Space Encounters Office for Architecture

The Boring Collection sprung from a deep dissatisfaction with the appearance of contemporary office furniture. Their looks are dictated by strict safety regulations and affordable office furniture is often a distracting eye sore in otherwise well-designed interiors. We had considered designing more aesthetically pleasing, custom, furniture for projects, but this would quickly become unaffordable or lead to unfavourable design compromises. Instead of changing the parameters, we accepted them and for the design of the Boring Collection we forged a solution within these parameters by shifting attention away from the furniture onto other things in the projects.

That is why the Boring Collection does not pretend to be prettier than it is. In fact, Boring Collection does not want to claim any attention at all. All shapes are archetypical, straightforward and discreet and every detail of the furniture pieces has a modest, soft ‘Boring Grey’ colour. All to serve but one goal: to draw attention to the things that actually matter. The collection consists of a European standards (EN) approved task chair, visitor chair, acoustic panel, low and high cabinet and four types of height adjustable desks, among which a standing desk. Furthermore, there is a Boring bin and a Boring clock which, true to office culture, only shows the numbers for the moment of liberation.

To promote the collection, visual artist duo Lernert & Sander were enlisted, who in the campaign did not gave the lead to the furniture, but to office life itself with universal symbols for boredom on the work floor: a clock counting down to the last minute before five and the crumpled up paper ball. The Boring Collection catalogue, designed by Sanne Beeren, was awarded with Best Dutch Book Design 2016.