Words by Rita Lobo
Iwasaki Design Studio's new Kiik collection for Arper is flexible and playful, without losing it's utilitarian edge. Ichiro Iwasaki sat down with OnOffice to discuss Japanese design and his process.
One of the most enduring trends in design is certainly the blurring of the boundaries between work and living spaces. Over the years brands and designers have been investing heavily in modularity, flexibility, and adaptability; leaving behind the sterile corporate workplace style once and for all.
Arper has long since been a trendsetter in this sense, their modular Loop collection by Lievore Altherr Molina, dates back to 2009. It’s now hoping to replicate this success, with Kiik, a new collection by Iwasaki Design.
Launched globally at Milan Salone del Mobile, and in the UK during Clerkenwell Design Week, this modular line of seating, tables, ottomans, and consoles creates moments for working, gathering, or relaxation in graphic forms with myriad configurations. Kiik’s fundamental structures can be created with seats with and without backrests and tables in triangular, circular, square or rectangular shapes and completed with ottomans and low or raised consoles.
OnOffice caught up with Ichiro Iwasaki, during Salone del Mobile, to discuss all things design.
OnOffice: How is designing for office/workplace different from creating home pieces?
Ichiro Iwasaki: Nowadays, design for office is more focused on ' Move ', things like having discussions with colleagues or quick meetings while standing.Working environment requires efficiency in motion.
On the other hand, of course design for home is more close to ' Stillness ', as home is place to rest or relax. However, I feel the contexts of those two environments are getting mixed nowadays.
OnOffice: What was your vision when approaching this collaboration? What are you hoping to achieve now that the Kiik line has launched?
Ichiro Iwasaki: The vision was to create modular system that can be applied to various contexts in our contemporary life styles.
The system consists of 3 basics postures from our every day life: console for ' Standing ', Sofa-bench for ' sitting ' and Ottoman for ' lying down'.
This approach made the modular system of KIIK highly flexible to any kinds of spaces.
