by Brianna Crandall — July 13, 2015—Furniture designer and manufacturer izzy+ published an “off-white” paper relating to healthy workplace design in conjunction with the launch of its “human-centric” modular lounge collection and a height-adjustable table at the NeoCon 2015 contract furnishings show in Chicago in June. The Sylvi lounge collection won Gold in the Lounge Furniture Collections category of the Best of NeoCon Competition at the show.
Movement & Variation paper
In response to recent studies pointing to potentially critical health problems related to excess sitting in the workplace, izzy+ published its Movement & Variation: Designing wellbeing into the workplace off-white paper calling for a practical solution that can be effective and sustainable. “If people are made to move, workplace design can naturally encourage movement aimed at better physical health, better brain function and increased productivity,” says Allison Roon, director of design for izzy+. “We think variety + routine = Varietine!”
The company sees “Varietine” as a big solution made up of lots of small choices. “Movement and variety are the most sustainable solutions for helping people achieve their best selves,” says Roon. “And we are mindful that good design matters. That’s why we’re taking the best parts of what a routine can be in the workplace and infusing them with the variety that we need to stay active, motivated and on task. Varietine shows our spirit of fun at izzy+ and reinforces our brand: to create inspirational workspaces that embrace office wellbeing.”
The paper cites research and discussion on:
- The decline of health and wellbeing
- Workplace wellness culprits
- Movement and variety: a sustainable solution
- Encouraging Varietine through furniture and space design
- The benefits of Varietine in the workplace
The Sylvi modular lounge collection and the Penny height-adjustable table are examples of new products featured at NeoCon 2015 that embrace the Varietine philosophy, supporting both traditional and collaborative workspaces and giving movement options. Both are described below.
Sylvi modular lounge collection
The new Sylvi modular lounge collection, which earned a Best of NeoCon Gold Award, was created for izzy+ by award-winning designer Joey Ruiter, a major influence on today’s human-centric workplace and learning design. His ongoing exploration of “second and third spaces,” where people can move naturally from one place to another, with izzy+ includes the company’s award-winning Dewey 6-top table and learning collection, as well as architectural elements like the Nemo bar and trellis.
Sylvi pairs well with people working outside traditional office spaces, whether in upscale lobbies, break-out spaces or other “in-between” places. With clean lines and a straightforward design, Sylvi is a creative canvas that can inspire a range of modern looks. The collection offers residential-like comfort while holding its own under the wear-and-tear pressures of the corporate world.
Embracing mobile technology, the metal frame hosts hidden USB and power plug-ins. This under-cushion channel also helps connect embedded tables, magazine rack and coat hook accessories. A wide range of rectilinear or angular shapes can be created with Sylvi, on a large or small scale. Attachable backer panels allow designers to create a space within a space with Sylvi. The slight tilt and exacting height of the laminated panels offer the optimal degree of open enclosure, with a private space but having a line of sight to the surrounding people and the activity.
The Sylvi sofa seat and back are made of cut urethane foam. The frame is a 1×1 inch square powder coated steel tube with welded construction, available in all izzy+ Flavors powder coat colors. Two formed steel sheet metal channels add strength, structure and stability to support the cushion, and also anchor accessories. With the 1×1 inch steel tube base, each table is made of high-pressure laminate with ABS edge banding. An embedded mechanical fastening system allows convenient, efficient knockdown shipping. SCS Indoor Advantage Gold and BIFMA level 1 certification are pending.
“The reaction to Sylvi at NeoCon says it all,” says izzy+ CEO Kevin Kuske. “Even though we’re in the middle of the world’s top trade show for office furniture, people are already holding meetings in our showroom, stopping at Sylvi to check their messages and recharging before heading to their next appointment.”
Penny height-adjustable table
The company has also added a new height-adjustable column to its Penny table, providing 10 inches of flexibility and holding up to 11 pounds of laptop and latte, or tablet and smartphone. Like Sylvi, Penny partners with people working outside the traditional office space, in places to recharge and take a break.
“With today’s mobile technology, people often use lobby lounge seating or a café sofa as a touchdown area,” says Allison Roon, director of design for izzy+. “Penny offers smart, intuitive support for the dynamic ways that people work.”
Penny’s simple design is grounded in sound structure. The modified X base made of sturdy cast aluminum in mirror or painted finish options stabilizes weight support and provides a natural footrest. The table surface is inches thick—high pressure laminate on particleboard core. The izzy+ trademark molded urethane edges form a soft grip for easy handling, tapering to shallower edges on non-user sides of the rectangular top. Penny’s standard finishes include nine urethane edge colors that pair with up to 33 easy-to-clean laminates. Choose from rectangular and oval surface shapes (15 inches deep by 20 inches wide). Glides are standard; optional casters add 1 inches of height.
Penny is certified Indoor Advantage Gold by SCS Global Services, and conforms to the ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Emissions Standard and ANSI/BIFMA e3-2012 for the open plan and private office workstation parameters. It also conforms to the CDPH/EHLB Standard Method v1.1 2010 for the open plan and school classroom.
The new height-adjustable feature is provided by the izzy+ design and engineering teams. The original table designers are Joe Ricchio, Ricchio Design, and Matt Duncan, Morphix Design.
