Iron Furniture Design · 2022

Iso Table

by Meng Vang

A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Furniture Design
Awarded April 15, 2022
CLIENT: Flow State Objekts
Estimated Number of Design Views: 9,592
Verification code 25927CD9CB · Verify this award

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About Iso Table

Iso is a coffee table with a small accent table set inside it. The accent table sits at a different height and is finished in bright neon green, while the coffee table itself stays subtle. The color contrast marks the green surface as the area for decorative objects, so the rest of the table remains clear. The top is made of plywood and veneer, cut with a CNC router. The base is solid wood, assembled with traditional joinery techniques that allow flat packaging and keep production costs low.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: The Iso Table is essentially a coffee table with a floating accent table inside of it. The floating accent table creates a physical separation for the user to unconsciously declutter. The bright neon green color of the accent table serves as a visual indicator for the user suggesting that the green area is designated for staging decorations. This allows for the rest of the coffee table to stay clutter free.
Dimensions & Packaging: 145 mm x 45 mm x 65 mm
Tags: Table, Accent Table, Coffee Table, Furniture, Furniture Design, Industrial Design, Modern Design, Wood, Woodworking
Production Technology: The coffee table is fabricated using both modern and traditional techniques. The top is constructed of plywood and veneer. A CNC router is used to cut the shape out. The base is made up of solid wood and is crafted together using traditional joinery techniques. This hybrid fabrication keeps production cost low without compromising on the quality of design.
Design Challenge: The creative challenge for the project was streamlining the manufacturing process. The cost of logistics can be very expensive. To keep the table affordable without offsetting the cost, I had to design the table for flat packaging. Creative wood joinery techniques were used to allow for flat packaging.
Project Duration: Designed in California in March 2020 and finished in September 2020.
Operation Flow: The name Iso derives from the accent table that sits isolated from the rest of the coffee table. The isolation creates two different platforms with two different heights. The accent table is colorful while the coffee table is subtle. This color contrast draws the attention of the user towards the accent table. The accent table now functions as a decorative table tray.
Research: The COVID-19 pandemic forced the world into isolation and working from home became the new norm. Living rooms became offices and coffee tables became workspaces. However, the issue with the new workspace was the lack of space itself. Coffee tables are smaller than desk and therefore become messier a lot quicker. I always have to reposition the table tray when using the coffee table as a desk. By incorporating the table tray into the design, I was able to improve upon the user friendly experience. The step of constantly shifting the table tray around was taken out.
Inspiration: The inspiration behind the coffee table is to come up with a solution for the clutter that can typically occur on top of the table. Decorations can often times be messy and obstruct the functionality of a table. A solution to this problem is to provide more surface area without being too obtrusive. Attaching an accent table to the existing coffee table will provide more surface area and also an additional platform for staging decorations. The accent table can be thought of as a clever alternative for a decorative table tray. The creative process behind the coffee table design is influenced by the digital layouts of mobile apps. Mobile apps are very effective when it comes to the ease of user experience. UX developers design with simple but yet effective visual cues. These same design cues can be found in the contour lines of the Iso Table.