Karim Rashid
Newform Hook Desk
Newform Ufficio
Newform Hook Desk
Newform Hook Desk
Fully modular, the Hook Desk collection allows users to customize their environment while keeping all necessities organized and at hand. It includes a lower shelf, wire manager, PC tower, upper shelving, and a customizable lower drawer. One notable feature is the LED arc lamp that spans the entire desk creating ambient light with less harsh shadows that a standard desk lamp. The other notable feature is the translucent privacy screen that allows for the flow of light and air.
2. The Brief: Summarize the problem you set out to solve. What was the context for the project, and what was the challenge posed to you?The challenge was to create a unique desk system that provides privacy while being modular, contemporary and stylish. The average American works 1700 hours a year so it is important to make your desk and work environment as comfortable as the home, only with fewer distractions.
3. The Intent: What point of view did you bring to the project, and were there additional criteria that you added to the brief?I wanted to design a desk that was inviting and promoted a sense of openness within the office environment. Cubicles are obsolete. No one wants to be in a cage, partitioned off in a 4 foot square. Fluid, clean, bright spaces promote a healthy work life and, in turn, the office produces stronger work.
4. The Process: Describe the rigor that informed your project. (Research, ethnography, subject matter experts, materials exploration, technology, iteration, testing, etc., as applicable.) What stakeholder interests did you consider? (Audience, business, organization, labor, manufacturing, distribution, etc., as applicable)The desks are made from a welded and powder coated steel frame with different material options for the desktop surfaces and accessories. This freedom with materials informed the design process my keeping the lines and aesthetic of the desk sleek and minimal, making it easy to assemble while allowing for a number of expressive customizations.
5. The Value: How does your project earn its keep in the world? What is its value? What is its impact? (Social, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, environmental, cultural, gladdening, etc.)An office should feel free, communal, and personal at the same time. Color accents, pop artwork, and simple divisions in space can create a private environment within the all-encompassing space. This casualization of shape, form, material, and behavior is now a movement. Casualism is also a metaphor for freedom-to be who you want, to express yourself the way you want, to be an individual, and not follow the rules.
This stylish and highly functional modular desk takes into consideration all of the needs of your office life but adds a sense of openness to let you break away from cubical office environments.