This project was completed from start to finish in three weeks; the final outcome consists of a single panel system that can be oriented in different ways to form three types of furniture: a stool, a desk, and a storage system. Included below are the required submissions for the 2021 FORMICA Design Competition: three renderings (one with dimensions), plans, elevations, and axonometric drawings. The theme for the 2021 competition was Design for the Next Generation.
FORMICA laminate is essential to the creation and development of this adaptive panel project. At the start of the pandemic, people rushed to rework their home spaces in order to accommodate for a variety of new tasks, including remote learning and work-from-home. This led to a surge of people renovating their work spaces, often a time consuming and expensive activity. These problems can be remedied by implementing a multi-use panel furniture system into homes. People have the option to reconfigure their spaces at any time. Because these panels come in three different colors (White Spex [931], Buff Elm [5793], and Liquid Glass [8240], the outcome of the furniture is adaptable, flexible, and affordable.
Although each panel itself is functionally identical, there are a multitude of furniture orientations possible, among them a chair, a desk, and storage solutions. One can create a completely different look depending on color choice, allowing for more freedom. The example renderings provided show these three orientations in a refreshing, modern color scheme. White Spex (931) is used on all horizontal surfaces, while Buff Elm (5793) and Liquid Glass (8240) are used on vertical surfaces. Liquid Glass (8240) provides a pop of bright but not overpowering color, while the new Buff Elm (5793) color grounds the design. Depending on the colors chosen, identical pieces can look completely different, lending itself to the fluidity needed while the pandemic continues.
These panels are secured together using a heavy-duty cam lock system that expands into the panel, providing stability and support. Additionally, 0.875” x 12” and 0.875” x 24” flat grommets with cord slots can be inserted into the gaps in each panel, preventing pens, pencils, and other thin objects from sliding through the horizontal surfaces. The resulting design can accommodate whatever the world may throw at it.