Flexible Office: Design with a future

Our collaboration with the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd impressively demonstrated how much creative potential can be generated in a short period of time. As part of the ‘Flexible Office’ semester project, product design students developed a wide range of furniture and room ideas based on in-depth insights into various K+N areas such as production, exhibition, sustainability, WORK.CULTURE.MAP and style worlds.

After the kick-off at our premises in Karben, the research phase, concept development and interim feedback took place in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The students returned to us for the final presentation – with impressive results that equally impressed teams from design, product management, sales, planning and room systems. The concepts ranged from seating furniture and modular storage solutions to innovative room structures.

Experts from various departments then examined the feasibility of the submitted concepts. It quickly became clear that two designs stood out in particular:

• ‘Hexwall’ by Valentin Habiger
• ‘Capsule’ by Paul Allemeyer

We were able to create our own prototypes for Hexwall at short notice. For Capsule, we received external support from Pill GmbH, a construction and furniture joinery in Burgstetten, which implemented the final trade fair prototype.

All eight project ideas were exhibited by us at ORGATEC 2024 in the IMPULSE.HUB. The students also had the opportunity to present their concepts in a lecture. This gave them direct feedback from trade visitors, which was a valuable part of their learning and development process.

Valentin Habiger reported on the development process of his Hexwall. He explained that the idea arose from the desire to ‘close the gap between minimalist acoustic walls and large-volume room dividers’. The hexagonal shape was deliberately chosen because, inspired by nature, it enables high stability with minimal use of materials. In the interview, he emphasised how exciting it had been to transform the structure into a modular, functional system: ‘The development of add-ons such as shelves, plant holders and whiteboards has demonstrated the potential of Hexwall's flexibility.’ At the same time, aspects such as stability, acoustic effectiveness and sustainability had to be carefully balanced.

Paul Allemeyer, developer of Capsule, also explained in an interview that the basic idea was ‘to create a protected area where the user can determine for themselves how much concentration or interaction they need at any given moment with a simple twist of the wrist.’ The design was primarily inspired by the desire for an inviting, cosy atmosphere and a personal retreat. He described the biggest challenge as the combination of ‘cost-effective implementation, sustainable materials and high design standards.’ He found the close collaboration with König + Neurath particularly exciting – ‘seeing how the idea developed from paper to a 1:1 model was a highlight of the project.’

The discussions with Paul Allemeyer and Valentin Habiger impressively demonstrated how much passion, reflection and innovative strength went into both projects. Both students not only developed compelling product ideas, but also demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges of modern working environments. We were particularly impressed by how consistently they combined design quality, functionality and sustainability. The interviews illustrate the added value that university collaborations offer us: fresh perspectives, bold approaches and creative solutions that enrich our portfolio and provide impetus for future developments.

An essential aspect of our collaboration with the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd is our shared understanding of social and ecological responsibility in the design process. The university pursues a clear goal that goes far beyond design aesthetics. As the HfG emphasises: "For us, it's about the question of what we really want, need and what makes sense. Not everything that is feasible should be done. At HfG, we have little time for mere “prettification” or disposable products that pile up into mountains of rubbish and end up in the oceans. We don't find pure luxury items particularly exciting either. We prefer to make things that are helpful and useful. Simply good things. And we make good things simple. For everyone. At the forefront and in uncompromising quality.‘ This attitude is also reflected in the ’Flexible Office" project: functionality, sustainability and social added value were the focus for the students. Many of the final projects that impressively demonstrate this claim can be found on the portfolio page of the HfG, where the final projects of the graduates are archived.