Allseating has collaborated with Todd Yetman on a new line of “Resimercial” soft seating.
As we rethink the landscape of the office and what may provide optimum levels of comfort for returning employees, Allseating presents Watson – a full family of soft seating solutions that are both modern and comfortable.
WDM posed several questions to product designer Todd Yetman to find out the background story behind the product.
Where do you think Watson will fit in with today’s office design scenarios?
Achieving a balance between residential comforts and commercial style, Watson has the look and feel of a sofa you would find at home and features durable, modern design that brings purpose into the workplace. The sofa features a tuxedo-style outer shell, creating a formal ambiance that contrasts with a relaxed and inviting feel when sitting, allowing the collection to fit naturally into an array of casual and formal spaces like lobbies, offices, lounges, collaborative areas, and more.
Does Watson support agile and activity-based workplaces that are becoming so prevalent in new and refurbished facilities? If so, how?
Yes. As we are all still trying to figure out what the post-pandemic office will look like, companies are slowly welcoming their employees back to the offices and also opening their offices to clients. In order to make this leap back into the office, people are going to want open communal areas that are comfortable and safe. This collection allows companies to arrange the furniture into configurations that promote safety while not sacrificing comfort or aesthetics. This is a perfect time to bring elements of the home back into the office space.
As modern workers re-imagine work schedules, office design, and even home-office routines, resimercial design must become more comfortable and inspiring to promote wellness and productivity. Watson is plush and casual yet professional and commercial, making it perfect for impromptu meeting areas and collaborative working.
Can you tell a story or give an example of how Watson will help our readers design and implement great workplace solutions?
Over the past 18 months, I have been a part of a few socially distanced meetings. Instead of heading into a boardroom or a confined office, each meeting was held in an open space where we were coincidentally sitting on early prototypes of this Watson Collection. The furniture was generously spaced out and proved to be a comfortable and effective way to get together.
As companies are now focusing on getting employees back into the office, as well as host more in-person meetings, it is important that the new workplace can be configured in a way that is comfortable, safe, and effective.
What was the inspiration for the design of this product?
The inspiration for the product was to create a lounge collection that combines residential comforts with commercial style. It was my goal to find a way to bring upholstery details usually found in traditional artisan methods into a mass-produced lounge collection. Watson was also inspired by bespoke British menswear to be as tailored and fashionable as its name suggests. This led to its tuxedo-style outer shell, simple lines, square edges, and elegant tailoring.
What innovations in use of materials or fabrication are utilized in the manufacturing of this product?
Many exclusive residential collections are custom-made, one-off pieces that are often created by highly skilled craftsmen to produce a beautifully tailored product. Several custom components and production-friendly details have been incorporated into Watson that allows for a highly detailed, tailored product to be created in a production environment.
Our involvement in the design and development of this product goes far beyond an aesthetic exercise. We have been fortunate to also be involved with the full product development from the initial sketches right through to the final production pieces.
Where do you think the installation of this product will be most effective?
Watson can be specified in as a club chair, loveseat, sofa, or bench, allowing it to fit naturally into an array of casual and formal spaces like lobbies, offices, lounges, collaborative areas, and more. As a result of these variations, Watson can be positioned to encourage engagements amongst users and optimize space usage.
A year from now what would be the most exciting thing you could find out about how the product has been accepted, specified, and installed in projects?
With all of the uncertainty surrounding the workplace, I would be most excited to see companies moving forward trying to rethink the office space in general. If this product is being accepted and specified, it would be a great sign that we are on the right track to returning to a sense of normalcy. If the product fills a niche as we are anticipating, it would be exciting to consider a few line extensions that could further help companies welcome back their employees and clients.
When will Watson be available?
Winter 2022
What do you think our readers will love about Watson?
The duality of Watson — the collection brings intelligent design and the comfort of home to any space. Although it fits in naturally to any professional environment, Watson features a plush, pillowed seat, creating cloud-like comfort.
Are you able to share any cost information?
We suggest readers contact their local representative for product information and pricing.
Are there any unique features that would be of interest to Work Design’s readers?
- Great comfort and an aesthetic that blends residential details into commercial lounge furniture.
- Unlike many traditional residential sofas, the seat and back surfaces of the sofas are not made up of multiple cushions but rather a one-piece construction. The individual spaces have been defined using seams and modern pull details.
- The collection features a wide range of upholstery options per piece, allowing for single or dual upholstery, to ensure that buyers can perfectly fit their design vision.
- The individual spaces have been defined using seams and modern pull details. These details imply a natural separation between seats, intuitively guiding users to sit in ways that keep them safe.
When and where do you plan to exhibit Watson?
Get in contact with an Allseating sales rep to book your sit test. Watson will be in a variety of locations across the US and Canada in February 2022.
