off-set Collection
A furniture collection that offsets the ground to provide a casual comfort to the home office.
14-week project confronting the concept of comfort in a post-pandemic world.
Spring 2021
The pandemic has affected more than our physical life.
With working at home, people can no longer rely on home for a source of comfort.
There is no differentiation between work and home.
We are now, essentially, stuck in our work environment all day long.
Current home office settings are insufficient in helping people transition between work and rest.
The problems formed during the coronavirus pandemic are a key driver in shaping the lives of younger generations.
In my design, I wanted to develop a collection that would target Generation Z consumers. As they are a large group of people who are currently students or young adults freshly entering the workforce, it is crucial to reassess the current working systems to fit their values. Working and learning from home has lead to a demand in catering to their new needs, in this unstable world.
Gen Z Values
01 Mental well-being
02 Work-Life balance
03 Flexibility
Opportunity:
Designing a space where work meets rest.
Creating a casual experience with floor seating.
Throughout the pandemic, people have taken advantage of their newfound freedoms of working from home. They are choosing the casual experience of sitting on the floor because of how it provides them a sense of awayness from their desks. The floor is a natural hangout zone that can accommodate daily tasks - casually.
Design Direction: Casual Comfort
Linear Forms
Straight forms can blend quietly into any room and environment as well as providing more utility within its square footage.
A Room Within a Room
The off-set furniture collection melds into home environments to create a comfortable zone within a living space.
A Personal Platform
48” x 48” of platform space. The platform supports fluid lifestyle through encouraging people to sit and lay in different positions on the comfortable cushion.
More with Less Space
The elevation of the platform creates greater efficiency with less space. Items can be stored away on the shelf underneath the platform.
A Surface for the Platform and stool
Slides on top of the storage unit to become a convenient side table.
Light-weight Table
= 4.34 lb
off-set Coffee Table
Lifted off the storage unit, the table can be used on the floor as a lower surface.
Increasing Seating Options
The off-set table sits at a height that is compatible with the platform while users lay down and the short stool.
off-set Stools
Providing extra comfort and seating options.
Gives people more opportunities to enjoy the
company of their friends.
off-set Stool 01
14” with shelving
off-set Stool 02
4” and adds comfort to those sitting directly on the floor.
Adaptable to Different Lifestyles
A primary focus of the off-set collections is to allow user flexibility. The function of each piece is left mostly undefined to maximize the opportunity for user comfort.
Possible Applications
Storing Items
Relaxed Seating
Formal Seating
Supporting Togetherness
Modular Arrangements
Aluminum Clip
The off-set collection offers modularity through its removable clamp piece. The aluminum clip slides in over the sides of the storage and platform. The clip can adjust its strength with the twist mechanism on the side. Each platform and storage unit can be rearranged freely to match the lifestyle or preferences of the user.
Potential to expand in commercial environments.
Versatile Arrangements for Working Environments
The off-set collection offers increased flexibility in public working settings. In schools and offices, off-set is able to introduce casual comfort to further inspire collaboration. Friends and coworkers can re-arrange pieces to create an ideal hub of productivity. Additionally, pieces can be rearranged to provide privacy for individuals to focus on their tasks.
CMF
Materials and Finish
Color Inspiration: Surreal Escape
Palette
Younger generations prioritize mental health and well-being. These low-contrast serene colors facilitate rest and escape through soft resort tones.
Upholstery Colors
Warm and Cool tones
off-set collection
Providing casual comfort both in and out of the home.