At the 50th annual Chicago tradeshow, which defines contract design, the most innovative products are those that reflect the various new ways people are engaging with their work environments.
June 2018 Product Briefs: Furnishings at NeoCon
Lyss Wood Lounge from Allseating
NapQ by Framery
Bespoke Workstations by Innovant
Cosm
Berlin-based Studio 7.5—a Herman Miller design partner for 20 years, with products such as its popular Mirra chair—engineered Cosm, the manufacturer’s most intuitive task chair to date. Likening its development to “designing a flying carpet,” the designers built a line of seating that never needs manual adjusting, instead using proprietary technology in its Auto- Harmonic Tilt: the chair responds automatically to a user’s weight and posture. Cosm is offered in a choice of three back heights or as a stool, and in split or monochrome finishes.
Outline Sofa Chaise Longue
This sofa is among the Scandinavian-style furnishings Knoll now offers as the new parent company of Danish manufacturer Muuto. The chaise longue profile is new to the company’s Outline collection by Norwegian designers Torbjørn Anderssen and Espen Voll. The upholstered foam seat and powder-coated aluminum legs are available with the chaise on the right and left and in a selection of fresh neutrals, including the pinkish Fiord 551 by Kvadrat shown here.
Darning Sampler
The simplicity and geometry of 18th- and 19th-century Dutch darning samplers inspired this new collection of upholstery fabrics by Maharam. Despite their homespun appearances, Darning Sampler, Darning Sampler Large, and Darning Sampler Plaid are designed for commercial applications—in a blend of polyester, cotton, and nylon that is abrasion-tested for up to 100,000 double rubs, and ideal for covering seating.
Gateway Collection
Part of a family of new flexible workstations by Nienkämper, these sit/stand desks offer a layer of individual control for users, which may contribute to workplace wellness, or at least comfort. The Gateway tabletops are available in wood veneer or laminate with optional privacy panels.
HK29
To satisfy the needs of offices with shared workstations, hardware manufacturer Mockett is expanding its organizational offerings with a polished stainless-steel hook that can hold up to 20 pounds—though it’s perfect for stashing headphones and other personal gear under a desk or shelf.
LJ3
The felt seat of the LJ3 stool by Dutch manufacturer De Vorm is both recyclable and recycled (from plastic bottles). The PET cushion provides comfortable support, sound-dampening properties, and comes in 10 color blends. The 34"-high powder-coated steel frame is available in more than 200 RAL colors.
KIIK
Japanese industrial designer Ichiro Iwasaki collaborated with Arper on this flexible furniture system. KIIK’s colorful modular seating, tables, consoles, and ottomans can be arranged in multiple configurations suitable for reception, informal meeting, and lounge areas. Laminate tabletops, contract-grade upholstery, and aluminum legs make this collection ideal for shared spaces.
Farel
This cupola-inspired pendant extends Luceplan’s growing collection of acoustic lighting fixtures. Farel features a 2700K LED with a high color-rendering index (of 90) and a shade made from the company’s proprietary molded material that absorbs sound.
SILQ
First, designer James Ludwig, Steelcase vice president of global design, created SILQ, the company’s groundbreaking ultralightweight carbon fiber task chair. Then, with a team of engineers, he developed a totally new material composition that mimics some properties of carbon fiber. Steelcase sells both versions, the $3,000 carbon fiber model and the new polymer. It sells for $970 and comes in the same selection of unexpected fabrics, including digital prints.
Moiré Collection
Artist Gabriel Dawe, known for his rainbow-like textile installations woven from miles of thread, collaborated with Mannington Commercial on the Moiré carpet collection after two company executives saw his work, which has been exhibited in major museums such as the Denver Art Museum. (Dawe is shown creating a site-specific piece in the Merchandise Mart for NeoCon.) Moiré’s modular and broadloom patterns recall the artist’s large, intricate displays.
Wall2Wall
This colorful glass wall from Clarus is also magnetic and writable, to provide a functional work surface for any collaborative space. The floor-to-ceiling panels are ¼" thick nonstaining tempered glass in magnetic and nonmagnetic finishes.
Atelier Collection
These residential-style fabrics from Pallas are made from post-consumer recycled polyester that is woven with nylon, rayon, cotton, and wool. All are designed for contract applications, with resilient patterns tested to withstand from 51,000 to 102,000 double rubs.
Bower Screens
The handcrafted look of these woven freestanding privacy screens adds warmth in workplace settings. Like other pieces in the Bower Collection of furnishings with acoustic properties, the partitions feature sound-absorbing strips of felt. The 2"-thick ash, oak, walnut, or metal frames are available in a 57", 62", 67", or 72" height.
BuzziSpark
When industrial designer Alain Gilles came up with this sofa for BuzziSpace, the acoustic-furnishings company, he had workplace nomads in mind. BuzziSpark’s high backs, upholstered in the company’s sound-absorbing fabric and foam, provide both visual and acoustic privacy, turning the sofa into a virtual conversation pit. One-, two-, and three-seater versions will soon be available.
