KI has long been on the cutting edge when it comes to research and products for the educational furniture market, but its introductions at this year’s NeoCon show how the Green Bay-based company is using that knowledge to inform its office furniture offerings as well.
If there is a theme that runs through KI’s new products and showroom design, it is individual control, as in how an individual — whether student or office worker — can control or change their space to make it work better for them (and make them happier and more efficient).
KI’s new products show a certain playfulness as well, evident in its new Imaginasium Collection (more on Imaginasium below). Healthcare and wellness have always been important themes for KI as well and this year is no different. The company is focusing on the idea of reflection and rejuvenation at NeoCon this year as well, according to Angela Allen, director of product marketing.
“KI has been thinking about individual spaces and connection, reflection from an individual standpoint, but also connecting with others and what that means for your mental health, your physical health, and really about comfort as well,” she said.
Many of the products KI is introducing and exploring look at choice and options, especially as it relates to different sensory aspects of the spaces in which they are used. Several KI products address acoustics and visual privacy and are designed as solutions to help employers address the noise and privacy challenges of hybrid offices.
One idea KI is showing at NeoCon is a custom-designed sound-absorbing workstation that it developed with Meta. According to Jonathan Webb, KI’s director of workplace, the tech giant has row upon row of height adjustable desks and wanted to keep them, but add a level of privacy and sound dampening. Meta found that as workers returned to the office, they brought video conferencing back with them, which created some distractions in the office.
Instead of scrapping the desks, Meta worked with KI to design two products — a sound absorbing screen that could be attached to the existing desks and a free -tanding screen (affectionately called the burrito screen internally) that is place in back and alongside the worker — an acoustic wrapping of sorts. Meta did some acoustical testing and found that there was a 24-decibel reduction when they put this product in place.
KI is also enhancing its WiggleRoom Super Structure, a post-and-beam system that creates freestanding spaces in open-plan environments. WiggleRoom blurs the lines between furniture and architecture. WiggleRoom Super Structure can be fully or partially enclosed, and has a variety of ceiling, privacy and lighting options while meeting HVAC and fire safety standards.
KI will also have architectural wall live product demos again this year. Installer will show visitors how easy it is to install and reconfigure KI’s architectural wall products.
A large area of KI’s showroom will feature its new Imaginasium Collection. Made of lightweight but high-density foam, Imaginasium offers soft seating in three different modular “Blocks” and round lily pad-like cushions or “Blips.” School children can use them to build structures, climb, nestle, and explore as they learn. They support a range of learning methods — experiential, play-based, floor-based, tiered seating, cocooning and more.
Again, the students and teachers are able to assemble the Blocks and Blips to work best for them in any given situation. The Blocks simply stack together, like a game of Tetris, and can be used to create sitting areas or small shelters.
Other new product introductions and enhancements include:
Intellect Wave Rocker: A small attachment that attaches to base of the legs of Intellect Wave cantilever chairs, the rocker allows for a subtle rocking motion and supports kids who need to move around to stay focused. Rockers can be added or removed from new or existing Intellect Wave cantilever chairs with just a screwdriver — allowing instructors to tailor classrooms to individual students’ needs.
LimeLite: Last year, KI debuted its Best of NeoCon-winning seating collection offering sculptural aesthetics and ergonomic comfort provided by a flexing shell. This year, KI expands the collection with a new wood-leg model that adds a warm accent, a touch of biophilia, and complements other finishes in a space. A sleek, polished aluminum conference chair prototype will also be on display.
Savoir Faire: The newest collection from KI subsidiary Pallas Textiles, Savoir Faire features six textiles that explore the give-and-take between maker and material and the intersections of colors, materials, and processes. A study in craftsmanship, this new collection showcases unique textures and large-scale patterns.