Design Days 2024 was a refreshing mix of new products, excitement and amazing Chicago weather to support walking between all of the new showrooms.
To make the experience complete, attendees enjoyed popsicles treats from JSI, stepping into open air street level popup showrooms like Mohawk and an opportunity to make their own Design Days tee-shirts as momentos. Once inside here are the standout products and moments as captured by Work Design and our design friends: Arthur Garcia-Clemente (Partners By Design), Nicole Zack (Ted Moudis), Sam Mason (Collective DC), Olivia Danielson-Veed (HOK) and Mahsa Saeedi (Arcadis).
Find Your Seat
Satisse Chair by JSI
The Satisse chair utilizes a patent-pending design where the legs attach via magnets near the floor. The magnetic were strong, the chair interlocked easily and quickly, and it makes everything nice and straight. Easy to re-arrange, and it comes in guest chairs, bariatric chairs, lounge chairs and side tables.
Aarea Conference Chair by Teknion
In the spirit of circular design, Teknion in collaboration with Pearson Lloyd has launched a chair that uses minimal components, no mixing of plastics, and no adhesives – allowing for the entire chair to be recycled at the end of its life cycle. The knit back is also fabricated with ocean plastics, and therefore reduces virgin materials. This chair comes in a 4-star base and 5-star caster base, with the option to add a tablet arm for those education or flexible work zones.
I am pleased to see yet another example of innovation in sustainability and
circular design, and can’t wait until this is the standard!
Diffrient Lounge by Humanscale (on Preview)
Humanscale previewed their first ever lounge chair, ‘Diffrient Lounge’. Conceptualized by Niels Diffrient, this lounge chair combines superior ergonomics with exceptional craftsmanship making it ideal for work and relaxation.
Daymora™by Kimball
Daymora is a modern and comfortable lounge collection that includes freestanding and modular lounge seating and occasional tables. Inspired by clouds the cushions are comfy and plush. Metal finishes and flat piping around the perimeter of the arms, back, and seat give it a sophisticated look.
Catifa Carta by Arper
Originally designed in 2001, Catifa Carta features a re-engineered shell made of PaperShell, a revolutionary new material made of composite wood by-product, which provides the strength and comfort essential to Catifa’s now iconic, bi-curved silhouette. A first of its kind innovation, PaperShell dramatically reduces Catifa Carta’s impact on the environment by doing what trees do: sequestering carbon dioxide. At the end of its lifecycle, the material can be reduced to biochar, successfully retaining the CO2 sequestered during the previous life phases.
Duo Series by RAD Furniture
Is two is better than one? The innovation here is in the construction, which allows for two (duo) colors: the frame is steel and the seat, or top, is aluminum/wood. RAD continues to expand on their perforated metal offerings, with outdoor screen & ottomans, and a variety of new table options.
VIP Tables
Herman Miller’s OE1 Sit-to-Stand Table
This table is a great addition to the OE1 series.
And it got me thinking, why haven’t I seen this before? How great is it to see an occasional table that can transform from seated café height to standing height?
It comes in a range of table top solutions, and can be used in residential and commercial settings. Some features of this product include an up/down foot controlled pedal at the base, plug-in power, USB-C power access, cable management, and a bag hook. The only existing limitations are the sizes of the table top, but hope to see the line expand!
Admix™ by Allsteel
Admix is a light-scale table system that adapts to fit the needs of collaborative teams and hybrid settings.
I loved that it was designed with a focus on equity.
I particularly liked the training table. You can slide the legs in or outboard so that you can push them together and have people sit all around it with ease or slide the legs to the outside for a classroom set up and have room for two people to sit comfortably next to each other. Before this table, designers had to spec the tables to have the legs in a fixed position which limited the flexibility or use cases.
Terrific Textiles
First Sight by Milliken
First Sight highlights the interplay between land and sea, capturing the moment when first light breaks on tranquil water.
If you look close you can see the subtle pops of glitter in them.
Subtle textures distinguish two organic patterns, providing the power to bridge spaces and define zones, and 14 neutral colors usher in serene floorscapes across a versatile range of spaces. Utilizing regenerated nylon, this product embodies Milliken’s steadfast commitment to sustainable design.
The Future is Fungi
Tarkett and Mycocycle’s Friendly Fungi Partnership
During Design Days this year, Tarkett announced their partnership with Mycocycle – “a Chicago-based, nature-inspired biotech startup that leverages the root structure of mushrooms to break down construction waste.” While this isn’t a product, it certainly is innovative in considering the circular economy and manufacturer’s take-back programs. I enjoy seeing product manufacturers listen to the asks of the design community to be less harmful to the environment. Tarkett already has an impressive waste diversion program, ReStart, but I can’t wait to see what comes of this partnership.
Etched & Threaded™ by Interface
Designed to bring the warmth of luxury textiles into commercial spaces, Etched &Threaded™ features highly textured products inspired by patterns and forms found in nature. This latest global carpet tile collection from Interface includes seven styles made for purpose and without compromise, offering designers choice and flexibility with space definition.
Telescope Wall by Teknion
Telescoping door, the newest addition to the brand’s Architectural Interiors category, is a movable door that can span up to 32’. There is always one fixed or static panel and then the other panels fold into it. It can open in one direction or it can have a central opening. The system has a soft close and there is no track or seal at the bottom. Another incredible opportunity to introduce flexibility into client spaces.
Showroom Standout: The Boom Bop Boing Test Lab
Shoutout to MillerKnoll who brought their Test Lab to Fulton Market Design Days with a full walkthrough of process from tree to product trials and tribulations of daily use. This was an insightful way to show to everyone the detailed work that goes into every product.
