What does the workplace of the future look like?
By Tom Howells
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MillerKnoll, for the uninitiated, is a global leader in modern design and one of the largest manufacturers of products for home, office and beyond: a bringing together of myriad celebrated contemporary design names – Herman Miller, Knoll, Design Within Reach, Edelman, Geiger, HAY, Maharam, Muuto and NaughtOne among them – under one umbrella.
The company’s new Clerkenwell flagship is a London home for the Knoll, Herman Miller and Maharam brands. It’s all contained within The Sans, a 1,700 sq m, beautifully remodelled and ecologically progressive former office flush with St John’s Gate. The decision to take up in the design-centric neighbourhood, explains president of international contract, Ben Groom, was a no-brainer: “driven by the vibrant creative energy and the neighbourhood’s rich architectural heritage. [The area] is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, making it one of the most important design hubs in the world.”
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For LDF24, the visitor experience is twofold. As well taking in the showrooms within The Sans, visitors can imbibe the company’s holistic remit through conversations on the company’s Design With Impact philosophy, hosted by Bertie Van Wyk – senior insight strategist at MillerKnoll’s Global Research & Planning team. A defining aspect of the MillerKnoll identity, the mindset is about “enhancing wellbeing, fostering community and connection, and helping organisations navigate and design for change” in a workspace culture that’s been altered to an unprecedented degree in recent years, says Groom. While many office brands are talking about this upheaval, few are attempting to affect meaningful change around it in the way MillerKnoll is (and just how will become crystal clear at The Sans itself).
“Each of our brands brings something unique to the table in terms of style, expertise, and craftsmanship,” Groom concludes. “But as MillerKnoll, we’re united by a common belief that design can change the world for the better. Our mission is to design spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also support the physical and mental health of the people who use them.”
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