Profile Broome Jenkins

The workplace is changing. Where once we had a rigid nine-to-five set in a traditional office building where you’d be stationed at an assigned desk, now we have flexibility in where we work and our hours, with the office set-up being more fluid. Versatile, agile and efficient workplace solutions are increasingly being sought to meet the demands of the evolving office.

One design consultancy that has made it their mission to address the changing needs of the workplace and workforce is Broome Jenkins. Set up in 2003, the West Sussex based design studio has 20 years of experience designing contract furniture for leading manufacturers around the world, including Acco, Bisley, Boss Design Group, Connection, Fellowes, Herman Miller, Hotbox Design, Kinnarps, Ocee International, Senator International and Vestre.

Led by founder Barry Jenkins, the team has a particular interest in how people use different environments and how to make different spaces function. The FourFold table solution for Four Design – an Ocee International company – is a fantastic example of the consultancy’s aim to solve real technical problems and develop new products that are useful, efficient and commercial.

Explaining the origination of FourFold, Barry says: “We have designed flip-up tables before using the generic ‘T’ leg principle which relies on a locking device to keep the tabletop horizontal when in use. We knew they were popular in educational establishments and knew there was a problem when people perch on the edge of a conventional flip-up table, as there is no support at the corners, thereby straining the mechanism.

“Discussing this problem with Ocee, we were taken by the need for a design that was simple and safe to use and compact when folded, with the added design challenge of providing a leg in each corner. We liked the challenge to solve this problem without compromising all other aspects of the table in a way that was practical, simple and viable.”

While the final design is simple in appearance, Barry says that every aspect of FourFold is essential and was determined through a series of physical trials and handson experiments by the team. This resulted in a well-resolved design where the overall frame geometry, leg shape and extruded beam all contribute towards a product that is simple and safe to use and compact when stored.

He says: “Developing FourFold was both challenging and enjoyable. There are few opportunities in the design of contract furniture to genuinely innovate. However, the technical challenges of FourFold took priority and resulted in a very original response. It is a good example of three-dimensional problem solving, the aim being to develop a fourlegged flip-up table. The response is unique and already popular in mainland Europe and Scandinavia.”

In 2022, FourFold was one of 23 excellent submissions from three categories –Furniture, Interior Design Elements and Lighting Design – to be awarded our Design Guild Mark. We established the Design Guild Mark in 2008 with the intention of raising the profile of British industrial design and recognising excellence in this discipline. Each category has its own jury of renowned design experts who assess the submissions against a series of criteria.

Barry says: “Being recognised by The Furniture Makers’ Company with a Design Guild Mark is an esteemed recognition of design quality by industry peers. Therefore, we are delighted that FourFold, as a more ‘technical design’, has received an award. We are also delighted for Ocee International and Four Design as the Mark rewards their commitment to the project.”

In addition to being awarded a Design Guild Mark, FourFold was selected as the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Jonathan Hindle Prize in the Furniture category. The Jonathan Hindle Prize is awarded annually to the design the judges believe is the most outstanding piece in its category. All winners receive a stunning trophy, made from solid surface Corian®, and a £1,000 cash prize.

Commenting on receiving the award, Barry said: “I was genuinely surprised to win the Jonathan Hindle Prize and honoured to receive it. It means a lot to me as it recognises the unique response to a challenging brief, simply executed. It is a great honour.” broomejenkins.com

@broomejenkins