2016 Metaproject 06, Poppin

The title for this project and corresponding exhibition is reflective of the project's ongoing initiative: to impart a deeper understanding of problem-solving with the goal of exposing the intricacies of design thinking through the execution of a project brief. This exhibition demonstrates that education partnered with industry can be a successful vehicle for fostering innovative thinking and product excogitation.

In the spring of 2016 twenty-two Industrial Design Seniors taking a course with Professor Josh Owen were given the task of rethinking the landscape of office products in consideration of this year's project sponsor, Poppin's 'workstyle' approach. The students were tasked to create innovative accessories for Poppin's new line of furniture that accent, improve, or add to their use.

Brendan Babiarz

Branch Accessory Holder





Accessory Category: Desk





Within a start-up environment you are granted a limited footprint. Everyday we arrive at work with items that will come back home with us. However, while at the office these items tend to get in the way. Branch allows for the organization of your daily commute items; from bags, to coats, to hats, to headphones, to your keys.

Tristan Cannan

Booster Desk





Category: Desk





The Poppin Booster Desk is a reaction to the oversights of the standing desk revolution. While standing desks offer an improved way to work for some, the majority of consumers prefer transitional desks where both positions are possible. The problem is that electronic desks that transition well are unaffordable for most people and small companies. Alternatively, inexpensive, mechanical ones require time, space, and major effort to use to stand and then to remove to sit. Poppin’s Booster Desk cuts out both time and investment. It’s an affordable option that transitions from sitting to standing and back in one fluid motion.

Evan Cincotta

High-rise Hanging Family





Category: Desk





The High-rise Hanging Family takes desk organization to another level. Designed to work on both sides of Poppin’s new table dividers, this accessory allows one to store more and free up important desktop real estate. The two bin sizes provide solutions for pens, notebooks, Poppin Mobile Memos and more. The Cord Claw keeps cables in a convenient and organized place. Its height means there is no need to yank for more cable slack. The Poppin Hook provides a place to keep a hat or headphones. The Magnetic Bar holds onto paperclips and pushpins for the divider. With the Lofted Mobile Dock there is a place for your phone to hang out while you work. Its design allows for charging and full screen visibility. Each accessory can work together or separately to ensure everything on the desk has a home. High-rise’s plug-and-play design means rearranging takes seconds without the need for tools.

Yuting Dong

Box Seat 2.0





Category: Lounge





Being creative in a fast-paced modern office environment could be challenging. Many times we see people shifting through multiple working zones, and coming up with best ideas in a relaxed lounge setting. Poppin Box Seat 2.0 is a comfortable block party ottoman that can both function as an office storage and a lounge table to capture all your ideas when you come up with them.

Sandro Hatibovic

Pyramid Messenger



Category: Desk





The Pyramid Messenger isa messaging device for desktops in offices. The outer shell of the pyramid comes in a variety of colors with a solid white dry erase triangular pyramid. Write any message you choose: “do not disturb,” “away from my desk,”or use it to write a checklist or to-­do list! The outer shell covers all but one side of the pyramid, allowing for more direct pointed communication.

Afifi Ishak

Sticky Note Ball





Category: Desk





Sticky Note Ball is a spherical polyhedron with 12 pentagonal faces. Each face is a pad of sticky notes for people to peel off for multi-purposes such as using them as bookmarks, as memos and so forth. This design enriches the user’s mood and interaction when it comes to things on the desktop. The Sticky Note Ball is rich in sculptural geometry and experience design which gives a powerful visual message as you peel away layers and is supported by the plastic core.

Kasia Kosak

Recycling System





Category: Shared





The Poppin Recycling System is a sensible addition to any modern office styled by Poppin. The recycling bin helps to facilitate proper recycling habits in the workplace through its sleek design and details. The angle of the lid allows visibility of the cutout opening which indicates the type of waste that the should be disposed of in the bin. The bin shown here is intended for single stream recycling as the lid indicates through both paper and bottle sized openings.

Kyle Laidlaw

Extruded Universal Holder





Category: Desk





Having instant access to information, in an organized manner, is critical in order to optimize workflow. Our screens and notebooks are the vessels for which this information is presented to us, so instead of tucking them away in our pockets and cases, we should provide a stage for them. The tray is able to support your phone, tablet, notebook, and any other items you can fit. It is designed to hold almost any tool you might need in any orientation you’d like it. The tray’s secondary feature of hanging on the PET dividers makes it perfect for storing access tools, which gets rid desk clutter. When information is just a glance away, getting things done tends to be much easier.

Veronica Lin

Foot Pebble





Category: Shared





In the office environment, the most productive workflow happens while seated at your own desk. Poppin Foot Pebble solves the staticity of workstyle by elevating the feet from the ground and engaging a playful and versatile dialogue with the rest of your body, without disrupting the workflow. Made out of solid cork, it is sustainable, lightweight and easy to clean; the silicone handle allows you to carry it around wherever you go. The Foot Pebble promotes a better posture and healthy movement in the office environment, to work healthy, to work happy.

Danielle Marino

Munch Mat Takeout Bag





Category: Shared





Eating in the office can present obstacles to workspace cleanliness but is necessary in everyone’s

work day. Constantly pressed for time, a growing majority of the workforce prefers to eat take-out at their desks. The Poppin Munch Mat guards the desk and keyboard from the inevitable mess of snacking. The handles allow it to function as a reusable to-go bag, both insulating your meal as well as eliminating the need for plastic and paper bags. Made of coated cotton fabric with silicone handles, the Munch Mat is a wipeable surface that can also be machine washed. The Munch Mat is a fun and simple solution to crumbs on the desk, and is a sustainable alternative for plastic to-go bags.

Emily Moore

Task Chair Overhanger



Category: Desk





With your busy lifestyle and often crowded office space, any way to keep your belongings off of the ground makes for a more efficient and attractive workspace. The Chair Overhanger slips easily onto the chair and adds a pop of color to match the office decor, while allowing for you to hang multiple personal items such as scarves, bags and hats. When a coat is hung over these items it hides them and gives the user a sense of security knowing others cannot see their belongings.

Christopher Munoz

Divider Storage Caddy





Category: Desk





Usable real estate is at a premium in the Startup environment. The focus of project is in creating a versatile shelving system for the user that can sit on top of the Poppin Wall Divider and hold various cups, planter pots or other tools. The user will also be provided the option of having the shelving system sit on a desk to perform similar functions or serve as a file sorter.

Dylan Panarra

Side Note Chair Accessory





Category: Desk





The SideNote brings storage functionality to the chair. Pockets under the Arm Rests provide easy access for a variety of items and allow the desktop to be freed of unnecessary clutter. Using the structure of the chair as skeleton, SideNote is an effective add-on which can further illustrate company branding through color.

Kayla Rakower

Lattice Storage





Category: Shared





This series of lattice storage units are designed to inhabit any office and encourage personalization. When the units nest together, they’re intersecting loops make new volumes, while the individual components fit comfortably within, alongside, or even on top of Poppin’s existing accessories and furniture. The structure encourages an array of functions, acting as a shelf, file sorter and even a side table. Simple. Innovative. Poppin.

Stephanie Saucier

Poppin Power





Category: Desk





The modern office environment needs to be versatile. In most cases it’s difficult to provide power to these ever-changing spaces. Poppin Power is a device that brings convenient power access to the Poppin desktop. This device fits perfectly into the existing Medium Accessory Tray with risers that support another tray to be placed on top with clearance. This gap allows for cables to run out of the insert’s USBs and outlets to any variety of devices. These pieces work cohesively to create one unit that provides power, organization, and convenience.

Sara Schult

Nesting Cup and Carafe Set





Category: Shared





Adding a touch of sophistication to the typical water cooler experience, this set of four stacking cups and a water pitcher keeps the of?ce hydrated and energized all day and anywhere, while also reducing the material waste impact of disposable water cups. Whether in the break room, in an executive meeting, or during a brainstorm session, the set easily transitions between different of?ce spaces matching perfectly with the colors of your brand and never fails to keep everyone refreshed and happy.

Jordan Stemper

Connect-Office Gaming Partition





Category: Desk





It is important to stay productive at work, and sometimes the best thing to help you stay productive is to just take a break sometimes and play, move around, work out, to exercise and refresh your mind and help you tackle assignments. Connect-Office Gaming Partition fits right into the workplace with its dual-functionality, work and play. You are able to play a quick game with your neighbor, and at the same time receive the privacy you need to focus.

Elizabeth Talamo

Cable Hideaway 2.0





Category: Desk





In a startup environment, adaptability is essential. As such, leaving one laptop charger at home and the other at the office, tucked neatly away under your desk, becomes a matter of practicality, not only lightening the load of your morning commute but also making your transition from home to office and back again more simple. Cable Hideaway 2.0 is the unseen necessity in the office space, keeping your unsightly tangled mess of cords organized. Able to work with or without Poppin’s PET dividers, Cable Hideaway 2.0 features a silicone topper with 7 slots, a few slots for each person on either side of the desktop, to keep all of your cords within reach.

Koby Trout

Lap Topper





Category: Shared





The Lap Topper is a mobile platform that lets you take your work anywhere you want without disrupting your workflow. Perfect for the nomadic worker, the Lap Topper provides an easy way to move about the office without having to pack up, organize, or otherwise distract from the task at hand. A 360 degree bevel around the edge makes it easy to pick up and go, encouraging healthy movement throughout the office environment. Subtle surfaces on the underside allow the Lap Topper to swivel around when on a flat surface, to easily share content on a laptop or tablet. A soft touch overmold around the edge adds comfort for all-day use and a bright pop of color. Whether it’s on your lap, on a desk, or anywhere in between, the Lap Topper encourages productivity and seamless transition from place to place to work happier, in more places.

Maxwell Whitehead

Adjustable Desktop Divider / Privacy Screen





Category: Desk





The trend towards open office plans has created great opportunities for creativity and collaborative employee interaction. The benefits of these open plans are numerous but can often create a loud and distracting environment with little affordance for individual privacy. The Adjustable Desktop Divider allows individuals to create a visual and auditory barrier at their workspace. Allowing individuals to retreat to seclusion from the hectic open office environment to reach optimal productivity. The ability to transition between a flat, open divider and a overhanging enclosure allows users to adjust their workspace based upon their task at hand. It creates a visual indicator to fellow employees, signaling when someone is available for collaboration or wishes to be left alone.

Ethan Young

Under Shelf





Category: Desk





Imagine yourself rushing to your desk piled high with projects and paperwork, not sure where to place your belongings. The Under Shelf is a small shelf that utilizes space under the Poppin desk, providing a unique expansion and is simply attached to the desk by wrapping a sturdy elastic material around the leg. Its crisp aesthetic and intuitive function make for easy attachment and removal.

Linghua Zhu

Phone Docking Station with Cup





Category: Desk





We are in an age where people always carry cell phones with them. In order to give people an accessible

and more comfortable experience when providing a space for their cell phones at work, I created a design that combines a penholder with a cell phone holder. This design is a multi-functional table accessory that works efficiently and save space on table. The leaning angle of the product makes pens more organized, and the bottom details create enough space for the charging cable to go through.