Pair originally worked for months to debut Olli, their new modular workplace furniture system, at NeoCon. But when the trade fair was canceled in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Pair’s designers brainstormed ways to make the launch both accessible and fun. The result? Four miniature offices that were created in each of the designers’ own homes, inspired by various workplace styles. That means that the company devised tiny options for theoretical marketing, executive, creative, and information technology teams.
“We were planning to do a mini furniture display at our booth at NeoCon,” senior designer Hillary Kalamaha explains to AD PRO of the inspiration behind the Minis. “We wanted to show sales teams how they could mix and match the furniture.”
The 13 SKU Olli launch is the culmination of several years of work. “The idea behind Olli is that it is dynamic: ever changing and shifting,” says industrial designer Elliot Whalen, who notes that there is no star product in the line because each one—from the power and data beam to the accessories—plays a vital role in creating workstation clusters that can be pulled apart and reassembled.
The entirety of design engineer Sam Petrovich’s vision was wedged inside a home bookshelf. The images, which went live on the company website this week, are being used for promotional purposes.
Photo: Courtesy of Pair
Each Mini also shows the mind behind the creator. Application designer Alyse Kobus used small pieces of wood to create her Olli Mini, and placed it in her kitchen next to vintage plates and a coffee maker for scale. Whalen was inspired by the idea of the executive office and placed his Mini on the stonework of his house’s front steps. He used a 3D printer to form the core furniture and contrasted black tables with pops of color using nail polishes that mimic a powder coat. “I was already working on a dollhouse for my niece,” he adds with a laugh. Kalamaha gave her tiny furniture softer curves to suit a creative team (her image was photobombed by her cat, but she chose to let it stay to show viewers the scale). Design engineer Sam Petrovich selected a layout for an IT team, contrasted with a vinyl record shelf for size.
Much like Lilliputian worlds created for the enjoyment of children, the four Olli Minis have a storybook element to them, with tricks like mirrors that “double” the space, plants plucked from the designers’ gardens, and details such as mini folders left open on tables. “They show the ability to change out the accessories and allow clients to have a low-cost way of making these changes,” explains Kalamaha, who adds that the demand for furniture—particularly with screens and other safety-enhanced features as a result of the pandemic—has not ebbed. “All these plug-and-play elements that make up Olli are what you see in the Minis.”
The installation made by industrial designer Elliot Whalen, displayed on a wooden bench.
Photo: Courtesy of Pair
Another friend from the animal kingdom checks out Kalamaha’s efforts.
Photo: Courtesy of Pair"furniture" - Google News
July 30, 2020 at 04:29AM
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This Teeny Tiny Office Furniture Is a Sight for Sore Eyes - Architectural Digest
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