June 9, 2024 – Haworth DesignLab continues for a second year with Smokestack Unit 001, Understory and PLAY STATION debuting at NeoCon. These experimental and future focused concepts by Bill Carroll, Justin Beitzel and Fernando Ramirez from Common Object and Sam Klemick kicked off at Design Miami with a focus on sustainability and circular design.
This initiative highlights Haworth’s commitment to innovation and craftsmanship by partnering with talented designers lending voices to the topic of circular design. Studio Urquiola and Haworth design staff are mentoring the DesignLab concepts. These new perspectives, collaborating with existing design talent and partners, challenge expectations and set a new standard for work.
Smokestack Unit 001 by Bill Carroll – New Orleans, Louisiana Bill’s original Dust Chair, a graduate project for RISD, is what caught the attention of Patricia Urquiola. Inspired by trying to reconcile his Southern background and design world, Bill looked to colorful quilts from Gee's Bend, AL and gumbo as a way to express creating value from local waste material. Smokestack Unit 001 is a bench and made from molded pigmented sawdust salvaged from the wood makers Bill works alongside in his shared shop, Smokestack Studios. The form and shape allow for repeatability and the improvisation comes from both casting and finishing processes. The outcome is an elegant object that pays homage to local communities. Bill Carroll is invested in exploring a wide breadth of materials and processes, driven by the desire to create sincere works with rich narrative potential. His passion for making was fueled by his upbringing where he was introduced to many of his influences, including improvisation, performance, quilting and other historical processes prevalent in the American south.
PLAY STATION by Sam Klemick – Los Angeles, California Inspired by playground elements and playing with proportions, this multiuse communal seating structure invites dream like states through unconventional postures and ultimate comfort. Simple geometric shapes create the structure made from Douglas Fir lumber salvaged from construction sites around Los Angeles; the upholstery utilizes deadstock fabrics and salvaged materials. PLAY STATION uses strapping elements to hold all pieces together, allowing for quick disassembly, and can be thrown in a woodchipper at end of life. Studio Sam Klemick is driven by imagination and guided by circular principles. As a career knitwear and clothing designer, Sam conceived her studio after observing wasteful, fast practices in the fashion industry. Her expertise with textiles and scale inspires her concept and mission: to reimagine and transform that which already exists. Understory by Common Object – Baltimore, Maryland and West Michigan Common Object has created screens with a self-supporting structure and minimal elements – local farmer wool waste, willow sticks, salvaged wood and 100% wool fabric. The organic stools innovate on the use of hemp hurd mixed with soda lime and natural dyes. Together, Understory challenges convention with a 100% bio-based and bio-degradable vibrant landscape. All pieces can be easily returned to earth and represent empowerment of local communities.
Justin Beitzel is a Baltimore based designer focused on understanding the intersection of sustainable agriculture and design. From working with furniture companies to individual farmers growing regenerative wool and hemp, Justin’s experimentation with materials and processes drive his creativity and vision. Fernando Ramirez is an environmental and product designer exploring the influence of community and sustainability on the design process. Based in West Michigan, his work with urban communities has shaped his inclusive design philosophy. Fernando’s commitment to sustainability has driven him to explore pathways toward regenerative thinking.
###
Captions: photo 1 (from left to right) shows Understory by Common Objects, Smokestack Unit 001 by Bill Carroll and PLAY STATION by Sam Klemick. Photo 2 (from left to right) Patricia Urquiola, Bill Caroll, Fernando Ramirez, Sam Klemick and Justin Beitzel.
Haworth believes great spaces empower people to thrive and work their best. As a leading global furniture maker, the company partners with customers, dealers and influencers to create spaces that result in effective people and efficient real estate. Haworth’s customer-first approach comes from an entrepreneurial spirit, design-forward thinking and multicultural perspectives. With a heritage in the workplace, Haworth is the founding brand of the Haworth Group. The Haworth Group designs at the intersection of people and environments with brands like Haworth, BuzziSpace, Cappellini, Cassina, Ceccotti Collezioni, Hushoffice, Interni, JANUS et Cie, Karakter, Luminaire, Poltrona Frau, Tuohy and Zanotta .
Founded in 1948, the Haworth Group is a privately-owned company operating in more than 150 countries through a global network of 400 dealers and 8,000 employees. Headquartered in Holland, Michigan, U.S.A., the company has sales of $2.57 billion USD