Behind the Design
marinamantra team partnered with Circ Design Studio
Circ was founded in 2021 by Swiss-Japanese designer Mugi Yamamoto and Canadian designer Eric Cross. They specialize in industrial design that delivers significant improvements to a products usability, functionality & sustainability. They differentiate their design process through careful observation & consideration for end-users, prototyping and validating our ideas with full scale mockups. This continuous process of investigation, experimenting and testing goes beyond product styling and helps them to address complex functional and usability challenges in unique product categories.
Mugi Yamamoto & Eric Cross
Circ StudioWhat inspired the design of the flow desk?
The idea for the ‘Flow’ desk was to give people the opportunity to work in any position they want; from sitting on the floor to standing .
We took inspiration from the aesthetic of sports equipment and yoga poses to create a sit stand table mechanism that folds rather than telescopes up & down . While the desk is in motion , the striking articulation o f the legs grabs your attention ; but while the desk is still , the rounded and soft design details fades to the background so you can focus on your work here .
We took inspiration from the aesthetic of sports equipment and yoga poses to create a sit stand table mechanism that folds rather than telescopes up & down . While the desk is in motion , the striking articulation o f the legs grabs your attention ; but while the desk is still , the rounded and soft design details fades to the background so you can focus on your work here .
When designing the desk , what were you thinking a bout or prioritizing the most?
Our objective was to design a table that would provide the full range of working positions for a wide range o f body types. This meant
completely redesigning the way that the table’s height adjusts, so that it can lower almost to the floor, and rise to a full standing height.
Despite the complexity of the mechanical
structure, we maintained a soft and friendly
design language, ensuring the table feels
approachable and comfortable in a wide range of environments. The tabletop has so ft, rounded corners, there is a soft acoustic dampening felt undercover with a cutout for your knees, integrated power and
cable management, which all contribute to
ease of use and a homey, warm feeling in your home office .
What do you think is the most important feature of the desk?
The flexibility to sit on the floor, on a chair, stand, or even lie down, and still comfortably engage with your work.
Are there any other features you think should be mentioned?
The soft edges of the table top, acoustic
dampening felt undercover with a cutout for
your knees, integrated power and cable
management, and height adjustment controls with user settings all contribute to the desk’s
friendly character and ease of use.
