Multi-functional Storage Unit for Bisley's Range of Furniture

1. Research Doc. Thomas Gray Product Design Lv.2 St 20079847

2. Contents Page 1 - Brief Page 2 - Overview Page 3 - Be by Bisley Page 4 - Essentials Page 5 - Lateralfile Page 6 - BBC Salford Page 7 - Algot Page 8 - Materials

3. Brief To design a component based multi functional storage unit to fit and adapt within Bisleysrange. Functional Requirement The building will contain different zones; Meet & Greet, Team and Service. The brief is for a multifunctional furniture piece or pieces suited to the Team zones. Elements might comprise occasional seating, mini-worksurface, temporary storage (bags etc) and collaborative workplanessuch as pin-boards and dry-wipe boards. Successful designs will be those that combine sympathetic aesthetics with simplicity, easy assembly/disassembly and maximum flexibility in team size and ease of use. Design Considerations Possible option of writeable surface, Height adjustment, Fold-ability, MoveabilityRobustness, Ergonomics, Stability, Ability to dock/technology, Inclusivity, Well being, Local materials, Hand crafted, Budget, Surface decoration, Perforation and Acoustics 1

4. Bisley Bisley are a company that “Designs and provides high-quality furniture” for both office and home environments. Bisley produce a range of storage solutions from personal storage to cupboards, tool storage to desk storage. They provide storage solutions to many well known organisations such as Direct Line, PwC and the BBC. This demonstrates the reliability of the products due to the prestige nature of their clients. The website stresses that the success of the company is due to them having strong partnerships, the latest manufacturing technology and the “best people”(i.e. staff). The website also informs the reader that they are becoming one of Europe's largest manufacturers of steel storage, signifying how well known and trusted the company has become. Another interesting fact featured is that Bisley are very aware of the impacts manufacturing has on the environment, one of their main traits is to “reduce adverse effects and maximise favourable ones.” The company prove they are working to better manufacturing processes, they are signatories of the environment policy statement issued by OFMA (Office Furniture and Filing Manufactures Association) and endorse the policies therein. Bisley are alsofull members of The Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP) the main objectives of this programme include effective protection of the environment and sensible use of natural resources. The website stresses the importance of producing furniture that is both comfortable and effective in various different environments. I agree with this statement as if the user is at their most relaxed stress levels may drop, which could lead to an increase in work productivity. 2

5. Be by Bisley “Be” offers a wide range of benefits, one of it most striking is its appearance. With a mixture of brightly coloured shades and unique shapes it is stimulating to look at, in my opinion this would inspire creativity. “Be” comes with many different features it can act as a divider allowing for different work spaces i.e. single work desk, multi work table. It offers organisation by having many storage areas some big some small, allowing for a clutter free work space. Plugs are incorporated into the “Be” products, this allows users to stay connected at all times. The main feature of “Be” is that it can be reconfigured, this allows for it completely unique to each office and increases the adaptability of the product. I think that this range would be perfect for my current brief, as it is suitable for several different workspaces. 3

6. Essentials Bisley The main feature of the “Essentials” range is the depth of storage it provides. It is designed to hold a whole range of things such as folders and stationary. This feature would keep clutter on work surfaces to a minimum, thus reducing distractions to the user. In my opinion the “Essentials” range with its sharp edges, lack of colour and overall blandness offers very little mental stimulation. With this uninspiring design I believe the creative flow of the workforce would be very low. I find the “Essentials” does exactly what it is expected of itself, its practical and does the job well. It is also very universal and would fit in to most office designs. I would say that it is perfect for an average office space, but I don’t think it meets my current brief due to its simplicity. 4

7. Lateralfile Range Bisley In my opinion the “Lateralfile” range combines formal and informal work spaces well. As shown in the (top left) picture a more formal meeting area can be created, whereas (top middle) picture shows a more casual work area. I like this feature as it promotes working in a space that you feel most comfortable in, this may lead to increased productivity. Again like all of Bisley’s ranges “lateralfile” offers an exceptional amount of storage options, featuring various different sized draws, shelves and cupboards in order to match the users requirements. With space for everything that needs storing, it is likely that clutter would be reduced and therefore so is distraction. I find that the mixture of colours in this range would make an office space more stimulating. Although this may increase distraction, it may also inspire creativity and make the overall workspace visually pleasing. This range has won praise and recognition from clients, architects and designers alike. 5

8. BBC Salford Quays - Bisley Bisley have already provided storage solutions to the BBC previously, they designed a range of personal storage lockers for the three BBC building in MediaCityUK. The criteria for this project was bright colours, personal locker space, custom label holders for identity. As you can see from the pictures below ‘Bisley’ did not disappoint, the lockers having been coloured very brightly and are a centrepiece within the room. I really like the way they haven’t used cohesion with the colour placement, there are no distinct patterns and everything is in a random order. This interests me as it completely goes against the kind of organisation a personal locker offers. Asthe criteria mentions, custom label holders have been included into the design. I like this addition as it gives each individual a chance to personalise their own locker, creating a greater feeling of ownership. 6

9. Algot Ikea This is Ikea’s answer to a multi-use storage unit. It shares very few characteristics with Bisley’sranges as it is much more basic and adaptable. I can see very vague similarities with the “Essential” range with features such assharp edges and lack of colour variation, however the overall design varies largely. My interpretation is that “Algot” was designed with the idea of ‘form follows function.’ In saying that it seems to function very well as it is able to provide space for storage of a range of products (seen in the pictures). With enough room to store office essentials there is plenty of room on the desk for the user to work without getting cramped, and potentially get distracted. As mentioned previously I think the square edges and lack of colour have a negative impact on the design. Although this adds to the adaptability of the product, it is very unstimulating to look at. The adaptability is also increased as extra parts can be purchased and added on to the frame (Top right, bottom left). This not only adds extra storage but allows the user to personalise the desk based on requirements. Another feature the “Algot” possess is the ability to be completely dismantled, this gives it great mobility meaning the user could move it around the office easily. 7

10. Materials • Stainless steel contains chromium which gives this alloy its unique resistance to corrosion and stainless properties. This metal has several useful advantages: • Does not require a finish so reduces delivery time of stainless parts, thus minimising potential dispatch time of final product. • The alloy has an excellent fatigue and impact resistance, therefore allowing the product to withstand use for several hours at a time. • The metal maintains bright and shiny after years of use, meaning the product would look newer for longer. • One negative is that this material uses more energy during machine processes due to their hardness, increasing cost and potentially bringing the product out of a certain price range. • Valchromatis an innovative product that combines the natural features of wood to the brightness of colours. As it is an advanced verison of MDF it has even more useful characteristics: • Contains a special wood fibre bonding resin called melamine. This chemical has lubricating properties, meaning blades cut through it easily, thus extending life of machinery used to manufacture it. • It has greater internal cohesion due to special resins being added, meaning it has higher mechanical strength over standard MDF. • It does not require gluing an edge, saving cost • Easily fixed if scratched, Sanding and re-lacquering is all that is required to bring Valchromat panels back to their finished state, adding to the lifespan of the product. • Aluminium is a metal that is extracted from bauxite. This material has a number of useful properties: • Lightweight metal, meaning that the finished product will be easier to carry/move. • Can be anodised to make the structure stronger, making it less resistant to corrosion. • Anodising aluminium allows colour to be added, meaning the product can be tailored to an office.   • Aluminium is easy to machine, allowing for more complex shapes to be produced. 8