Hot Tips (Furniture Design)
Key Design Features for Innovative Schools
Educational spaces and modern school furniture design continue to evolve. Here are some design features that innovative schools utilize to achieve success.
Versatility in Design
Why it’s important: Numerous studies have shown the correlation between student well-being and flexible, ergonomic seating options. The best furniture design maximizes the potential for diverse uses and can be reconfigured to better suit both the user and the environment.
How it’s done: Stackable desks, mobile storage units, and easily foldable, storable teaching accessories are ways that furniture design is transforming educational settings.
Coherence of Furnishings and Environment
Why it’s important: Modern classrooms are typically single spaces used for various activities. When students feel their environment is purposeful and they’re prepared for the task at hand, the learning experience is dramatically improved.
How it’s done: Balance in design that extends to both environment and furnishings is achieved by evaluating space and choosing furniture that supports a diversity of tasks and activities.
Private and Public Space
Why it’s important: When students are kept in one position, energy and attention can lag. By contrast, motion allows for times of productive and reflective individual work as well as networking and team-driven activities that teach social skills.
How it’s done: Mobile dividers and movable furniture solutions instantly transform spaces from individual-focused to social and group-oriented. By allowing furniture design to organically promote authentic collaboration, students can feel more comfortable and adept in a variety of learning styles and situations.
This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management March 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.
About the Author
Dietmar Lang is the director of Marketing & Product for VS America. He can be contacted at [email protected].