In Collaboration with UniFor
‘In Collaboration with’ explores the nature of collaboration between Foster + Partners Industrial Design, its clients, and manufacturers. Each feature explores how long-term relationships evolve through shared values, expertise, and innovation across disciplines.
This month, we focus on the studio’s partnership with UniFor, shaped through a shared commitment to design and technical innovation and the relationship between product design and architectural spaces.
UniFor was founded in 1969 with a design-led approach centred on close collaboration with architects, developing furniture systems that respond to the evolving complexity of the workplace. Drawing on their expertise in furniture systems and combining technical innovation with manufacturing knowledge and craftsmanship, products are conceived as part of a wider architectural vision rather than standalone objects. This approach provided a strong foundation for the collaboration with Foster + Partners Industrial Design, with products being developed through research, iterative development, engineering, and making.
The partnership began with the development of Element 01, a study table first presented at the Orgatec fair in Cologne in 2014. This led to the creation of the Element Office Collection, which expanded to include Element 02 round meeting table, and Element 03 large cantilevered table, featuring adjustable, minimalist support structures. In 2023, the collaboration continued with the launch of the XYZ collection at Salone del Mobile, comprising Shelving X, Table Y, and Desk Z. The XYZ collection has since expanded to include monitor stands and trolleys, which are currently used within Foster + Partners global offices.
“Working closely with engineering and manufacturing specialists from the early stages allows products to evolve through continuous testing and refinement,” says Mike Holland, Head of Industrial Design, Foster + Partners. “This process ensures they remain true to their original design intent while meeting functional, manufacturing and technical performance requirements, and responding to the evolving ways people use space.”
This collaborative process is reflected in the development of the XYZ collection. While each product responds to a different brief, they share a common design language and an emphasis on simplicity, adaptability, and precision.
Shelving X focuses on simplifying the construction system by reducing unnecessary components while improving structural performance. Table Y combines timber and metal through a carefully resolved manufacturing process, balancing material expression with technical performance. Desk Z introduces a sophisticated mechanical height-adjustment system, requiring an extended period of engineering development to meet contemporary workplace requirements without relying on electronic actuators.
“Our collaboration with Foster + Partners Industrial Design is built on an ongoing dialogue between design vision and technical expertise,” adds Carlo Molteni, UniFor CEO. “Every project represents an opportunity to transform an idea into a tangible product through a continuous exchange that combines innovation, precision, quality, and design. The Element Office Collection and, more recently, the XYZ system are the result of this journey, developed over time through research, experimentation, and a shared design philosophy.”
Throughout the development process, sustainability informed decisions about material selection, component design, and manufacturing. Products were designed to facilitate disassembly, maintenance, and recycling, supporting a longer product lifespan and reducing environmental impact.
The flexibility of the XYZ collection allows it to respond to a wide range of workplace environments. The collection can be configured to suit different organisational needs while maintaining a consistent architectural language. Today, both the Elements and XYZ collections have been specified in workplaces globally, with Elements located within the HSBC headquarters in Hong Kong.
Alongside the development of standardised product systems, the collaboration has also extended to bespoke office solutions, including the extensive modular furniture system developed for Bloomberg Headquarters in London.
The collaboration between Foster + Partners Industrial Design and UniFor continues to evolve through a shared commitment to research, technical innovation, and making. By combining expertise in industrial design, engineering, and manufacturing, the partnership demonstrates how continuous dialogue between disciplines can produce furniture systems that respond to both architecture and the evolving needs of the workplace.
Awards
2025 - iF Design Award – XYZ Gold Winner, Product (Office/ Stationery)
2024 – Casum Award – Shelving X Winner, Furniture
