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design stories 2012

design stories 2012
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design stories 2012

Product catalog summary
Introduction
Abstracta AB, founded in the 1950s by Danish architect Paul Cadovius, is renowned for its innovative design in storage systems, notably System 25. The company expanded to Sweden in the 1970s and launched the Softline series in 1981, marking a significant development in their acoustic product line.
Product Evolution
Abstracta has continually advanced its product range, focusing on acoustics, meetings, workspaces, and storage solutions. Key products include:
  • Vision, Enjoy, SilverPro, and Messenger: These products transformed traditional whiteboards by using glass, leading to the award-winning SilverPro™ surface.
  • Arctic: A sleek, knobless storage system designed by Rolf Fransson in 2005.
  • DoReMi and Alumi: Sound-absorbing screens by Nina Jobs, known for their versatility and aesthetic appeal.
  • Airflake and Aircone: Ceiling-hung sound absorbers by Stefan Borselius, ideal for space-constrained offices.
  • Mobi: A mobile workstation by Andrea Ruggiero, combining a partition and worksurface for multifunctional spaces.
Design Philosophy and Market Reach
Abstracta collaborates with top designers to lead workspace innovation. Their products are primarily marketed in Scandinavia but are exported to over 30 countries worldwide.
Conclusion
The document outlines Abstracta's design journey and introduces innovations that will influence future design history.
Abstracta Design Stories Overview
1. Mobi by Andrea Ruggiero (2010)
Mobi is a flexible workstation with a simple desk and sound-absorbing wall, adaptable for group or individual work. It uses expanded metal for a sophisticated setting.
2. Frost by Stefan Borselius (2010)
Frost is a movable, fireproof partition with a flocculated surface resembling frost, suitable for various environments.
3. Window by Jonas Forsman (2010)
Window is a wall-mounted magazine display and sound absorber, inspired by building facades, with a modular design.
4. Sketchalot by Eelco Voogd (2010)
Sketchalot is a modular whiteboard panel for spontaneous sketching, with soft edges to prevent wall scratches.
5. Triline/Bits by Anya Sebton (2010/2012)
Sound-absorbing designs with triangular shapes to prevent sound waves from bouncing back, inspired by the car industry.
6. No. 216 for Voice by Jesper Ståhl (2011)
A sideboard inspired by ISO-216 standard for A4 paper, combining functionality with poetic design.
7. No.5 for Voice by Jesper Ståhl (2012)
A flexible storage system based on √5 proportions, allowing for modularity and personalization.
Product Overview
  • Loop: A versatile screen system with sound-absorbing properties, designed by Anya Sebton in 2012.
  • Meet: A mobile seating and storage unit promoting teamwork, designed by Daniel Lavonius Jarefeldt, Johanna Munck af Rosenschöld, and Josef Zetterman in 2012.
  • Plaid: A sound-absorbing room divider developed with Form Us With Love in 2012, suitable for open-plan offices.
Design Insights
  • Loop: Inspired by Swedish carpet weaving, combining functionality and aesthetics.
  • Meet: Influenced by future work trends and the need for dynamic office furniture.
  • Plaid: Inspired by industrial noise curtains, adapted for office use.
Characteristics of a Great Workspace
  • Functionality and aesthetics that foster creativity and collaboration.
  • Dynamic and joyful atmosphere with ergonomic and acoustic considerations.
  • Combination of formal and informal spaces to encourage idea generation.
See more

Catalog excerpts

design stories 2012-2

Abstracta Design Stories – 02 In the beginning The story of Abstracta started back in the 1950’s when Danish architect Paul Cadovius designed the three first Abstracta storage systems. One of Paul’s sys‑ tems, called System 25, is still in production for Abstracta and one of the other systems had a very simple but important connecting part. In fact, this simple part would prove to be a key component in the development of the company. Its design gained lots of attention, so much that it became part of Abstracta’s logotype and was represented at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Historien om...

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design stories 2012-3

03– Abstracta Design Stories

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design stories 2012-4

Abstracta Design Stories – 04 STORY No.1 The evolution of a surface Product. Vision, Enjoy, Silverpro / Messenger Production Year. 2002, 2003, 2004 / 2003 Designer. Mia Wahlstein, Josef Zetterman / Fredrik Wallner Since the 1980’s, Abstracta has been a successful supplier of traditional whiteboard and rail systems. The company has constantly developed and refined its solutions to create more exciting and stylish products that meet the modern requirements of a workspace. One good example is when Abstracta started adding glass in traditional whiteboards. It all started with a modern glass panel...

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design stories 2012-5

05 – Abstracta Design Stories 1. What’s the best thing about this product? The best thing with Messenger is that its minimalistic shape hides advanced technology within both its material and functions, making the product adjust‑ able to many different environments. It’s also amusing that this is the first product of its kind, taking the “conference cabinet” to a brand new world. 2. Tell us something we didn’t already know about the design process? Much effort was put into the development of the expansions, so that Messenger could sustain a weight far beyond 100 kilos. The expansions can’t be...

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design stories 2012-6

Abstracta Design Stories – 06 1. What’s the best thing about this product? It’s a flexible storage system. The user can personalise Arctic in many ways. The product is suitable for both offices and homes. 2. Tell us something we didn’t already know about the design process? Arctic is one of the first products without knobs. At the time of its design it was a bit of a challenge to find a functional push-click solution. 3. What characterises a great workspace? Today flexibility is the key. Functional products are important as well as storage solutions.

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design stories 2012-7

07 – Abstracta Design Stories STORY No.2 Storage for all spaces Product. Arctic Production Year. 2005 Designer. Rolf Fransson Most of us cannot locate the space we want, or think we need. Good storage is crucial to keep stuff organised, but we also require that the storage itself suit our surroundings. With its own expressive form and functional interiors Arctic is the solution many are looking for. What characterises the Arctic series is the sleek design and its ability to adapt to any space or needs. Rolf Fransson says he has always had a fondness for clean and straight lines. Artic quickly...

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design stories 2012-8

Abstracta Design Stories – 08 STORY No.3 One thing led to another Product. DoReMi / Alumi Production Year. 2005 / 2007 Designer. Nina Jobs In 2005 Nina Jobs designed the popular sound absorbing screen collection DoReMi. Nina works with simple forms, but always with a twist. In DoReMi she softens the tight shape by working with simple and beautiful relief patterns on the felt. It can be used as a freestanding solitaire or be connected to screen off a larger area. The flexibility of the screen combined with its technical features make the screen extremely versatile and suitable for a variety of...

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design stories 2012-9

09 – Abstracta Design Stories 1. What’s the best thing about this product? The balance between functionality and design. It is an elaborate product that can be easily integrated into many contexts. 2. Tell us something we didn’t already know about the design process? Alumi/DoReMi has has been refined in detail throughout the years, to work on the market. The various felt reliefs strengthen both its design and sound absorb‑ tion. I’ve been working closely with suppliers and many ideas have been worked out on the industrial floor. Teamwork is the key to achieving great products! 3. What characterises...

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design stories 2012-10

Abstracta Design Stories – 10 1. What’s the best thing about this product? It allows users to quickly and effectively change their environment, both soni‑ cally and visually. Even if the product is used in many places, the formation may vary almost indefinitely. 2. Tell us something we didn’t already know about the design process? The product was developed based on a need for suspended shielding and noise reduction. The Airflake’s blade pattern came first. From the beginning, each unit consisted of a smaller triangle, six pieces created what is now one Airflake. 3. What characterises a great...

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design stories 2012-11

11 – Abstracta Design Stories STORY No.4 Creating sound absorbing art Product. Airflake / Aircone Production Year. 2007 / 2012 Designer. Stefan Borselius One of Abstracta’s main product groups is sound absorbing design. But why are sound absorbers always designed for usage on floors, desks or walls? In 2006 designer Stefan Borselius came up with an idea to form the sound absorbers in a new creative way. The solution requires neither floor or wall space; it can be hung from the ceiling. In modern times it can be hard to find large office spaces, so this becomes a highly relevant solution. Airflake...

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design stories 2012-12

Abstracta Design Stories – 12 1. What’s the best thing about this product? Mobi combines two products - a partition and a worksurface - into one mobile product that can be easily assembled on-site. 2. Tell us something we didn’t already know about the design process? There were some unexpected structural challenges during the development phase which required additional reinforcement of the product to meet the strict Swedish furniture testing standards. 3. What characterises a great workspace? Great workspaces are characterised by flexibility – the possibility to adapt the workspace to different...

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