Boss Design - Details Magazine - 40th Anniversary

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Ola Details

40 Year Edition

Welcome to the 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION of Details

A 40th anniversary is one of those points in a company’s timeline that gives pause for reflection. For us, it has sparked conversations about the people who have worked here over the years, the products we’ve made, the customers we serve and the challenges we’ve overcome. Through our reminiscing, an underlying theme has become clear: people have made Boss Design what it is today.

Brian Murray launched the company in 1983 with the aim of manufacturing exquisitely designed furniture of excellent quality and exemplary comfort. The ideas, skills, knowledge, endeavour and creativity of our employees have enabled us to achieve this, and these very human notions have driven us to become a global leader in our field.

A focus on people is reflected in the long-standing relationships we have built with our customers.

We listen to them, respond to their requirements and continually work to improve our understanding of the modern workplace, delivering furniture in the style and aesthetic our customers and their employees want in their environments.

How they see, feel and experience our furniture informs every design and manufacturing decision we make. Beautiful, intelligently-crafted, comfortable, functional, long-lasting – these are the attributes of what we call human centric furniture.

With 40 years behind us, we look ahead to the future putting people at the heart of our approach. This edition of Details reflects that as we look at sustainability, offering our customers broader choice within every product line, and how intelligent design can make workplaces more comfortable and productive than ever before.

Details

Crafting with Colour

BOSS DESIGN’S Natalie Murray, looks at how curated colour can transform today’s WORKPLACE INTERIORS.

There’s a lot more to colour than decoration. According to Carl Jung, one of the founding fathers of psychotherapy, ‘colours are the mother tongue of the subconscious’. The impact of colour should not be underestimated and with this in mind, Boss Design’s head of brand experience, Natalie Murray, looks at how controlled use of colour can be applied to today’s workplace interiors.

It’s widely accepted that colour can illicit positive and negative emotional responses. Think about sayings like ‘seeing red’; ‘being green with envy’ or ‘feeling blue’: metaphors that make a clear connection between emotional states and different hues. Colour psychologists like author of The Little Book of Colour, Karen Haller, take this a stage further and asserts that colour can have a huge impact on us as individuals, even influencing our moods, levels of output and behaviour.

Consider this in the context of the workplace and one of the most effective and immediate ways to create a positive and productive atmosphere is through colour. This was the backdrop to our latest thinking at Boss Design both in terms of our own brand development and when designing new products like Sia which deliberately reflect our mission to create destination spaces.

One of the most environmentally friendly products in its category the newly launched Sia task chair is exciting for another reason too.

Sia is all about colour

Instead of the usual black, Sia’s structural back frame can be specified in Copper Brown, Reed Green, Oyster White or Black as standard, with a choice of five styles of mesh that come in a further 64 colour combo options. Or, for orders over 200 units, Boss Design will manufacture Sia’s frame and mesh in just about any colour you want.

ACCORDING TO CARL JUNG, one of the founding fathers of psychotherapy, ‘Colours are the mother tongue of the subconscious’

For the first time, ergonomic task seating can be colour coordinated with the wider palette used across an office décor scheme. Sia can be specified to reflect a client’s brand identity, and to promote the right look and feel for their office space.

Form, colour and style

Soft, elegant and organic contours have been hallmarks of our design philosophy in recent years and we’ve been on a journey into the world of colour in order to come up with palettes to match. Earthy greens and browns are a part of that palette, evoking the natural world, with warm, autumnal reds, oranges and yellows. And using these natural hues can also affect our emotional state by creating a nurturing, calming and inviting atmosphere.

Finding inspiration

The colour palette is also heavily influenced by a number of other factors. It’s a colour palette reminiscent of the 1970s. In a sense, our furniture designers are advancing on the minimalist sophistication of the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic – taking it to a new level with an emphasis on comfort and desirability.

But there’s more to it than that. The palette we’ve carefully honed is informed by the world around us and colour combinations used in certain films, fashion collections and contemporary hospitality interiors – for example – that we find inspiring. To shape the Boss palette, we collected references from across modern culture that evoke the same feelings of calm and comfort that we want our furniture to convey. It’s a palette with a touch of nostalgia, but not so much that it feels oldfashioned or traditional.

Used consistently and imaginatively in our showroom, photoshoots, brochures, website, social media and even in proposals to clients, this colour palette has become synonymous with Boss Design and helped us evolve the brand so that it truly reflects our mission to create destination spaces in the here and now.

Calm tones and desirable spaces

In the post-COVID world, working from the comfort of home has become an attractive option for many people. The challenge for employers is to create work environments that are equally comfortable and inviting, but also inspiring. Prior to COVID, décor schemes were often designed to make a statement about an organisation’s

identity and colour palettes were used to emphasise this. Today, perhaps the emphasis has shifted from identity to ethos.

It’s a subtle distinction but one worth noting, and the right colour palette can do a lot of the heavy lifting. The eclectic schemes with energetic palettes which once seemed exciting are giving way to subtle and controlled approaches. Layers of muted tones that work in harmony with natural textures and organic forms help to generate an aura of tranquillity, dialling down stress and helping to support the wellbeing of the workforce.

The palette we have created feels in tune with the here and now but it is by no means static. As with everything It will evolve with fresh influences. And we’re not for a second advocating our palette over any other set of colours. Each organisation will have its own priorities, sources of inspiration and, ultimately, tastes. From there, new and individual décor schemes can be developed along with fine-tuned colour palettes to match.

When that happens, products like Sia, Amelia, Paloma, Kruze and the rest of the Boss Design catalogue are there to complete these destination spaces – and we can supply them in colours of your choosing.

The minimalist sophistication of the MID-CENTURY modern aesthetic with an emphasis on comfort & desirability

To continually develop the Boss Design colour palette, we work with interior stylist and consultant Sania Pell. We asked her to share some insights on her approach to colour palettes as an element of décor…

People often remark that colour palettes are ‘on trend’. Is it important to be aware of and/or follow trends when developing a colour palette for a commercial decor scheme?

It’s useful and good to keep an eye on trends. Often, when you are in the design industry these trends are absorbed naturally. I usually look to art for colour combinations though, so it’s more unique, but subconsciously trends may influence my art choices too.

Q&A

with INTERIOR STYLIST Sania Pell

One way to reference a colour trend you like in fashion, for instance, is to hint at it via the colour of a cushion or a chair. We are less likely to change furniture than clothes, but you can have a chair recovered a little more often in more unusual fabrics and colours to give your space a fresh look.

What psychological effect do you think colours have and how do they make us feel?

My way of working with colour is usually tonal, which I find is calmer and easier to live with.

A mix of oranges, tans, pinks and corals, for example, works harmoniously to create a relaxing interior. To me, an interior should be a calm place and this tonal way of working helps create unity be it through blues, reds or creams.

What’s your philosophy on applying accent colours? Accent colours are important to add a little tension to a scheme, or to push boundaries. This can be through the introduction of an accessory.

How do you balance base and accent colours when you’re developing a palette for a decor scheme?

My main scheme will be around a base colour and the rest is accent. So, 80 to 90% tonal and 10 to 20% accent.

As well as Boss Design, Sania’s clients include Savoir Beds and Kvadrat and other leading brands. Find out more on her website www.saniapell.com

Futures Sustainable

Photo supplied by Kirkby Design

40 Year Edition

Design Director Mark Barrell on Boss Design’s SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY

Consumption and production are ever linked, key drivers of the global economy, and fundamental in addressing the rate we consume goods and resources across society. The United Nations have warned that the world’s population will be 9.6 billion by 2050, and we will need the resources of three planets if we continue the current trajectory.

Boss has put the environment at the heart of our mission and business strategy through our Sustainability & Wellness Manifesto. With guiding principles that cover economic prosperity, global responsibility, community cohesion, technical innovation, a focus on people and insightful collaborations to achieve a well-balanced and accountable business. The manifesto outlines our commitment to sustainability, wellbeing and responsible design, this promise permeates every decision we take and forms the businesses conscience.

“The central tenet for us when talking about environmental sustainability is that we make a good quality product that will last a long time, but traditionally we’d then say that it was up to our customers whether they keep it a long time or not. That’s a bit passive. Now we are much more proactive, and we are making it practical for them to do so.”

—Mark Barrell, Design Director.

Quality, durability, responsibly sourced materials and a long-term vision for every product we create are helping us on our journey towards a circular production model and a greener world.

Quality has been central to what we do from day one. This quality, intrinsic to our portfolio, affords a longer lifecycle and results in a lower cost of ownership for customers but also a lower cost to the environment. Following responsible design practices and sustainable manufacturing principles, today we consider every single detail affecting the lifecycle and carbon impact of each product.

The journey towards sustainability isn’t a new path for us. In 2009, Boss Design won the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development. We have been driving to reduce waste, reduce energy consumption and reduce miles travelled across the business. Whilst improving product longevity, increasing recycling and promoting the use of stainable materials.

The following year, we started giving clients full transparency by publishing the carbon footprint for every product in the portfolio. By 2018, we were powering our facilities using renewable energy from wind and solar, and in 2030 we aim to be a carbon-neutral, zero-waste business.

We see real opportunities ahead in terms of planning and managing the lifecycle of each product we manufacture. The durability of a product remains critical, and today this is backed up by careful evaluation of the environmental impact of the materials, supply chains and manufacturing technologies used.

This tighter focus on sustainability led us to rethink the Apply task chair in 2020, improving its manufacture to produce a chair with 69% recycled materials and that is 92% recyclable. In 2022, we then bettered this achievement with Sia. One of the most sustainable task chairs on the market, Sia consists of 70% recycled materials – 43% being post consumer recycled plastics and 99% of its materials can be recycled.

Knowing fashion, taste and brands are likely to evolve every seven or eight years, we are designing pieces that are easy to repair and reupholster, as well as ensuring parts are easy to replace. Giving products a second or third life is environmentally advantageous and is something many clients are looking for.

“Companies we work with are under a lot of scrutiny. If you were to show them two chairs side-by-side – one brand new, one refurbished – they’ll often go for the refurbished one because it aligns them with the best environmental practice.

Often, the corporate contracts that we service are made up of new products, refurbished products and repurposed products from other parts of their estate. Boss Design is making this feasible for our clients We’re listening to them, helping them meet their environmental objectives and at the same time meeting our own.”

—Mark Barrell, Design Director

By rethinking how we make, supply, support and recover our products, Boss is taking incremental steps towards the concept of circular manufacturing. There is still plenty to do in terms of the sustainability of contract furniture and getting the revenue model right presents its own challenges. However, as we move towards the green economy, two things are becoming clear. One – within a sustainable approach there is huge potential to further deepen relationships with key customers. Two – furniture as a service might be closer than anyone thinks.

Ola

The evolution of the OLA COLLECTION with Wolfgang C. R. Mezger

In 2018, a successful collaboration began with German furniture designer Wolfgang C.R. Mezger. The simplicity of the Ola chair proved that a new and more beautiful form could be achieved, even in a crowded seating market. To underline the point, the collaboration with the designer has continued, resulting in the equally attractive Ola Tub in 2022.

The sublime contours that defined Ola’s beauty continue in Ola Tub, its sides tapering up towards a gullwing detail that rolls to create a supportive armrest for the sitter while maintaining the svelte aesthetic Ola is known for. This has been achieved through our innovative application of injection moulding processes. Each shell is comprised of injection moulded polypropylene mixed with fiberglass to form a single material. The glass fibres

create a lattice-like structure which is fixed within the polypropylene to give the shell its strength and durability. As a result, we’ve been able to create a much thinner shell, reducing our material requirements while maximizing the ergonomic comfort and visual appeal of Ola Tub.

With our internal design team pushing one another to produce excellent work, independent collaborators bring something different to the mix and continue to facilitate new and fascinating pieces for the Boss Design portfolio. Going forward, our collaborations will expand beyond furniture to include a range of new elements within the workplace environment.

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‘Think

of a bee and a flower ... ’

‘If the flower is not nice, the bee doesn’t come. If the flower is nice, the bee comes. And if the chair is nice, people want to sit in your chair. This is a strange metaphor, but I like it because there is truth in it.’

Designer Wolfgang C. R. Mezger

Details Sia

Reduce ...

The goal we set ourselves when designing Sia was to create the most sustainable task chair on the market – and we’ve come extremely close to realising that goal. Building on what we learned creating Apply task seating, Sia represents a big step forward in terms of sustainability, aesthetics and comfort.

The first step was to look at how we could reduce the total materials used in the chair, overall. Even today, many task chairs come in solid, robust designs – they look linear and functional. We decided to follow a different path, and by aiming for slimmer, elegant, organic lines, we incrementally shaved down Sia’s material requirements.

While the industry average for a task chair is quoted at 72kg* of CO2 , Sia’s total carbon footprint is 56.38kg of CO2 – a reduction of 22%.

Reuse...

Sia is designed with circularity in mind. For example, no adhesives are used in its construction. All its parts unscrew or unclip, making the chair easier to maintain than a standard task chair. If a part becomes worn or broken, it can be replaced with a new one.

Sia certainly doesn’t subscribe to the fast furniture trend – we expect it to have a long and productive lifecycle in the workplace. And when its time comes, the same principle of reuse comes into play. The chair is easy to disassemble and separate so its components can be reused or recycled.

SIA reimagines what’s possible in today’s workspace by minimising ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT while maximising visual appeal

Recycle…

With every decision regarding materials, we pushed for recycled and recyclable options. It’s always tricky when you’re working with plastic. It’s superb for durability and longevity but is difficult to recycle at the end of a product’s lifespan.

Recycled plastic doesn’t always offer the strength, colour options or surface finishes possible with virgin plastic. However, by exploring all the latest possibilities we were able to work with suppliers who were willing to push the boundaries.

Reinvent…

And yet all this focus on sustainability has done nothing to dampen our desire to create a truly beautiful task chair. In fact, we believe Sia goes a long way to reinventing the genre.

By exploring ways of slimming down its structural frame, we discovered a way to make Sia a whole lot

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more colourful than your average task chair. The back frame cover gives the chair an iconic, graphic form and is available in four colours. Terracotta and reed green reflect the drive for sustainability at the heart of the Sia project, but it also comes in standard black or white.

The mesh options take Sia’s visual impact even further, adding to its flexibility within your décor. There are five mesh finishes available – from a standard robust weave through to a waffled plush option – and they come in 31 different colours. Sia’s seat can be covered in a wide range of fabrics, patterns and colours.

For orders over 200 units, we can produce Sia’s back frame and meshes in custom colours to suit any décor scheme. This makes it possible for architects and interior designers to include beautifully designed task seating in their plans, fitting refined colour palettes to create calm, comfortable and altogether more enticing workspaces.

Sia has a total RECYCLED CONTENT of 70.6% and 43.1%

of its make-up is post-consumer recycled plastic. When its working life ends, 99.4% of Sia’s materials CAN BE RECYCLED.

Details Hart

The Hart foot stool shares its design DNA with a number of lounge chairs in our collection, a complimenting form with GENTLE ORGANIC CURVES provide a congenial companion to rest and put your feet up. Available in an array of fabrics & finishes Hart is a stylish addition to any LUXURY LOUNGE SPACE.

NEW PRODUCTS

Paloma Bar Stool

The Paloma family encompasses a stool available in two heights suitable for bars and counters. Following the contours of the collection the Paloma bar stool continues to be supportive with an innate ability to enhance any setting and harmonise any space.

Mews

Designed for specifiers aiming to redefine open plan layouts and provide workers with private meeting, collaboration and video conferencing spaces, the Mews pod system has gone from strength to strength. Now, Mews has been extended with the addition of three new modules that follow the same popular aesthetic but give specifiers more ways to fine tune the functionality of their schemes.

The size and shape of the new modules is based on the geometry, aesthetic and dimensions of the existing line. Dial, a communications pod, measures one-third the width of a standard Mews module – ideal for an individual requiring space for private calls. Brief also caters to a single user but at two-thirds width provides more room for devices, paperwork and other materials making it ideal for task completion and video conferencing.

Promising more space for small meetings and collaborative team working, the XL pod is double the area of a standard Connect pod, but offers the same visual and acoustic privacy. All three modules are comfortable and durable, with ventilation and connectivity, and are manufactured from the highest quality materials.

Three intelligent new Mews modules give specifiers more scope to create POSITIVE SPACES in their interior schemes

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Workspaces

Bechtel

Creative License completed the first of two projects for Bechtel, a privately owned global engineering, construction and project management company, located in Park Royal of London, England.

The scheme is specifically focused on staff health and wellbeing, introducing residential influences that employees have become accustomed to, biophilia, technological advancements with designated areas for VC, and agile collaborative zones to promote social interactions and offer true flexibility in how and where they work.

Park Royal London

Studio Canal

HKX Building

London

Studio Canal wanted to create a stimulating and collaborative space for the UK headquarters reflecting a dynamic and social work culture where the team can interact with the ability to entertain easily. We conceptualised and implemented working space, meeting zones and a large informal viewing suite for Studio Canal to showcase their productions.

Studio Canal serves a global market with world-leading productions, so the visual and quality of their new space need to reflect their values. We worked closely with the client to ensure their vision was represented correctly and their team had an environment that allowed them to flourish.

“We worked closely with the client to ensure THEIR VISION was represented correctly and their team had an environment that allowed THEM TO FLOURISH”

Sia