Office furniture, as we know it today, is much more than a
supportive object made of dry wood or metal. It is not just a commodity but a
signifier of preference and beliefs.
The philosophies that drive office furniture design have
seen a lot of change in the past two centuries. A century ago, the term ‘office
furniture’ was fairly confusing. There were premium office furniture suites
designed for the wealthy or the gentry and in contrast, simple basic furniture
that was often neither comfortable nor very aesthetically appealing for those
less financially well off. There was a singular split between furniture styles
at the work place, one was driven strictly by economical pursuits, while the
other was an earnest display of power and prestige. Much like the political
landscape, these philosophies were polarized extremes.
However, things began to change during and after the First
and Second World War. The post-World War II period witnessed a new decolonized world
that sprung up with enthusiasm in almost every sphere. A new system of
organizational bureaucracy took root, as production and processes were
methodically systematized. The workplace was divided as well, into specified
cubicles and office furniture became a utilitarian commodity to support the
efficiency of a worker. The chair, the desk, the drawers and cabinets in each
cubicle existed for no reason but to support an employee. It was here that the
design philosophies of modernism and post modernism shone brightest. Embodying
these beliefs, office furniture was designed based on the ideals of
practicality, commodification, and trimming excesses. It is perhaps ironic that
in the 21st century many utilitarian pieces of furniture designed
with this aesthetic are now considered the epitome of luxury and a symbol of
the rich.
Towards the end of the last century, a sudden boom in
technological advancement revealed the magic of team work. Collaboration took
precedence over privacy and cubicle culture began to grudgingly give way to
collaborative open work spaces. Motivation, dialogue and creativity turned into
key buzzwords and furniture design gained a new lease on life. In a true
expression of post-modern philosophies, office furniture was now driven by
ideas of innovation and expression married with form and functionality. As
science began to explore new frontiers, ergonomics began to dominate or heavily
influence office furniture designs.
With working hours increasing by the year, ergonomics rose
to the forefront office furniture design. This coupled with the abstract
expression of postmodern or alter modern philosophies led to a complete
revolution in office furniture. Invention and innovation were beginning to
drive design. This phase began to see some innovative creations in the work
place such as the standing desk, the adjustable office desk and even a desk
with an attachable pod. Simultaneously, with companies growing larger and
larger, office furniture turned into an expression of brand identity. Many
large companies chose custom office furniture
to reflect their philosophies and ethos.
Sitting on an ergonomically designed and comfortably stuffed rotating office chair, as we look back today, we can see how furniture has always been the litmus which helped us to detect the change in the office zeitgeist. We can see how the changing avatars of office furniture have been faithfully illustrating the changes in the very core philosophy behind how men and women work in an office.
