The Column: Mike Holland on Industrial Design

Our team of sixteen industrial designers collaborate with the practice’s architectural studios and specialist teams, from structural and environmental engineers to researchers and urban designers, ensuring that every project benefits from a multidisciplinary approach.

We develop site-specific solutions for architectural projects, some of which have evolved into independent ventures. We also work directly with manufacturers to create standalone products and ranges at a commercial scale.  

As well as designing for our own client base, we also work on products and systems that respond to the specific needs of architectural projects, such as the seating systems for Bloomberg HQ in London, the market stalls for Old Spitalfields Market, and flexible workstations and the integrated display systems for OXMAN Studio in New York.

We get involved early in the process, as the function and layout of a building evolves, from concept and model-making through to installation. 

Sustainability is embedded in every stage of our design process. We always strive to work with materials that are low in carbon, easy to recycle, and efficient to manufacture and transport.

A more recent example that demonstrates our holistic approach is the collection of door handles, made with the German manufacturer, FSB. Sustainability was embedded not only in the material choice but also through the manufacturing process. The finish required fewer processing stages than conventional aluminium, reducing both energy use and waste.

Durability is central to the design concept, creating a unified collection of products that will have longevity and last for generations.

Sometimes the design evolves directly from a material, other times the material is chosen in response to a specific requirement or manufacturing technique. Every project requires a highly considered and tailored approach, for example:

We recently collaborated with Isokon to create Join – and in this instance the choice of material shaped the concept. Isokon’s expertise in moulded plywood production and the layered veneer technique defined the design outcome.

Projects such as the Osuu chair – with Walter Knoll – demonstrate how material processes such as moulding plywood, timber machining and steam vending can directly inform the design of the product. We also work with our own material library that serves as a research centre for projects in development. It is continuously updated in collaboration with the practice’s sustainability experts, who help identify low-carbon alternatives.

Then there are designs that are driven primarily by function. The design development of Desk Z was led by the ambition to create a sit-stand desk without power and crank handles. The desk has a patented spring and cam mechanism, housed within an aluminium frame, which maintains consistent tension to hold the worktop at any height.

Understanding the way people behave and interact is central to our approach. As new scientific principles emerge, we apply relevant insights to improve comfort, usability and emotional connection.

For Maggie’s Manchester we worked closely with the architects to understand how the design of the space could emotionally support people affected by cancer. The kitchen table was envisaged as the heart of the building, a place where people meet informally for a cup of tea and a chat, which creates a homely atmosphere. The design also provides a choice of private or communal spaces, which allows people to use the building in a way that works for them. The use of natural materials with variations – such as solid timber – contributes to creating a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Responding to the users’ different needs, The Cove chair, developed in collaboration with Poltrona Frau, provides visual and acoustic privacy within busy environments. The chair offers a secluded, relaxed space without the need for walls. It has been included in projects such as the House of Wisdom in Sharjah, which conceptualises the library as a social hub for learning.