nendo: ofon coin-assembled office furniture for kokuyo

nendo: ofon coin-assembled office furniture for kokuyo
all images by hiroshi iwasaki

modularity is important for small offices so that employees have the ability to quickly respond to situations and modify their work environment easily, accommodating their organization’s growth. in wanting to develop an office furniture typology that is expandable and multi-functional, nendo has created a joint system which can be screwed and unscrewed with a coin, requiring no tools in the assembly process. conceived for kokuyo, the two components of the hardware lie flat when the pieces are not in use, springing out with the touch of a finger.

the fastener is used to connect box-type shelves; with these storage compartments also serving as legs for a desk. upholstered panels can be attached as cupboard doors, or employed as partition screens between desks. ‘ofon‘ is a design that allows workers to focus and relax within the same small place privately, and openly when needed, giving individuals both ‘on’ and ‘off’ space, almost as easily as pushing a button.

the fastener is easily screwed and unscrewed using a coin

and can be released as easily as pushing a button

the two components of the joint lie flush with the surface of the furniture

the joint can be employed to attache multiple storage box components together

fabric panels act as doors for the cabinets, and can also be used as partitions between desks

possible shelving composition

fabric panel components can double function as doors for storage units or as desk dividers

the fabric panel acting as a partition between workspaces

the box shelving can also function as legs for a desk

the joint can be used to attach legs to work surfaces

concept sketch of the office furniture possibilities available in the ‘ofon’ furniture collection

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