Courtesy of Milder Furniture
Refined existing design
Built from an existing Milder concept developed for an MIT library project, this redesign focused on where the original interaction worked and where it could be simplified.
Identified the moving work surface as a key part of how users experienced the furniture. The previous version used a metal latch to suspend the surface after it was lifted into position. The latch functioned, but added cost, visual clutter, and an obvious stress point. The worktop also required a gas spring to assist in lifting the heavy assembly.
The redesign replaced that approach with two gas springs, one on each side, and added a fixed secondary surface so the user was not working on a floating plane.
Milder Furniture later patented this mechanical system.
Single Carrel
Reduced the design from several pieces of custom hardware to a more straightforward assembly using off-the-shelf components.
Added a small bullnose detail to the front edge to clarify the intended interaction, borrowing from the familiar gesture of opening a laptop.
Courtesy of Milder Furniture
Courtesy of Milder Furniture
Double Carrel
Adjusted the gas spring machining to allow for through-bolts, resolving hardware conflicts when the system mirrored into a double-sided carrel.
