"Until now, uniform offices with white walls were the norm, but now there is a demand for offices that can serve as 'places to generate innovation' or 'co-creation spaces' to suit a variety of work styles," says Tanaka (Planning).

As unique offices tailored to different working styles began to increase, the ability to "build freely" rather than following a set format became more important. ITOKI products have been used for many years in offices, factories, and research facilities, and they have the power to show freedom and expand depending on how they are combined, so the company was confident that they could "increase the options for diversifying working styles."

Kato (product design) and Tanaka (product planning) recall, "Because it was such a novel theme, we needed a new partner." Itoki needed to proceed with development while taking advantage of its many years of expertise and incorporating a broader perspective. In order to resonate with many people, they asked Naruse & Inokuma Architects, a pioneer in creating offices as co-creation spaces and with whom they had previously interacted at a workshop, to oversee the project, and the new brand, common common furniture, was launched.

The brand was initially developed as office furniture, but a space would not be complete without the partitions that surround the furniture. Therefore, it was decided to create a lineup of partitions that match the design of the furniture, have a highly flexible grid structure, and can be combined with a variety of materials.

To create a partition that would promote innovation, we researched current work styles and trends in office spaces that fit them. Furthermore, by bringing in Izawa-san (in charge of spatial design), we were able to add a new, bird's-eye view of grasping needs from the perspective of the space. Because the specifications required for a partition differ between a creative space that requires concentration and an office space that aims for co-creation, we conducted a process of trial and error to create a product that is actually easy to use.

common furniture is not just a partition. Its unique feature is that it allows for freedom in the design of the entire space, precisely because it is consistent with the furniture. Freedom is essential to realizing the customer's ideal space. In addition to panel sizes and lattice designs, we offer a wide variety of surface materials, such as expanded metal and perforated metal, and by maintaining consistency with the furniture, we can express the space without disrupting the original worldview.

"We needed a design that could accommodate a wide variety of combinations," recalls Masaru Tanaka (in charge of development and design). After repeated discussions about what combinations were required to attach panels and glass of different sizes, we arrived at a design that could accommodate a wide range of sizes by drilling multiple holes at 10mm intervals into the aluminum frame.

Furthermore, materials such as expanded metal and perforated metal could not be accurately determined from drawings, so we had to make many prototypes. The prototypes were not strong enough to be used as surface materials, and when used over a large area, they would bend significantly when pressed by hand.

"For this reason, we designed it to have a maximum width of 900mm, whereas other surface materials have a maximum width of 1200mm."
We continue to search for the small range that allows us to maintain flexibility while still meeting quality expectations.

Eguchi (in charge of development and design) was in charge of designing the mounting part where the steel panels fit into the lattice frame. With conventional products, the panels could be fitted by dropping them in from above, but with a lattice design where the four corners are inevitably surrounded by frames, the only way to fit them was by pushing them in. The panels also needed to be strong enough so that they would not fall off even in the event of an earthquake or other unforeseen event. Eguchi spent about a year working on these issues, creating over 100 prototypes. "In the end, the solution came to me in a dream," he recalls.

Behind the freedom of "common furniture / partition" lies the careful thought that went into its development and design.

"To be honest, when I first saw 'common furniture /partition', I was surprised and wondered if it was really a partition," recalls Mikawa (in charge of the deployment system).
My role was to create a system that could be communicated to customers and business partners without any misunderstandings using blueprints and development diagrams.

Normally, information for each pattern is registered, and product shipments proceed smoothly. However, this is a characteristic of products that have a more or less fixed pattern. "common furniture /partition" is a complex and diverse product with a high degree of freedom, and the impression it gives can change drastically depending on how the glass, steel panels, expanded metal, and perforated metal are combined.
The images, which were previously shown at 1/100 scale, have been adjusted to 1/50 scale to ensure that they are conveyed clearly.

"We could have imposed as many restrictions as we wanted, but we didn't want to lose any freedom," says Kato (Product Design). This sentiment was shared by all the members, and that's why they were able to continue with the challenge until the very end.

In an age where innovation is so essential, we have created "common furniture /partition," which allows for a wide variety of combinations. It can also be connected to our existing product, "Creapart," and since its release, it has been adopted by many customers seeking offices as co-creation spaces. It can meet the needs of a wide range of workplaces, from highly specialized occupations, so we hope that it will reach even more people.

"The worldview of 'common furniture' doesn't end with partitions. We believe it will help foster a new mindset among working people, and we want to accommodate diverse working styles," says Tanaka (Hiroshi) (Product Planning).
Starting with products that suit and support the way people work, we are embarking on a new step towards "ITOKI products that create new ways of working."