At Orgatec Cologne 2016 Vitra staged, in effect, their own trade fair, renting an entire hall and inviting family and friends along to share the space and their ideas on the future of work.

And obviously had a lot of fun and/or success with the concept.

For at Orgatec Cologne 2018 they once again staged the Vitra Fair……. Work

Vitra - Work, Orgatec Cologne 2018

As previously, and repeatedly, noted, one of the defining aspects about an office furniture fair such as Orgatec Cologne is that wherever one looks one sees a similar vista. Whereas in terms of domestic furnishings there are enough genres of furniture and interpretations of those genres to allow for a, at least relatively when not necessarily satisfyingly, varied landscape, office furniture is much more limited, not only doesn’t have the variety of genres, but has a few that are essentials; consequently every manufacturer has very similar product lines, every manufacturer has, for example, a height-adjustable desk, a sofa with high sides, a desk height rocking stool, a modular bench system, and an office chair with flat, slightly organic quadratic armrests that resemble cutlery Georg Jensen may have produced in the 1960s. The differences are, generally, to be found in terms of mechanisms, connection systems, interfaces, materials or textiles, so very technical aspects. Very important aspects, very fundamental aspects, but things that aren’t necessarily instantly visible. Hence the visual monotony. And aspects which when explored in detail aren’t always that interesting/innovative/engaging/sensible/relevant/practical/functional/etc. It’s a tiring, thankless, business working your way through such a landscape.

Particularly a landscape such as Orgatec 2018 which was, at least as we experienced it, largely about consolidation, about manufacturers extending existing product families or presenting existing products in new materials, new textiles, new colours, new fragrances, etc, etc…..

Which isn’t to say it wasn’t a thankless and fruitless task, just thankless, and thus, and with the standard disclaimer that we have invariably missed numerous genuine highlights, a smow blog Orgatec Cologne 2018 High 5!!

Orgatec Cologne 2018 High Five

PrintStool by Thorsten Franck for Wilkhahn, here as seen at NeoCon Chicago 2016

Whereas 3D printing is omnipresent in the media, and a ubiquitous tool in contemporary research and development, in most daily

Pip by Daniel Kern for Richard Lampert, as seen at Orgatec Cologne 2016

We must start with a confession . This High Five! is a High Four! Not because there weren’t good products

Pacific Chair by Barber Osgerby, as seen at Vitra - Work, Orgatec 2016

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Such was the quality of the new products we saw during our autumn tour they kept us going well into

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Orgatec Cologne 2014 Concept Kitchen by Kilian Schindler for Naber

Explaining the background to their contribution to Stylepark’s Being Home 4+4 installation programme at Orgatec Cologne 2014 Marcel Besau and

Orgatec Cologne 2014 Stylepark Being Home 4+4 Stefan Diez

We don’t consider ourselves slouches when it comes to the effort we make in regards of presenting ourselves at Orgatec

Thonet Orgatec Köln S 160 S 170 S 180 Delphin Design

For just about as long as Thonet have been producing furniture one of the company’s most important designers has been

Orgatec Cologne 2014 New Order by Stefan Diez for Hay

At the risk of overusing the phrase “a concept that grows on us the more XXXX adds to it” and

Orgatec Cologne 2014 Vitra Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

In comparison to the annual IMM Cologne furniture fair the corridors and halls of the Messe Cologne always seems curiously

Whether ’tis nobler in the muscles to suffer The slings and arrows of short telomeres, Or to rise up against

Orgatec 2012 WORKSPACE by Müller Möbelfabrikation

At Orgatec 2012 Augsburg based Müller Möbelfabrikation introduced their new WORKSPACE product range(s). Developed in cooperation with Andreas Struppler and

Orgatec 2012 Michel Charlot U-Turn Belux workbay

Wandering round the Vitra spaceship at Orgatec there was one product that you simply couldn’t fail to notice. On every

Vitra Orgatec Pivot Chair Antonio Citterio

In February 1991 the grand doyen of Italian design Ettore Sottsass approached Vitra CEO Rolf Fehlbaum with a suggestion for

Orgatec 2012 Stand-up Thorsten Franck Wilkhahn

Anyone who had anything to do with the UK childrens toy market of the 1970s – either as a user

Orgatec 2012 Müller Möbelfabrikation

Established in 1996 by three friends with a shared passion for classic metal furniture, Müller Möbelfabrikation has grown steadily over

Der Federdreh by Albert Stoll, Waldshut (Baden)

Browsing through the catalogue for the exhibition “Der Stuhl” in Stuttgart one item in particular caught our attention: “Der Federdreh

Vitrastanden på Orgatec 2010 var domineret af især to tegnestuers arbejde: Antonio Citterio og Ronan og Erwan Bouroullec. Udover at

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Although he was not showing any new products at Orgatec 2010 Alberto Meda used the show to catch up a

orgatec 2010 vitra

Although the public face of Vitra is unquestionably their “Home Collection”, for decades the backbone of the company has been

At Orgatec 2010 we spoke to USM Haller CEO Alexander Schärer about the company’s return to Orgatec after a 12

Mannno! If we’re honest we didn’t expect Orgatec 2010 to be such fun, or to be so sorry to leave.