Case Study: Residentially Inspired Commercial Office Furniture
Frem Group
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the way offices and workspaces were viewed was fundamentally changed. Return rates to the office were low and in-office hours were reduced. This task was to explore methods of creating a more inviting workplace through new product development.
Current Product Landscape
Current products in the Frem portfolio that contributed to the approach of a modern office focused on zoning open-plan spaces, movable furniture items, pods and modular systems. All are designed to give a flexible working environment.
The colours used in the product lineup were appealing but restrictive and didn't follow current trends in the industry.
Market Analysis
Major competitors in the industry were looking into more residentially inspired furniture. This was to create an environment at work that would provide a more relaxing and inviting atmosphere.
Companies were completely refitting existing office spaces filled with rows of white desks and filing cabinets to be more visually interesting and flexible.
Finishes were changing from blacks, blues and whites, to light oaks, off-whites, beiges and softer tonal colourways.
Buyer Challenges
Our clients, primarily furniture dealers, were looking for easier ways to specify their tenders. Product specification was often lost to competitors because of the ease of specifying configured products through the means of a competitor's configurator, instead of going through our existing channels of contacting a sales representative and waiting for a bespoke drawing to be done before being sent back.
Synthesis
From these findings, we gathered that there was a need for a product or a range of products that would be flexible in their design, conform to new trends in an up-to-date finish selection and would be easy to specify for our clients through the use of a configurator.
Development
Designs started with exploring a storage unit that could have configurable inserts that clients could specify themselves using a configurator. Open-faced units allow for plants and objects to be placed to create a more natural and relaxed environment. Finishes focused on pairing accompanying colours together or a colour with wood veneer or wood effect laminate/MFC to bring a style to the object, in conjunction with current trends. A range of legs was developed to broaden the customizability of the range further to allow it to fit into multiple styles of office interiors.
With positive feedback from the managing director of Frem, a second phase of the project was opened up to create a matching range of tables to complement the storage unit. These designs followed the same principles of the credenza with customisable legs, with a range of top finishes and shapes to choose from.
Result
The final product was a credenza composed of 1-bay and 2-bay configurable sections. These sections were then clad in a matching or contrasting outer shell, forming a shadow gap that featured along the border of the unit. This in turn framed the inserts and created separation while highlighting the features of each section. Colours were a combination of soft and neutral allowing for a customisable experience that was guided by the rails of a limited curated selection. The tables followed suit creating a full suite to be adapted to any modern office environment.
When decorated with foliage and items, the units feel like they would not be out of place in someone's home.
Success was measured by interest during the Clerkenwell Design Week showcase event. The products gathered interest and were specified and purchased by a major furniture dealer and their client shortly after.
