Since the recession, there has been an ever-increasing selection of office desk and modular systems on the market to address a variety of corporate needs. Innovant is one company that has joined in the movement with a 27-year history as a leader in office solutions.
Innovant launched in 1991 to provide systems for the financial market. It is a nuts-and-bolts (and wires) company, thinking through every detail for its clientele. Beyond designing for the ways in which people work, focusing on the financial market has its own share of puzzles. For example, how does a desk hold up under the weight of ever-growing technology while providing a stable surface when flimsy desk shaking can make or break a client’s confidence in a broker?
The workplace of the financial industry requires some specific characteristics. With that, Innovant has figured out how to ensure its tables, desks, cabinets, and total-solution systems can not only get the job done but exude confidence as well.
While anticipation surrounds the NeoCon unveiling of Innovant’s new Chicago showroom designed by Michael Vanderbyl in the Merchandise Mart, interiors+sources got the chance to take a tour of its New York City location.
Soon to follow the design inspiration of the Chicago showroom, the current design of the NYC spot is simple and straightforward. With vignettes of different product offerings lined up in an open-office setting with larger individual offices, conference rooms, and communal spaces around the perimeter, one may think they have walked into a tech startup’s office.
One aspect that differentiates Innovant’s team is its suggestion to have the company’s IT department attend design and specifying meetings when reviewing products. As Bruce Wells, vice president of marketing and design for Innovant pointed out, it’s easier and less expensive to bring in the tech team early in the process rather than try to work around problems that derive from how the furniture and technology interact once it’s installed. And, Innovant speaks the technology lingo; it proudly displays electrical drafts showcasing the ways in which its products integrate a myriad of electrical necessities.
Although there is a wide range of details showcased in the NYC showroom, three stand out:
- The variety of customizable features
- Cord management
- The small-office system
The array of customizable features is notable and the showroom allows clients to put them all to the test. Systems come in a variety of sizes and are available as sit-stand or stationary. The controls for the sit-stand desks are offered several designs and can feature the option of a notification to stand for a user-specified length of time every hour. Tabletops slide out, tuck ancillary objects away, and can be fitted with partitions and storage shelves. There is a full range of colors for the extensive laminate and paint selections as well as the option to use textiles. (Innovant has a collaboration with Luna, but others can be specified as custom.
While the wire management spine that has become common in sit-stand solutions is available, Innovant also offers a coiled management system that looks sleek and all but disappears from view.
Open offices are becoming more commonplace but of the individual offices which exist, space is valuable. Innovant’s solution: a super-slim unit that sits against the wall, providing a full system without taking over the room.
