In 2013 it will be increasingly common to see people working in collaborative environments as opposed to private workstations. This trend towards shared spaces has created a unique need for designers and facilities managers—the need to provide comfortable, productive seating for employees with varying needs. Allsteel, a leader in office furniture design, identified this need for the office environment. They sought out a collaborative partner known for premium design and thought leadership in BMW Group DesignworksUSA to take on what would become the Clarity project entering a new category of seating and overall seating experience.
At BMW Group DesignworksUSA, we have a unique business model that encourages our designers to work on a wide variety of programs. This cross-fertilization is an integral part of our automotive and external design work. Much like a car or yacht exterior, we need to consider the context and environment for our chair designs throughout the entire process. Exploring relationships between form, human factors, and the body is an integral part of this design solution.
The collaboration between BMW Group DesignworksUSA and Allsteel was structured to take advantage of the strengths of both companies. In the early phases of the program, Allsteel coordinated immersive, multi-city research that permitted the DesignworksUSA team to interview over 60 designers and facility managers in every key region on evolving attitudes towards interior design and workplace trends. We heard repeatedly that a shift toward collaboration in the workplace has taken place that needs to be supported by furniture that is flexible, adaptable, and contemporary. These findings allowed us to define a set of functional and aesthetic criteria for the Clarity chair, and as we developed our first sketches, proof of concept models and final details, we were able to return to these criteria to align our vision to the needs of the workplace.
We were inspired by the “Design of Reduction” philosophy, and the simplicity of the exposed structure itself. Rather than distract the user with unnecessary features and controls, we focused on refining a few essential elements to create a clean, intuitive and timeless solution. Since the chair has a continuous open mesh surface that forms the seat, lumbar support and back panel in a single gesture, we wanted the exposed structure of the chair to be beautiful in all perspectives. There were many design options that were tested for each individual element, and we tried to design each form to be the simplest expression of its function.
We recognized that the trends toward lower office panel heights and open floor plans in architecture are creating true opportunities for seating to have a major visual impact on the character of office spaces. The uninterrupted mesh panel is an opportunity for design expression in the workplace, because the colors can be classic, neutral, or bold. We created a design that is timeless in its proportion and contemporary in its detailing. As an automotive studio, we are trained to approach our designs from the distinct ‘reads’, which are proportion, surface, and detail. As you approach a car exterior, your first impression is of the overall proportion – its gesture and stance. Then you notice the way light and reflection reveals the nuanced curvatures of the surface. Lastly, you experience the details, how the handle fits your hand, how the armrest fits your body. Designing Clarity to be appealing at all three ‘reads’ of proportion, surface, and detail was important to us, and it follows this process of design.
The design of Clarity should not be attributed solely to DesignworksUSA or Allsteel. It should be attributed to the marketplace and the countless research efforts and refinements made by participants from the architect and design community as well as end users. The design is really a mosaic of ideas where all involved are expressed in the final product. One of the benefits of working with a highly collaborative studio is that there is a natural collaboration of ideas and design concepts during development. Allsteel and DesignworksUSA worked closely to create this type of environment, which allowed for freedom to explore designs that we would not have considered on our own.
Clarity is suitable for a productive work environment for employees of every need. It is comfortable without adjustments, intuitive to use, and appropriate for many postures. The low back and open arm design mean that users can move freely from a traditional posture, to side sitting, to over-the shoulder conversations. This supports the spontaneity of collaboration in the workplace, as well as comfort during private, more concentrated work.
Bio
Title: Associate Director, Creative Consulting, BMW Group DesignworksUSA
Education: Patrick graduated from The Cooper Union School of Art and UCLA with a Bachelor of Fine Art and Masters of Architecture respectively.
Expertise/Skill: Patrick has the unique blend of architecture and design understanding.
Experience: Patrick has held several design positions including senior designer, creative director, and creative consulting associate director. He developed a growing practice in environmental design that emerged from both the Transportation and Product Design departments. Patrick has managed many design programs including charter schools, luxury condominium interiors, and student housing. He participated in the Venice Biennale of Architecture at the American Pavilion and has been recognized with several awards including AIA and Red Dot.
Years of Experience: Patrick has 20 years of experience in architecture and design.
Project Details: Patrick worked closely with senior designers Johannes Lampela and Bianca Fleischer: