Armed with ergonomic constraints and a shortlist of priorities, prototyping focused heavily on utilizing in-house manufacturing advantages and adjusting utility to nudge and flow with the user experience. The internal test group validated spatial constraints, and many prototypes were used in the office to gather anecdote - and to be broken.

As Hollman Inc. primary designed and manufactured wood products, panelized construction was always the first dart thrown at the board. In-house designs had the unique advantage of rapid iteration and development - elements that could be realistically designed using the machines and materials the company already had access to were favored. Always in the back of my mind was manufacturability.

Variety was king, as exploration in material choice, construction, and user experience slowly began the shape the unit. Multiple types of frame structures, construction methods, and core materials were tested and vetted against one another. A large reason for the panelized system - we set a an end-goal of shipping the unit flat-packed.

Acoustic PET proved to be as useful architecturally as it was acoustically. Malleable and easy to cut, it became an aesthetic necessity with latent benefits of sound dampening. Research shows acoustics play a highly influential role in a person’s ability to focus. Analyzing market competitors, we noticed a trend towards ‘sound proofing’ that ran contrary to what research had concluded: dead silence is distracting. From this, we modified our design goal to create an atmosphere that feels private, not isolating.

Research showed: dead silence is distracting. Competitive products featured ‘sound proofing,’ destructive to the focus of many. A ambient level of unidentifiable background noise enhances focus and reduced feelings of claustrophobia.

Throughout the design process, we balanced between silence and this background noise, fine tuning panel weight, composition, offset, and placement to create an atmosphere that feels peaceful and lacks distractions. Muffling incoming and outgoing noise further ensures privacy for occupants and nearby employees alike.

An influential prototype, V3, was one of the largest steps forward. This unit would go on to be loved and used since its inception going on two years and counting. It solidified a contrast between the ‘side console,’ (an alternative surface where electronic hardware is stored) and the desk as a functional workspace complete with a monitor and wireless charger. It also established the overhead ceiling as a blank canvas for creative expression and prime space to add character without compromise.

Taking apart and putting together units over and over again proved to be a valuable stress test and rapid validation of assembly hardware. The winning combination was a combined used of tongued panels, cabineo screw inserts, and a snap-on clip system for aesthic and acoustic trimming.

This allowed for a number of advantages over traditional wood-framed products:

- Rapid assembly with no additional hardware

- Robust joinery ensuring survivability during reconfiguration or shipping

- Rapid assembly (<2hrs, 2 people) and swapping for all outward-facing trim