top> eames lounge chair / charles and ray eames / herman miller — bottom > barcelona chair / mies van der rohe / knoll
between them, herman miller and knoll have 19 brands and a presence in more than 100 countries. how they market themselves going forward is a case-study-worthy event in the making.
herman miller has acquired knoll. both iconic office furniture companies have more similarities than differences and it’s fair to say the roots to their present-day success is architecture and design. herman miller started with wood, knoll started with the bauhaus. great starts to mark the beginning of this very interesting story.
above > back to the future photo of the j miller house (no relation to herman miller) in columbus indiana. in 1953 the miller’s select architect eliel saarinen and by now herman miller’s head of textiles, alexander girard to create their home. in the foreground is knoll’s saarinen furnishings on a girard rug – below > girard’s touch in foreground and middle ground a seating area of both herman miller and knoll furnishing. today girard is listed as co-architect
herman miller was founded in 1905 and initially the company produced wood furniture, especially bedroom suites, in historic revival styles until 1930. with the coming of the great depression the company was forced to explore new products to survive and debuted a line of modern furniture at the 1933-34 century of progress exposition in chicago. in 1942, with the introduction of the “modular executive office” group (eog), the company was primed to lead the industry during the 70s open plan workplace.
in 1945 architect george nelson joined the firm as director. over the next four decades nelson influenced herman miller through both his personal designs and the designers that he recruited including; isamu noguchi, charles and ray eames, robert propst, and in textile designer alexander girard. beginning in the late 1940s, the period under nelson’s guidance saw herman miller produce some of the company’s most recognizable pieces of furniture, including the noguchi table, eames lounge chair, marshmallow sofa,
above > homage to alexander girard in a herman miller pop-up during icff 2014 – below > cosm / studio 7.5
above> living office/placemaking – below > healthcare
[ herman miller designers ]
edward barber and jay osgerby
ayse birsel
todd bracher
charles and ray eames
naoto fukasawa
alexander girard
jasper morrison
george nelson
robert propst
bill stumpf others…
hans knoll was born in germany in 1914. his father was a modern furniture manufacturer, who supported the national socialist regime. perhaps because of his father’s views, or perhaps because he wanted to follow many other german modernists who had emigrated, knoll left germany in 1936 and moved to england. in 1938, he moved to new york city to found a furniture manufacturing company of his own.
in 1943, knoll was approached by florence schust, an architect who had studied under ludwig mies van der rohe and eliel saarinen. schust convinced knoll that she could help bring in business to his company even in america’s wartime economy by expanding into interior design and working with architects. hans and florence married and changed the name of the company to knoll associates. today knoll has over 40 of its designs–such as breuer’s wassily and cesca chairs and the barcelona chair by ludwig mies van der rohe–are in the permanent collection at moma.
above > classic southern california mid-century modern cool – imagining catching the view while listening to brubeck on vinyl / photos knoll
[ knoll designers ]
gae aulenti
neils diffrient
frank gehry
hans and florence knoll
isamu noguchi
jens risom
eliel saarinen
ettore sottsass
mies van der rohe
lella and massimo vignelli others…
the florence knoll women in design dialogues explore florence knoll’s pioneering approach to “total design” in the context of today’s design, artistic and workplace environments.
12:00pm ct – channeling total design
listen to dorothy cosonas, knolltextiles creative director, and maria cornejo, designer, describe their “total design” perspectives as zoe ryan, john h. bryan chair and curator of architecture and design, art institute of chicago, asks how today’s landscape impacts their approach.
2:00pm ct – from yarn bombing to total design of place
sit down with debbie millman, educator and design matterspodcast host, and magda sayeg, artist, as the two discuss magda’s work and how it relates to designing and artmaking for an entire space as a means to shift our perceptions of our surroundings.
tuesday, 11 june
12:00pm ct – intersection: digital distraction / digital workplace
join a discussion among verda alexander, co-founder, o+a; patrick larvie, google/rews, workplace user experience; and tracy wymer, workplace strategy, knoll on designing in today’s digital world. heidi mitchell, design journalist, moderates.
2:00pm ct – anew: 10 years comes full circle, by design
learn about sustainability as part of the facilities and design process in response to today’s environmental challenges with rose tourje, founder, anew; rumi walsh, manager, real estate facilities and administrations for mazda; and margaret dilorenzo, project manager, retail team, cbre for bank of america.
the florence knoll women in design dialogues explore florence knoll’s pioneering approach to “total design” in the context of today’s design, artistic and workplace environments.
12:00pm ct – channeling total design
listen to dorothy cosonas, knolltextiles creative director, and maria cornejo, designer, describe their “total design” perspectives as zoe ryan, john h. bryan chair and curator of architecture and design, art institute of chicago, asks how today’s landscape impacts their approach.
2:00pm ct – from yarn bombing to total design of place
sit down with debbie millman, educator and design matterspodcast host, and magda sayeg, artist, as the two discuss magda’s work and how it relates to designing and artmaking for an entire space as a means to shift our perceptions of our surroundings.
tuesday, 11 june
12:00pm ct – intersection: digital distraction / digital workplace
join a discussion among verda alexander, co-founder, o+a; patrick larvie, google/rews, workplace user experience; and tracy wymer, workplace strategy, knoll on designing in today’s digital world. heidi mitchell, design journalist, moderates.
2:00pm ct – anew: 10 years comes full circle, by design
learn about sustainability as part of the facilities and design process in response to today’s environmental challenges with rose tourje, founder, anew; rumi walsh, manager, real estate facilities and administrations for mazda; and margaret dilorenzo, project manager, retail team, cbre for bank of america.
the art of seating: 200 years of american design features 37 exceptional examples of american chairs created between 1810 and 2010. designed for form and function, each of these works of art acts as a window into our national history, culture, and social trends.
image: designed by harry bertoia (1915-1978) manufactured by knoll, new york city, ny large diamond lounge chair, c. 1952 photo by michael koryta and andrew vanstyn, director of acquisitions, conservation and photography
the art of seating is organized by the museum of contemporary art, jacksonville, in collaboration with the thomas h. and diane demell jacobsen ph.d. foundationtion and is toured by international arts and artists, washington, d.c.
despite a growing appreciation for twentieth-century architecture in recent years, great works continue to be lost to neglect, deterioration, and demolition only decades after their design and construction. in 2006, responding to growing threats to modern architecture, wmf launched its modernism at risk initiative with knoll as founding sponsor. the initiative provides a framework for addressing the issues that endanger modern landmarks and supports architectural advocacy, conservation, and public education.
this year, the jury selected molenaar & co. architecten (rotterdam), hebly theunissen architecten (delft), and landscape architect michael van gessel (amsterdam) as the recipients of the 2016 world monuments fund/knoll modernism prize for the preservation and rehabilitation of the justus van effen complex in rotterdam, the netherlands. the biennial award will be presented at the museum of modern art (moma), new york, on 5 december 2016, by mr. joshua david; barry bergdoll, meyer schapiro professor of art history and archaeology at columbia university, curator of architecture & design at moma, and chairman of the prize jury; and mr. cogan. the award presentation, a free and public event, will be followed by a presentation by the members of the prize-winning team.
business attire. seating is limited.
rsvp required: email rsvp@wmf.org by monday, 28 november 28 2016.
above> a concept sketch for rockwell unscripted / image courtesy knoll
neocon 2016 has provided an opportunity to become better acquainted with start-up and design resource kontor. mia lewin is a founder and ceo, bill hanley is the vice president content / editorial director
[DesignApplause] mia, why don’t you give everyone a little bit of background on the concept of kontor? [mia lewin] kontor is an inspiration and workflow tool for professional designers and their clients. you can think about it as a combination of houzz and pinterest for commercial interiors. we bring together designers and their clients, product manufacturers, and distributers, all on one image-based platform, allowing them to work together to design better offices. the company was founded by me, our cto, andy parsons, tom melcher, and kevin ryan — kevin is a serial entrepreneur here in new york behind gilt groupe, business insider, and many other successful companies. my background is really in the commerce and lifestyle industries. i’ve always been passionate about design and fashion. back in 2009 i saw home design, moving online and going much more global in its aesthetic. people wanted to mix and match styles and products, and we started kontor because we saw those same trends happening on the commercial interior side, especially in the tech industry, in silicon valley where i was based for about for 10 years. i really wanted to build this platform that was an inspiration. everybody can collect and create mood boards as well as collaborate together with their teams and their clients, all in one place, to come to design decisions better and faster.
[da] and how’s it going? what’s the past year been like? [ml] the past year’s been great! about a year ago, at neocon we launched our private beta version of kontor. we had about 30 early partner design firms on the platform. and a year later, as we’re going into neocon again, we now have 850 of the leading design and architecture firms on the platform, representing more than 60 different countries. we launched the product publicly last november, and we’ve become the go-to platform to the designers and architects within these 850 firms. we’ve seen tremendous growth and excitement. in addition to the design firms, we also have around 200 of the who’s-who of design brands, contextually integrated into the site. these range from knoll, herman miller, steelcase, to trendsetters…like moooi, tom dixon, muuto, secto (who are, like me, from finland), among others.
[da] what is your criteria on how you select partners? [bill hanley] we show work by design firms of all sizes and shapes, from hok and perkins + will to knoll and herman miller, down to solo practitioners doing tight-budget products. we want to reflect all sorts of different budgets, all sorts of different styles, and the range of interesting work that’s being designed out there. and then we curate what to showcase from large, big budget projects to creative small solutions.
[da] your growth is one thing…the way you started by just connecting people, has that changed? i’m not talking about where you’re thinking of going in the future but it started out very simple, just connecting people. all the articles, a little over six or seven months old, called you the pinterest in this field and it seems much bigger than that. but maybe that’s how you started? are you doing more than just giving people ideas? visual ideas? [ml] yes, absolutely. our vision is really to enable the workflow for both the designer and their clients. and it’s really being able to provide a sense of what is going on in the industry and then provide the audience with the workflow tools to help throughout the project. starting with from the inspirational stage of looking at examples and ideas for a new interior, to collaborating on the overall aesthetic, to presenting and exchanging ideas and having discussions, all the way to making product decisions by facilitating conversations between the designers, the clients and the brands — everyone involved with purchasing decisions about what goes into an interior.
[da] what you’re saying is you’re now functioning as a part of the team? is that right? [bh] it’s really a collaboration tool. we enable discussions that you have with your team, presenting mood boards, saying “i love this i hate that and what about this?” you know those have been very analogue historically. and what we’re doing is digitizing that conversation and also giving you information about products in a way that didn’t exist before. you can actually make one-to-one comparisons within those mood boards and start narrowing down decisions on what you’d want to include in a project. we’re not actively, as a company, participating in the design so much as providing a tool that enables people to communicate in a fast digital way.
[da] what’s the best way to utilize kontor’s resources? [ml] we’ve built the largest database for office interiors in the world. on top of the database we built the industry’s first design-specific specific search and discovery tool. you can collect information on kontor but you can also collect from any website and manage all of your digital content, information on products, all in one place. then we provide those collaboration tools for you to make product and design decisions in a much more digital way. it’s all about searching and browsing for inspiration, seeing trends, collecting, collaborating and finally making those design choices.
[da] let’s come up with a case example. we have a design office and they have a client. now using your new digital tool, how does this whole process start and unfold? [bh] designers come back to kontor to take a look at what’s new in workplace design. they know they can see new and interesting products every day on our site. when they eventually enter the workflow process, KONTOR seamlessly becomes a part of that process, either initiated by the designers or their clients.
users will also curate collections of images that they find interesting. they will also add other imagery that supplements it. for example, if a designer is working on a kitchen space. they can quickly collect a multitude of different kitchen spaces on kontor and then invite a colleague and/or client to collaborate on that collection. everyone is easily exposed to who’s doing what in the entire workplace design field. in the end, designers can educate client to make better decisions.
KONTOR also has the ability to gather images and keep a record of the process, a real timesaver. for example, let’s say they’re reading DesignApplause and grab a few images on your site—which unlike doing a random google search, always retains a link to where those images are found. once the mood board is created, using kontor’s comments feature, the team easily discuss what they have collected there. reference copies of all of the images in the collection can also be downloaded (with a prominent watermark attributing the photo) if there’s a need for a traditional physical pin-up presentation. you can also use those boards to collect, say, three different pendant lights with different price points then using the commenting function, conversations regarding selection come about. Kontor provides an easy-to-manage digital process from the ideation phase through the execution.
[da] are all these happenings confined to the desktop? do you have any mobile capabilities? [ml] the site is completely responsive, which means it’s mobile- and tablet- enabled so you can use it as a web experience. we’ll be launching an actual mobile app later on.
[da] you mentioned a couple of events. what events are you attending? [bh] we’ll be in your neighborhood for neocon coming up shortly. we’re giving out tote bags and also sponsoring the coffee bar in the vip lounge with bow truss coffee which i’m super excited about. they have amazing coffee! we make our rounds to all of the regular events. the latest was icff in new york. did you attend also?
[da] i was. i was really happy to see, this is my third year in a row, a remarkable growth of offerings. javits remained solid but offsite offerings grew. felt more like a european design week. [bh] yes, also with me. one thing that was really surprising and fun was the expanded site unseen offsite. i think they did a really good job of keeping a really tightly curated and exciting group of the new makers.
[da] we just mentioned a few of the established companies doing new things, which is very exciting. i’m wondering to what extent the emerging talents are now inspiring the established, a topsy turvy process. let’s talk a little bit about your collaboration with knoll at neocon this year. [ml] great, yes. we are collaborating with knoll to launch their new office collection by david rockwell and we’ll also be hosting a joint event at the knoll showroom. the new rockwell collection, unscripted, is a really unique and fun collection with a strong design aesthetic but that is also very adaptable to all kinds of offices and uses.
above> rockwell unscripted includes bleachers which can wrap around corners and come in a variety of customizable finishes / image courtesy knoll an overview of the entire collection / image courtesy knoll
[da] when is the event? [bh] monday the 13th at 4:30p at the knoll showroom. ron, you probably already have one but i’ll send you an invite.
[da] thank you! how did knoll and kontor partner up? [ml] we’ve had a longstanding relationship with them. knoll was our very first design brand partner. and we launched our private beta to the industry last year, together with knoll, at neocon in their showroom. and since then we’ve partnered with 200 leading design brands but knoll really was the first. and as part of the partnership we do a lot of co-promotional activities to really tell the story of their product and ours in a new, fresh way.
[da] i’m now very curious what your working space is like? is it the same as startup? [ml] ha! the cobbler’s children have no shoes. so we’re a typical startup in the way that we’ve been super busy building the team and building the product. we are still subleasing with our sister company, zola, which is a wedding registry and another portfolio company of kevin ryan. we are in a very fun industrial-style space in tribecca in manhattan. as for our next own, real office we are starting the process very soon. we’ll probably have a design competition with our design partners and brands to create an office space that reflects the mixing and matching of different styles, a global aesthetic combining flexibility, technology and design. naturally we’ll be collaborating on kontor to make that come true.
[da] right answer 🙂 kontor is free to utilize now. how do you expect to monetize in the future? [ml] the platform is free for everyone, for the designers, architects and their clients who are using us as their workflow tool. the offering for the design brands and dealers, will soon become a paid service as of july 1, 2016. it’s a contextual marketing tool for brands and their distributors to reach the key decision makers in the industry using the kontor platform. there will be a monthly subscription fee based on the bundle of services they opt into.
[da] can you give us an example of the insight the past year has presented to you? [bh] in terms of macro-trends the influence of residential design and hospitality on office design has continued to grow. as everyone becomes able to work anywhere and everywhere. the kind of domestic comfort and sense of space more akin to a hotel lobby is becoming more prominent in the office space. we also do quarterly trend forecasts. we’ll have another one coming out at the end of the month.
because of the volume of projects and images that designers post on kontor every day, we’re also able to see micro-trends early. we start to see similarities among spaces emerging well before a lot other people. we’ve been tipping off our users with our findings. that’s everything from particular configurations of conference rooms to things like the return of the chesterfield sofa. who knew? it’s really interesting what you can see when you use our search to look at our database.
[da] the chesterfield, for example, is the trend spontaneous across different sectors or are people using, maybe the internet, and being influenced? [bh] i think it’s a little bit of both. some of the trends are people wanting the same lighting fixtures they discovered in the media. on the other hand, there are ideas emerging independently that are responding to the way people work now. certain ways of treating lounge spaces and certain ways of treating workspaces. the actual use of the office space may have more influence on a trend than just businesses wanting their space to look like a prominent project.
[da] is there anything that you want to talk about that we haven’t talked about yet? [ml] we’ve covered a lot today, thank you. any questions that you may have?
[da] kontor is a very interesting product with a lot of promise and the best of luck to you. thank you for reaching out to DesignApplause and of course, we’ll see you at knoll! [ml & bh] see you at knoll!
above> introducing montara650 collection by the coalesse design group and lievore altherr molina
coalesse® engages a&d as participants at neocon 2016 / #1032 – a&d community invited to take part in the design process
coalesse, recognized for forward-looking, design-driven products that foster social connection, creative collaboration, and focus and rejuvenation, is inviting the a&d community to participate in the design process through a range of new products and custom capabilities at neocon 2016.
its showroom #1032, will feature expressions of custom capabilities that can be applied through the newly launched potrero415™ tables, massaud conference seating, and the montara650™ collection, among other products, giving a&d professionals the opportunity to discover new ways of personalizing through color and pattern, materials and features, and shape and size to make it their own and enhance emotional engagement at the workplace.
showroom visitors are also invited to participate in the design process through coalesse’s new customizer web app, which demonstrates ways of applying custom color and pattern to the groundbreaking lessthanfive™ chair. the web app and degree of product offerings make customization highly-attainable, empowering clients to be curators of a more meaningful design experience.
below> vitra & artek / #1192 // north american introductions / vitra customized applications
at neocon, vitra will present a series of projects that demonstrate how it has optimized collaboration with client project teams. this provides clients a direct dialogue and unprecedented access to vitra’s top design talent, allowing for the custom-development of new product applications for large scale projects.
below> mohawk group / #377 & 3-121
elevate contemporary spaces to inspired floorscapes through mohawk’s latest production collections. inspired by nature and designed to merge fashion with function.
below> mohawk group / moving floors collection / diagonal relief, fade relief, plane high, plane low, 656 green 24by24
designed to be dynamically moving base on the user’s point of view, moving floors was inspired by the multi-layered beauty of our cultural landscape. empowers designers to create kinetic floorscapes through limitless combinations.
below> haberdasher textiles / by laura guido-clark for herman miller / 3-321
haberdasher is an array of palettes and patterns, inspired by traditional sewing materials—and tailored for projects of various sizes and budgets. giving solids and patterns license to commingle or stand alone, haberdasher gives you license to play. mix. match. curate. collaborate. differentiate. and indulge.
above> there are 5 families each with their own identity. pins and needles: a simple pattern of pins strewn about a canvas becomes iconic in a highly graphic way. / string plaid: the crosshatch pattern creates a colorful, dynamic, and graphic twist on traditional plaid. / well suited: allows vibrant and deep colors to collaborate in a small scale, two-color nailhead pattern. / fish net: the quilted hand offers dimension and explores a large line of intense, warm, and cool colors. / tailored: the tightly woven grid texture creates a subtle surface that reflects light and contours form.
below> hbf & hbf textiles / 387
hbf has returned to its roots, teaming with esteemed designer and longtime partner michael vanderbyl to create introduce conexus, a work/lounge chair designed to function across any contract setting — offices, lobbies, hospitality environments…
designer michael vanderbyl notes, “i strive for timelessness. conexus plays with the shape of a classic lounge chair and transforms it into a more organic form that showcases the exceptional craftsmanship in the woodwork and the upholstery. the wood merges with the upholstery in such a seamless way that the piece takes on a sculptural quality, an engineering feat that hbf executed masterfully.”
below> hbf textiles highlights color, texture, yarn, and hue in spring 2016 collection
known for their artful and authentic approach to design, hbf textiles is going back to the classics for its spring 2016 collection. hbf textiles vice president of design mary jo miller started with le corbusier’s infamous lc palette of colors from the 1920s, and used these fresh shades as a catalyst for the collection.
below> tek pier / teknion / 1048
tek pier “is the first product of its kind to successfully merge wall-mounted monitors with height-adjustable worksurfaces,” said paul kruger, teknion’s director of design, architectural products. tek pier takes advantage of teknion’s altos demountable wall cable routing, structure and acoustic performance. the innovative origami mount allows for fluid positioning to share a large format monitor, maintain viewing privacy, or engage in touchscreen applications.
below> designtex / moquette / 1032a
moquette is a textile mash-up that blends a classic velvet weaving technique with the creative possibilities offered by digital printing technology. the woven structure employs a “moquette” construction produced on a modern wire loom, allowing some areas to be woven as flat bands while elsewhere selected yarns are lifted and then cut to create a short, dense pile. beginning with a simple pattern of alternating horizontal stripes of varying widths, the moquette technique adds complexity by introducing a sense of dimensionality, which is enhanced by the luxurious combination of lustrous and matte yarns. finally, the raised, plush surfaces of the woven fabric are printed digitally with a non-repeating and random color pattern.
the result is an intricate layering of textures and colors that evokes natural landscapes, reflecting biologist e.o. wilson’s concept of biophilia—the theory that human beings are instinctively drawn to the natural world, and thus that design following this principle provides a heightened sensation of comfort and repose. below> parentesit freestanding / by lievore altherr molina for arper / 339
arper extends the functionality of parentesit to include freestanding models for increased privacy and comfort. architectural in scale, these modules carve out a three-dimensional space for concentration or quiet conversation in shared workspaces or collaborative environments.
parentesit was created with a dual inspiration of minimalist art and classic japanese interiors. to shift this approach to an architectural scale, the screen is capable of dividing a room in half, or partitioning off a space for quiet, independent thought.
below> wolf-gordon / & 10 – 161
following dazzling installations of sculptures and interactive digital displays in past years of neocon, wolf-gordon has again transformed the market space in a new way. office_excavate re-envisions the cubicle-enclosed office by creating a colorful, open seating space that can be easily rearranged for meetings, coffee breaks, and recharging of phones and humans alike. the furniture, which can be used alternately as seating, desks, tables, or stools, will be upholstered in over 100 different wolf-gordon textiles. office_excavate is a collaboration of karlssonwilker inc., new motor, graham kelman and wolf-gordon creative direction. below> humanscale / 351
they’re not only previewing a brand new line of diffrient occasional chairs they’re unveiling never-before-seen niels diffrient designs. take a journey through human-centered design innovation and chat with founder and ceo bob king, visionary designer todd bracher and the rest of the humanscale team.
below> carnegie / 10 – 112
reflectacoustic is a groundbreaking design that controls sound and delivers heat and glare reduction through yarn, weaving and metalized backing technology. the textile absorbs and reflects back a great deal of light; all validated through 3rd party testing.
below node with sharesurface / sharesurface was designed by steelcase design studio / steelcase / 300
steelcase health research reveals exam rooms not designed for the modern healthcare experience . findings uncover five ways exam space is failing physicians, patients and family members; informs new design framework and product, node® with sharesurface
node with sharesurface features a rotating sharesurface that provides dynamic access to information, a central part of the exam experience. physicians using mobile technology are able to chart while maintaining eye contact, pivot the surface to share their screen with the patient and family for education and shared decision making, all while having mobility in the room. the chair’s back and arms allow doctors to have more conversational postures during consultation and the rotating surface arm moves out of the way for examination activities.
below> northern parallel / cf stinson / 10-1150
[ collection summary ]
• 7 new textiles, 72 colorways.
• a collection of coordinating textiles that explores the connections between michigan (where stinson is headquartered) and maine (where stinson houses their design studio).
• shared michigan/maine discoveries:
• similar geographic latitudes
• rigorous climate with diverse seasons
• inhabitants with an appreciation for nature and willingness to embrace the seasons
• michigan/maine ideals include work hard, build with integrity and if you are going to be unique – be honest. shared mindset explored through textiles that are hard working, unique, honest and full of integrity.
• made in america, small carbon footprint.
below> the doni collection / designed by giancarlo piretti for ki / 1181
if you can dream it, doni can express it. create with a fresh palette of energizing brights and sophisticated neutrals. imagine the possibilities with two-tone colors and unlimited custom color possibilities. the collection offers guest, task, tandem and stackable configurations.
rooted in david rockwell’s innovative approach to hospitality environments and public space, and inspired by his award-winning design for theater and entertainment, rockwell unscripted is a comprehensive collection of furniture elements that adapt to the spontaneous choreography of the work day.
“our interest is in getting people to look at their work environments as a stage on which movable furniture can be arranged in endless configurations. you can craft the scene around what it is you’re doing that day,” said rockwell group founder and president david rockwell.
below> lievore altherr molina’s arcel for bernhardt design / 399
glass gradients by scholten & baijings add dimensionality to a space by establishing a dialogue between the simplicity of the patterns with their signature color palette.
below> suri pouf / designed by sezgin aksu and silvia suardi for kolekiyon / 11 – 113a
inspired by headgear from the ottoman empire
below> elemental wall systems / 3form / 10 – 142
time + weather = beauty
inspired by the rustic look—created from clean materials
the perfect combination of sitting and standing – a new style of work posture
it is no secret that changing our posture throughout the day is essential to our well-being in the office. what’s more, adapting a posture that is appropriate for the task at hand helps relieve stress placed upon the body. okamura recommends five postures for increased office productivity and efficiency. among them is the perching posture, a perfect combination of standing and sitting.
speckle is a durable and easy to maintain textile ideal for any environment.
speckle comes in four color ways and in each the warp yarn subtly contrasts with the soft pearlescent silver speckles in the weft direction.
chilewich has experimented laying speckle tiles quarter turned and found that the natural color shift between warp and weft adds a richness and level of interest to this quiet weave. speckle is ideal for spaces in which the floor is a foundation for bolder interior design elements. a sustainable solution of bold and neutral patterns.
below> wilkhahn / 7-3082c
wilkhahn’s dynamic office seating utilizes patented 3d technology to encourage health, creativity, and productivity in the workplace.
by special request of the a&d community, will show for the first time at neocon, a white, through-dyed seat shell and backrest frame.
below> arborite high pressure laminates / 7-1018
recognizing the increasingly blurred aesthetic line between contract and residential design, arborite has curated a selection of residential products with crossover appeal to create commercial stones.
above left > cityscape loft’s modern, wet cement look is ideal for urbanites in search of a low-maintenance, industrial-inspired surface. right> industrial loft evokes the glazed look of oxidized metal, combining light and dark shades with a matte texture for a chic, modern effect.
below> amble / by stephan copeland for lightcorp / 7-8062
why is amble different? amble is a light with no moving joints or articulation – in fact, the only moving part is a gravity-powered “eye.” minimalist design meets elite performance in a battery operated dimmagle led task light. created by renowned lighting designer stephan copeland, amble is highly adjustable yet has no moving joints or articulation. amble’s lean, single-form construction enables excellent adjustability and mobility through the intelligence of its shape.
below> nima / by giancarlo piretti for american seating / 10-148
aimed for the higher education market and various contract environments, nima is an inspiring multipurpose collection of chairs, providing exceptional comfort through a sophisticated minimalist aesthetic.
below> stir kinetic desk m1 / 1067a
the new m1 is a height-adjustable desk driven by software that senses your presence, learns your preferences, enables you to set goals and actively reminds you to change positions throughout the day.
DesignApplause will continue to add to this post as well as social shout it during neocon.
german industrial designer richard sapper died on new year’s eve, 2015. he was 83. his iconic design solutions make him one of the most influential industrial designers of his generation. sapper’s creative gift was a distinctive style of formal simplicity and at times humor. from simple housewares to cars and boats many of his pieces reside in museum collections worldwide including 15 designs represented at moma in new york and london’s victoria & albert and design museum. his clients included alessi, artemide, b&b italia, fiat, heuer, knoll and magis.
rearview mirror | 1956 | for mercedes 300 sl roadster, sapper’s first design gone into production
doney | | 1962 | brionvega | with marco zanuso, wins prize compasso d’oro 1962 and included in the permanent design collection at the museum of modern art in new york
tizio | 1972 | artemide | prize grand prix triennale xv 1974 | features a transformer located in the base that powers a halogen lamp through rods and press button joints, which carry electrical current without the need for cables. most recent lamp offers led illumination
bus designed to store bicycles | fiat | 1976 | competition entry study for city traffic in milan
telephone booth | 1986 | for german post office | the first telephone booth built entirely of injection-molded plastic, consisting of four identical panels plus one for the roof
argo | 1988 artemide-litech | a low-voltage spotlight track-lighting system
9091 | 1983 | alessi | features a brass melodic whistle with two pipes tuned to the notes “mi” and “ti”
la cintura di orione | 1986 | alessi | developed in consultation with renowned cuisine chefs alain chapel, raymond thuilier, pierre and michel troisgros, roger verge, gualtiero marchesi and angelo paracucchi, and under the coordination of gastronomical expert alberto gozzi
from 9 to 5 | 1986 | castelli | prize compasso d’oro 1987 | part of an extensive office furniture system. adjustable desk surface heights
aida | 1998 | magis | stacking chair
zoombike | 2000 | elettromontaggi | an aluminum 3-speed folding metro bike. the design draws on aircraft technology rather than traditional bicycle mechanics
tosca | 2007 |magis | stacking chair
aida table | 2001 | magis
according to a phaidon statement, in june, phaidon publishes richard sapper, an in depth study packed with images from sapper’s own archive and featuring specially commissioned candid photography by ramak fazel that shines light on sapper’s personal life.
event> “being original: making the case for authentic design” aia and idcec approved ceu course date> tuesday 22 september 2015 | 12 noon venue> centro | 4727 mcpherson avenue | st. louis MO rsvp> by friday 18 september 2015 | office@centro-inc.com instructor> john james jenkin, ceo, driade
Be Original Americas™ will present their first-ever Continuing Education Unit (CEU) course on the importance of authentic design while delving into the nature of innovation and creativity. The economic, social, legal, and personal costs of supporting knock-offs will be highlighted. This will be held at Centro, St. Louis’ premiere location for the best in design, during St. Louis Design Week. Instructor John James Jenkin, CEO, Driade and a Be Original Americas board member will lead the program for architects and interior designers to earn continuing education (0.1 IDCEC/1 LU AIA) credits for members of American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC). The 2 hour program will include a 1 hour course, networking and lunch.
[ be original americas ]
Be Original Americas, founded in 2012, is committed to educating, informing and influencing designers, businesses, and the greater public on the value of purchasing authentic designs. The goal is to elevate the discussion so that all who appreciate good design also understand the economic, social, and ethical reasons to support the creators and manufacturers of original, authorized design, thereby ensuring its future.
[ centro ]
Cento began in 1988 as a trade showroom representing furniture, lighting, and textiles from around the globe. In 1998, Centro opened its doors to retail clientele in the historic Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, MO. A showroom expansion in 2003 tripled the size of the showroom. Today, Centro is the exclusive St. Louis retailer for over forty-five of the leading design brands in the world, including B&B Italia, Driade, Zanotta, Tom Dixon, Flos, Cassina, Alessi, Moooi, Cappellini, Artemide, Fritz Hansen, Knoll, and Herman Miller.
It’s very difficult to catch everything in this show whether in person or online. Our focus on 2014 new offerings surely limited discovery. What we did find in this year’s show provides a myriad of options for everyone’s needs as seen on our list below. We highlight several unique, innovative solutions.
[ vessel ] Designer Todd Bracher and 3M Architectural Markets engineering produce a solid quartz body that precisely controls light distribution from a single LED. Vessel comes in three lengths, six color options and two color temperatures.
zinta | lievore altherr molina | arper
[ zinta ] A bench makes it to prime time. Thanks to the exceptionally harmonious blend of wooden seat shell with softly rounded edges with partial upholstery on a light-looking frame, the bench is elegant and leisurely in appearance. It can serve as simple, single sofa or large-scale organizing principle in an open space. With a range of cushion options with diverse materials and fillings, it can serve a range of environments from residential to restaurant, lounge to office with equal ease.
avant collection | mark hiron | élan decca / photo courtesy decca
[ avant ] Designer Mark Hirons Avant’s concept of openness include the Lounge Chair, a simple, tailored Sofa and ultimately, to the inviting expanse of a 145-degree Sofa angled to support face-to-face conversation. Defined by a striking angularity, the pieces appear to expand and fan out. Avant seating is available fully upholstered or with wood veneer back that accentuates its crisp profile and sculptural presence.
[ lakendo ] LaKendo, designed by Angelo Pinaffo, is a family of chairs available with tip-up or fixed seat. Its multifunctional uses enable several easy configurations: with polypropylene, padded and upholstered seat and back or back in mesh. The metal frame has a peculiar section’s profile which makes the seat more resistant and supports others specific features such as a set for arms, tip-up seat, wheels and supports sled and bench versions. Among the accessories is available the tablet for both arms.
social chair | yves behar | herman miller / photo courtesy hm
[ social chair ] The Social Chair is the core component of the Public system, bringing new ergonomics, functionality and durability to soft seating while accommodating a range of people and postures. Public is the first office system to support casual work and provide comfort, at the desk, in circulation space, and in group areas—all within a consistent design vocabulary. Designed by Yves Behar and fuseproject.
ballo | don chadwick | humanscale
[ ballo ] Created by Don Chadwick, designer of the Aeron Chair, Ballo is a multipurpose stool that encourages users to engage in short-term, active sitting. The identical air-filled domes serve as the base and seat and pressure can be varied just like a Swiss exercise ball. Ballo helps to reduce the risks associated with sedentary behavior and improve metabolism, calorie burn and core strength. There’s also an adjustable height option.
lo and syz | eoos | keilhauer
[ lo and syz ] the syz table is one continuous table structure with a seamless flow between the cast legs and aluminum extrusions It comes in heights of 29 and 26 inches as well as a very cool and casual 15 inches. Lo is a charming seat cushion. Research has shown that sitting with the hips above the knees restores gravitational equilibrium and provides longer comfort.
berlage | richard hutten | ki
[ berlage ] The Berlage Chair was originally designed in 2004 by Richard Hutten tributing H.P. Berlage, the architect who designed the Municipal Museum of Modern Art in The Hague for the museum’s restaurant. KI reintroduces Berlage in 2014 via their Blu Sky Collection, an initiative of finding intuitive products with unique stories. The strung seat, which is done by hand means each chair by all accounts is unique.
bounce by knoll | knoll
[ bounce by knoll ] In an effort to reduce a level of uncertainty with planning an office space Knoll debuted software developed in partnership with Estimote, a tech start-up building a digital platform to bring content and context to people’s current location. Bounce by Knoll monitors, measures and analyzes space utilization and the work patterns of the office, and offers a digital user engagement platform. Using the Estimote iBeacon platform, Knoll planted seven iBeacons in their showroom that would give attendees a chance to look at occupancy levels at different stations.
antenna round big table | antenna | knoll
[ antenna round big table ] Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger of Antenna create a clever adaptation of their adjustable height Telescope Desk platform. We’d also like to see a Ballo-like chair pair up with it.
[ grip ] GRIP is a universal table suitable for all purposes. A new design inspired by tightrope walkers, the top balances on a narrow beam supported by cast aluminum legs. Grip™ gets more stable the more weighted it becomes. Bases are die cast aluminum and are available in one size. Finish offered in glass bead blasted (textured) and a selection of powder coat finishes in black, white, red and silver. A variety of top shapes and sizes are offered in all standard Nienkämper veneers and plastic laminates, as well as black linoleum.
quiet spaces by susan cain | steelcase / photo courtesy steelcase
[ susan cain quiet spaces ] Susan Cain Quiet Spaces by Steelcase offer five diverse ways to empower introverts at work. Each space supports specific postures, work modes, and expectations for quiet and privacy supported by a carefully chosen range of architecture, furniture, materials and technology. Every quiet space is designed with V.I.A. which provides superior acoustic performance and offers an atmosphere where introverts can work their best.
lite wall | jeffrey bernett and nicholas dodziuk | teknion / photo courtesy teknion
[ lite wall ] Lite Wall is a series of lightweight screens that respond to varying needs of the open office. Using magnets, Lite Wall easily reconfigures without tools or any visible connections. Varying screen heights accommodate standing, sitting, lounge and other critical datum lines in the system/office landscape. Designed by Jeffrey Bernett and Nicholas Dodziuk.
millions of colors | grethe sørensen | wolf-gordon / photo courtesy wolf-gordon
[ millions of colors ] Earlier in the year for Wolf-Gordon, Danish textile designer and artist Grethe Sørensen introduced a ground-breaking technique of translating pixels to threads. Cooper-Hewitt plans to acquire her work once its new building opens in late 2014.
[ the list ]
> vessel | todd bracher(*) | 3M architectural markets
> mimeo | bruce fifield(*) | allsteel
> colina | lievore altherr(*) molina | arper
> zinta | lievore altherr(*) molina | arper
> unos | jasper morrison | andreu world
> mitt > claudia & harry washington| bernhardt
> buzzipicnic | alain gilles | buzzispace
> acoustical sheers | mary holt | carnegie fabrics
> lakendo | angelo pinaffo | diemmebi
> airblade v | dyson
> designtex + wallace sewell collection | wallace sewell | designtex
> avant collection | mark hiron | élan decca
> lex | studios architecture | halcon
> openest collection | patricia urquiola | haworth
> suite | steffen lipsky | haworth
> triscape | todd bracher(*) | hbf
> locale l-desk | sam hecht and kim colin | herman miller
> social chair | yves behar | herman miller
> ballo | don chadwick | humanscale
> quickstand | humanscale
> trea | todd bracher(*) | humanscale
> human nature | interface
> lo and syz | eoos(*) | keilhauer
> berlage – blue sky collection | richard hutten | ki
> antenna round big table | antenna | knoll
> architecture research office collection | filzfelt (knoll showroom)
> bounce by knoll | knoll
> remix | paul wilkinson(*) | knoll
> nexus collection | kari pei | knoll textiles
> scholten & baijings textiles | maharam
> grip | randers + radius / troels grum-schwensen | nienkämper
> grain + pigment | shaw contract group
> design journey | reesie duncan | shaw contract group
> quiet spaces by susan cain | steelcase
> form + structure textiles | teknion
> journal | christopher wright(*) | teknion
> lite wall | jeffrey bernett(*) and nicholas dodziuk | teknion
> millions of colors | grethe sørensen | wolf-gordon
> overlay/underlay | kevin walz(*) | wolf-gordon
[ 1968 > 2013 ]
Who’s watching ‘the sixties’ on CNN? Here’s a little ‘office’ perspective… HM’s Public Office Landscape – 45 years – light years away from HM’s Action Office, the original systems furniture designed in 1968 by Robert Propst that started the modern open plan revolution, etc., etc.
public | yves behar – fuseproject | herman miller 2013 / image courtesy hm
action | robert propst | herman miller 1968 / image courtesy hm
note: (*) we also interviewed 12 designers so stay tuned for more details on these and other great objects.[ best of neocon 2014 winners ]
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