with accessibility front and center

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We’ve seen the birth of a new kind of computer chair, one that integrates not only the computer but even the monitor as well. While these gaming-oriented behemoths are equal parts impressive and bewildering, they are, like most office and computer furniture, made for the majority of able-bodied people, to the exclusion of those with physical disabilities. This latter group often needs more specialized equipment, but few actually design office furniture with accessibility as the top priority. In contrast, this furniture concept was made specifically for people with physical disabilities, and it creatively combines ideas and mechanisms from existing products or systems in order to create something that is new yet also familiar to the people who will be using them.

Designer: Divyanshu Garg

There are many types of physical disabilities and impairments, but for those who can still do some form of office work or another, the most common type is a walking disability. These people can still work with their hands and even use a computer, but their mobility is hampered, making it difficult for them to go places. Some even have to use wheelchairs, which could be a major obstacle to productivity and comfort, even at home. There are, however, also plenty of tools and devices designed around this kind of disability, but very few are meant to make office life more bearable or even more enjoyable.

This office furniture thesis tries to combine some of these features with other mechanisms that people from all walks of life might be familiar with. Everyone will want proper lighting and a comfortable chair, for example, but not many of these are made for those who aren’t able to walk. In this concept, for example, the chair shifts forward to facilitate moving from the chair to a wheelchair, something that is already used in cars made for accessibility.

The person, however, might not even have to move at all, presuming the office, home, or facility is built with a system that can move the furniture around. The concept allows for a motorized track running across the ceiling for that very purpose, like trains on a rail. There’s also a desk that pivots and slides in and out as needed, similar to those chairs used in some classrooms. The entire ensemble is enclosed in an open cubicle shape with smart glass that can go transparent or opaque, depending on whether the person inside needs visibility or privacy.

This is admittedly a rather ambitious design, but with the exception of the motorized ceiling track and privacy glass, it might actually be possible to implement. The thesis does at least demonstrate how an accessibility-focused design process can make a huge difference, one that could ironically benefit even those without disabilities in making their office life a bit more convenient and comfortable.

The post Office furniture concept was made with accessibility front and center first appeared on Yanko Design.

This height-adjustable table with a conical base supports sitting + standing working positions

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Since the transition from home offices to actual corporate offices has begun, it’s important to ensure that employees feel comfortable, productive, and motivated in their workplace. Adding the right furniture designs can either make or break the environment of an office – the perfect work desk or an ergonomically designed chair can amp up an employee’s productivity immeasurably! And one such furniture design I recently came across is the Follow Meeting Cone.

Designer: Mara

Designed by office furniture brand Mara, the Follow Meeting Cone is an intriguing table with a conical base and an adjustable tabletop that can be controlled and operated using a mechanical component. The Follow Meeting Cone utilizes the brand’s pioneered height-adjusting mechanism that can support both sitting and standing working positions effortlessly!

The table’s mechanical system allows the table to be raised or lowered, enabling you to position it at the angle you want to work in. The base and top are connected using a metal telescopic-element that is visible once the table has been raised.

The table’s interesting conical-shaped base serves as the star of the design and gives it a sculptural silhouette. It adds a fun element to the table, allowing it to stand apart from the other dull tables you usually find in offices. It comes in a range of different colored finishes, allowing you to pick a color that perfectly complements your office space. The cone is designed to be used in commercial workplaces, as well as home offices or residential spaces.

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This colorful collection of office furniture adds a casual + cozy element to the modern workplace

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Since the transition from home offices to actual corporate offices has begun, it’s important to ensure that employees feel comfortable, safe, and motivated in their workplace. Adding an element of warmth will surely help employees to ease into their new work routine, after spending more than a year working from home. And a great collection of furniture could really help with that – such as the ZooZoo collection by Narbutas.

Designer: Annie Lee for Narbutas

Designed by Annie Lee for the workplace furniture brand Narbutas, the ZooZoo collection includes an intriguingly high coffee table and a complementing pouf. The sleek coffee table is 27.2 inches tall and features a metal base, as well as a smooth top. The coffee table is available in two sizes, and the metal base can be customized to the color of your choice.

“Regular coffee tables are not convenient when used in meeting settings due to their low height,” explained Narbutas. Hence, Lee made the coffee table higher than usual, making it suitable for informal meetings in lounge areas. Besides the coffee table, the collection also includes a series of matching poufs available in a variety of colors and textiles. The poufs are accompanied by cushioned seats

“Thanks to its multifunction, ZooZoo saves space by providing a surface, a seat, and a storage compartment in one unit,” said Narbutas.

The poufs can be neatly stowed under the coffee tables, and also boast handy storage nooks to hold books, folders, and other miscellaneous items. The entire collection is available in a single color, or a two-toned option, hence allowing it to suit diverse interior spaces.

The post This colorful collection of office furniture adds a casual + cozy element to the modern workplace first appeared on Yanko Design.

This zero gravity workstation puts you in laid back position so you focus on the project not your back

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A good thing about visiting a dentist is that recliner with a lumbar curve you lay back on while a random dude fiddles with your tooth. What if there was a similar option to work out of? Wish granted; enter the LEVUS!

If you spend most of your productive hours of the day in front of a computer, it would be a miracle if back pain and sitting discomfort is not a part of your everyday routine. Current offices are built to ruin our backs and health, and that didn’t even change with the work-from-home overflow during the pandemic. Our backs, shoulders, and necks are still under the painful pressure of sitting for long hours on traditional chairs.

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Irrespective of how comfy they vouch to be, the basic structure of the chairs remains the same: vertical spine pressure is the final outcome. With the laid back setup, LEVUS presents itself as a perfect solution for WFH and modern office cubicles struggling slouching workforce. The LEVUS is basically an adjustable set-up where you work in a reclined position with all the important equipment ergonomically placed around you.

Built for comfort, the idea of LEVUS is compelling to invite a gamer in with a widescreen display cocooning you as you have no mercy on the opponent slouching in his gaming chair. Even though the gaming industry will have an inclining intention to boost the sales of something as comfy as this; the workstation can be a great companion for creators and everyday office warriors alike, especially those who hate being forced to sit straight. They can just get into the contraption, lean back, and reduce the vertical pressure on the spine.

The solid and lightweight aluminum structure of the LEVUS is extremely flexible, catering ergonomically to user needs. Shipped flat-packed, the structure is easy to assemble, you can rock a number of monitors, adjust the headrest, have the mouse station positioned on either side, and roll down the keyboard table for the most comfortable work/gaming possible.

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A sustainable modular seating designed for the privacy-stricken post-pandemic workforce

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The pandemic has given birth to a seclusion workforce that is now more concerned about safe distancing and privacy. Privacy is more than a buzzword; it is perhaps a necessity these days, especially on open office floors. The workforce is used to private, secluded work life at home; transitioning to the social lifestyle in an open office theme is going to take a while.

For this mindset of post-pandemic office goers, designer Dymitr Malcew has designed what is a flexible, private seating solution. Dymitr is a Singapore-based designer and architect reckoned in the crowd for his human-centric furniture and structures. There have been many future-forward designs of desks and private residences that the designer has idealized over time. But what really stands out in his portfolio – and aligns with the furniture collection in discussion – is the cubicles finished with interactive screens and modular furniture to function as meeting rooms in cramped office spaces.

Designer: Dymitr Malcew

Just personalizing the concept further, Dymitr has arrived at soft upholstered, comfy seating collection to create a private but friendly atmosphere. Dubbed Futo, the furniture collection is designed for DYD. It’s a flexible option that touches the tangent of lounge furniture and blurs the line between hospitality-ready and office furniture. This is reminiscent of its appearance, which first up reminds of the high-back, overpowering furniture common in hotel lobbies. The curvy and preferably organic Futo collection offers users psychological safety (by providing seclusion in space) in addition to snugly comfort.

By offering the workforce flexible office furniture, Futo collection can be used in various configurations. The modularity is backed by sustainable construction and ensures private working zones and common meeting spaces without much fuss of rebuilds. So, it’s a given, that with the Futo – available in vibrant color options – offices will be able to optimize performance and workforce well-being with this one particular furniture collection.

The post A sustainable modular seating designed for the privacy-stricken post-pandemic workforce first appeared on Yanko Design.

Green offices need this 360-degree rotating ergonomic stool that is recyclable by design

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In the past couple of years, the definition of the office environment has drastically changed. We are more rooted to our seats than ever before as the digital work age transports us into a new era. A good, comfortable office chair can instantly increase productivity, thanks to the comfort it guarantees. But to fill the void for a comfortable seat with a more adaptive and less space occupying option, a designer has envisioned an ergonomic stool that will adapt to the user’s body movement during long periods of sitting.

Designed to guarantee comfort and instantly increase concentration and physical fatigue, the Axis stool is, according to the designer, the first ergonomic stool created from sustainable materials. The stool is intended primarily for the demanding needs of a flexible office environment, for which, it is made lightweight and stackable – two essentials of a modern office where space comes for a premium.

Designer: Florian Blamberger and Alexander Knorr

In addition to its ergonomic design, sustainability is at the Axis’s core. The seat is made from injection molding bio thermo-polymer, which makes it a biodegradable and recyclable seating unit for the greener offices of the future. To create more impact with little mechanical intervention, the entire stool – the base and the seat – are held together using a single screw. The convenient manufacturing makes it possible that the specially engineered seat on the top can tilt in any direction so the users don’t feel the pressure while leaning from one desk to another. The base and the seat are placed inches apart from each other to allow 360-degree tilting without friction between the two components.

Axis is by virtue then, comfortable enough to let you work efficiently for long hours, albeit a backrest. The firm base of the stool keeps it sturdy on the ground, its lightweight structure permits it to be stacked up after use, while the eco-friendly construction ensures the stool can be completely recycled at the end of its life cycle.

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This modular furniture system can be reconfigured endlessly to keep your kids entertained while you work from home!

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Loop is a modular furniture system that aims to keep your kid entertained while you’re working from home, incorporating a mixed array of play modules and work modules that can be reconfigured endlessly to create the ideal WFH space.

Working from home has tested each of our house’s office efficiency and versatility. Few of us have come out on top–sinking into the couch is great for Netflix, but not Zoom, and mid-meeting snacks end up as a layer of cracker and chips on the carpet. Add kids to the mix and a home renovation project couldn’t come soon enough. But before you completely transform your living room, look to Loop, a modular furniture system with integrated kid-friendly features designed by industrial designer Buse Kaya for parents who need to keep an eye on their kids while working from home.

It always feels like the doctor’s office waiting room has everything to keep your kid entertained, from wooden toy blocks to sheets and sheets of stickers, whereas the magazine rack is there for you to peruse while you sip on your coffee and fill out the paperwork. Loop (stylized as Loop.) is a little bit like that.

From a chalkboard to a bead maze and tactile puzzles, each module that makes up Loop is designed for your child to play with while you work. Considering its modular formation, Loop can be configured in countless different ways. In one space, users can stack each module on top of one another to create a partition and standing desk space, allowing you to work freely while your kid remains entertained and within eyesight.

Alternatively, users can position Loop so that the storage modules bunch together while the play and work modules attach to one another to form a hybrid WFH space. Or, true to its name, Loop can form a circle similar to horseshoe desk formations in grade school so while you work at one module, your kid can play away right in front of you.

Since WFH has sprung into high gear, those of us with kids are reconsidering our home spaces to make sure we’re filling out the correct paperwork while watching our kids and keeping them entertained. Comprised of attachable modules, Loop is a furniture system that can adapt to any living space. Each module comes with its own function and personality, offering an array of different play spaces for your child or children to stay entertained.

Designer: Buse Kaya

Each module that comes with Loop can be broken down to create detached play areas for your kid to bring anywhere they like.

The modules can even function as seats that imitate a rocking horse.

Built with kid-friendly materials, Loop is as playful as it is safe. 

Loop comes with an assembly booklet that guides users through the building process. 

Loop’s final form was ultimately decided following multiple ideations and an involved research period.

This modular 360-degree seating collection provides an informal yet private approach to coworking!

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Favaretto & Partners and Sunon designed a 360-degree office program known as D-series. D-series is not just a furniture collection, but a lifestyle system as well. It is a new co-working approach that is faster, and informal, but also focuses deeply on privacy! The system basically consists of different types of sofas and modular seating options.

The sofa collection comes in three versions – options with one type of sofa, two types of sofas, and three types of sofas. You can pick any version and mix and match it with the diverse modular seating options! The modular seating consists of tables, armrests, and other accessories. Screens, frames, and panels are also included, which can be used to provide privacy to the seating sections! The entire collection features soft and round shapes in subtle and soothing colors. This ensures that a warm, comforting and welcoming atmosphere is created in the office. Everyone can feel at ease while working on D-series. The seats have been injected with injection foam, and there are three height options for the backrest. So, comfort is definitely ensured while you work.

The innovative collection even won a 2020 Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaem as well! D-series is a modular seating collection that can be customized according to the needs and requirements of particular office space. It’s a versatile program that rates high on functionality, privacy, comfort, and aesthetics!

Designer: Favaretto & Partners and Sunon

This slim wall cabinet opens into a sleek, modern, functional workspace!

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Nils Holger Moorman presents ‘der vorstand’, a slender wall cabinet that transforms into a multifunctional think tank, creating the sense of space whenever users need it. The structure features a back wall on wheels that rolls out with a single pull to reveal a work desk with integrated bookshelves and a top light at the center. The project seeks to provide maximum atmosphere and minimum surface area at the same time.

Unlike any other sleek wall cabinet, ‘der vorstand’ by Moorman can easily unfold into a small, yet convenient workspace. The fold-out ceiling creates a sense of space, affords light, and connects the essentials: the back wall mounted on wheels with its magnetic exterior and the desk at the center. In keeping with the trusted Moorman ordering principle, everything has its designated place: from pens to the books and the binders, while the electronic devices can be charged with hidden cables. In addition, a curtain can be added to the side and the illumination of the ceiling and workspace can be adjusted to the users’ personal preferences.

‘der vorstand’ was initially designed as a submission to a design competition, and since then this winner model has ventured out on its own as an independent room-in-room solution. The first prototype was developed and built by Moorman’s in-house designers following the ideals of lead designer Nils Holger Moorman. Surfaces and materials are reduced to the basics: solid ash wood and light beige linoleum where hands and eyes rest or work in concentration; black surfaces and quiet restraint where nothing should distract the users. Precise details for storing, cabling, and locking the fold-out mechanism convey integrity and guarantee self-assured performance on the executive level.

‘we are in search of furniture creations based on a special idea. Sometimes absurd, sometimes brilliant, sometimes a detail, sometimes a revolution. Typically a minimalist formal language with a high level of experience – but always with a subtle twinkle in the eye’ shares the Moorman team. When the professional slips into the private sphere, then the convertible ‘der vorstand’ piece comes in to maintain order at home. It helps generate a private space according to occupants’ needs and wishes, or otherwise, it closes discreetly and retreats elegantly into the background.

Designer: Nils Holger Moorman

This desk was designed to maximize productivity while minimizing your screen time!

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Working from home has made us all realize the importance of having a desk and one that actually makes being productive easy! Balance is a desk that was designed for helping you ‘balance’ your everyday life with work. Balance means to keep or bring equilibrium and this design does exactly that by encouraging time away from your screens and creating a more physical connection with your surroundings.

The team wanted to inspire young people to work hard and play hard – a desk that encouraged finding a balance between digital and analog environments. “The idea behind Balance product is to use digital interfaces as inspiration to create a new hybrid experience for the user. The form and modular qualities of the design evoke the digital touchscreen interfaces we use every day but with a tridimensional layer that creates a tactile and tangible experience. This new approach brings builds a bridge between the connectivity and structure of the digital environment and the visual and physical experience of products,” explains the designer duo.

Balance is a multi-functional desk that an creates organized, personalized, and productive work experience. It features a canvas and six types of modules (Surface, White Board, Cork, Kanban, Time, and Shelf) that are magnetically attatched to the canvas. You can pick and choose the modules that work best for your needs, work style, and aesthetics preference while also combining them to be integrated with productivity techniques like Kanban and Pomodoro. Assemble the canvas to the arm by adjusting four screws through the standard VESA monitor connection. A C-shaped clamp connects the arm to the desk. Each module has strong neodymium magnets that connect them to the canvas. Furthermore, the whiteboard comes with an adjustable stand so you can use it on the desk surface for a more natural and ergonomic position to draw/write. Even the light angle can be adjusted by simply moving the module up and down.

Th desk’s canvas is made from high-impact polystyrene and powder-coated steel for a rigid, magnetic, and durable surface to hold the modules. The modules are made from injection-molded HDPE giving them adequate rigidity for the structure, softness to the touch, and satin finish. Balance also lets you customize the finishes/accents with a choice of walnut, oak, and cork. Some finishes use special magnetic paint for a marker-friendly writing surface.

There was a lot of research that went into Balance’s design – the personality, work environments, and workflows of various people in their respective jobs as well as a variety of productivity and work management techniques were studied. The team also analyzed different physical and digital interfaces to understand what products were more effective, easy to use, and popular among people. This final outcome resulted in a product that is flexible, organized, modular, easy to use, and personalized!

Balance Desk and Work Manager by Hernan Gregorio and Julia Stabio is Winner in Office Furniture Design Category, 2020 – 2021.

Designers: Hernan Gregorio and Julia Stabio