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Ever wonder who comes up with the product designs our customers love? Meet the designers who bring them to life.
Everyone knows HON builds durable, affordable furnishings for any office environment, educational setting or public space. But behind the scenes is a global team of designers that helps us to deliver innovative, stylish solutions that leverage our decades of market insights and manufacturing expertise.
HON is highly selective of its third-party design partners. We look for talent that believes in collaboration and a shared goal. By combining HON’s expertise in material development, production and distribution with these visionary talents, we’re able to deliver a lasting style that any organization can afford.
Here are some of the talented minds behind many of our most popular products, and the stories behind the design.
Applying elegance to everyday elements isn’t easy. From Manhattan to San Francisco to Italy and back, if you’ve noticed the sleek seating in an airport lounge, bustling bank or hotel lobby, odds are you already know the work of designer Brian Kane.
His journey from fresh industrial design grad to partner at Metropolitan Furniture Corporation (in just a decade) affirmed Brian’s passion for product development; a year in Milan proved just as formative in discovering his signature style.
The Italian corners and curves in our elegant Cofi™ executive chairs feature an attention to detail that defines the line. With premium materials and distinctive stitching, available in both high-back and midback, the blend of lush fabrics, durable metal accents and arms that seem to defy gravity add a touch of luxury to any room.
Says Brian of the Cofi line: “We created a design that, through its tailoring, slimness of form and elements of quality like polished aluminum arms and base, make this a most elegant, classic solution.”
The perfect chair is more than just look and feel, it’s also about fit. That understanding is what sets HON seating apart, and sets Wolfgang Deisig and Nils Koehn apart as a design team. Decades of observations and research go into every product they envision.
Recently, Deisig redesigned one of our most popular models, the Nucleus® task chair. Nucleus Recharged is a marvel of simplicity and sophistication. Subtle adjustments to the seat, arms and back offer a custom fit seldom found, with easy-to-reach controls to achieve just the right settings. Deisig’s new design will keep Nucleus modern and fresh for years to come.
The Berlin studio’s influence is also evident in the European utility incorporated into our Ignition® chair—from our stylish executive and task models to our smart stools and stacking chairs, and our supportive big and tall line. It’s a chair for everyone and every environment.
Deisig compares the perfect chair to a comfortable jacket, one that feels just right when you slip into it. “Ergonomics that support the shape and motion of the human body are essential,” says John Koch, Director of Product Development at HNI Workplace Furnishings. “The result is that elusive fit that builds the foundation for work from the ground up, a supportive seat that puts the mind and body at ease and prepares it for the tasks ahead.”
Conventional chairs may serve individual spaces, but what about settings that demand something more? Imagine a scalable seating solution that not only supports community, but also echoes the educational environment.
QDesign’s Tangram™ seating turns angular geometry into inviting gathering places for students to engage beyond the classroom. Trend-setting colors and durable coverings combined with convenient power ports and endless configurations make these compelling cushions more than just visually stunning.
Designers Tim Buchenberger and Rick Joutras of QDesign set out to create an alternative to the static spaces that often dominate instructional layouts. The result taps into increased demand for team-based learning and is perfect for common areas, quiet alcoves and tiered seating. Tangram’s modern-meetsmodular concept makes students stop to think, just like the clever puzzle that inspired it.
“As designers, we love to say ‘what if’ to push a concept forward. And as a partner, HON is able to jump into action and validate each of those ‘what if’ moments,” says QDesign’s Tim Buchenberger. “Fast prototyping became our most important tool in our collaborative process.”
If Midwest charm had a champion in modern furniture design, it would surely be Marcus Koepke. From his upbringing in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, to his study at the University of Cincinnati and a stint at Fitch in Columbus—all informed his approach to adaptive design with mass appeal.
The original Nucleus® task chair was designed by Marcus Koepke. It’s what you don’t see that made the original seat so popular. It’s designed like a hammock, with your choice of colorful and versatile fabrics stretched over a mesh supported by a hidden frame. There’s no seat pan, creating a chair that feels like you’re sitting on air. The suspended seat was so comfortable, we kept it for the design makeover by Deisig detailed above.
Koepke continues to advise on new projects. “Our design partners are a constant source of inspiration and new ideas,” notes Koch. “They’re an integral part of what makes our lines so appealing and responsive to changing workplace needs.”
New ideas and designs come from within the walls of HON too, of course. In fact, our latest advance in seating arrives soon—watch for news about our brand-new line next month.
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