Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska was among a group of 9 designers selected from around the world to participate in a project organized by, among others, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) trade association. Artists invited to the "Connected" project are tasked with designing tables and chairs that respond to the needs of people who work from home.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone - including furniture designers. Locked in their homes, they have lost direct contact with their clients and the workshops they work with on a daily basis, carrying out a variety of tasks in improvised home offices. Creators and manufacturers alike have had to adjust their work processes and start regularly using new technologies for organized remote collaboration. In June of this year. The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) trade association, furniture maker Benchmark, and the Design Museum in London challenged nine international designers to create tables and chairs that meet the expectations and needs of combining work and life at home.
Among the nine designers was Maria Jeglińska-Adamczewska, who is among the youngest and most promising Polish designers
© organizers' press materials
quarantine furniture
Completely in spite of the situation, the project was named "Connected" ("Connected") to see how designers handle their work in these difficult times. Among the 9 designers was Maria Jeglińska-Adamczewska, who is one of the youngest and most promising Polish designers. Her designs are characterized by simplicity, yet highly susceptible to variation in function and configuration of components. Jeglińska-Adamczewska's work encompasses a variety of design genres: from small everyday objects to furniture and interior design. The main feature of all projects is functionality, understood as susceptibility to changes dictated by the user's convenience or habits. The designer's objects and spaces can be freely modified, rearranged and used in a variety of ways. She says of the "Connected" project that its charm lies in the fact that it is not commercial, as it is an expression of our thoughts and reflections on the current times.
The originators of "Connected" set designers the task of constructing tables and chairs that connect people. At the moment I am still working on the concept. I'm interested in creating objects that fall somewhere between architecture and furniture that allow people to create their own space. I've been analyzing the typology of office chairs, and I've also done research on the Sheikh community - a self-sufficient group of people living and working in the same space," said Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska. - I'm thinking of using wood from American cherry and steam-treated maple, and I think I'll combine them. I'll see how it looks together, and I'll still consult on the design with Benchmark's plant manager, Sean Sutcliff. On the other hand, I love the color and grain of the cherry. I'd like to be able to use all of that in my design," Jeglińska-Adamczewskaadded.
I analyzed the typology of office chairs, and also did research on the Shakers community - a self-sufficient group of people living and working in the same space
© organizers' press materials
The artist will develop her concept through an online collaboration together with a selected employee of the Benchmark site. This is a completely new approach to work, the evaluation of which depends on the approach. And although the designer appreciates the possibilities of modern technology, she believes that meetings on Zoom or Skype will never replace a physical meeting, through which one can get to know each other better and establish stronger relationships. Relationships and trust are what matter when working to create a product.
project idea
The designers invited to the project were asked to digitally record, in the form of video recordings, the conceptual changes on the way to creating their designs, in order to give observers a better understanding of the approach to the task. Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska also runs her video blog, and the first episode can be viewed on the blog.
In addition to Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska, the "Connected" project includes Maria Bruun (Denmark), Jaime Hayon (Spain), Sabine Marcelis (Netherlands), Sebastian Herkner (Germany), Ini Archibong (Switzerland), Heatherwick Studio (UK), Studio Swine (UK/Japan) and Studiopepe (Italy).
The works completed in the project will be presented at the Design Museum in London as part of an installation called "Connected" once the museum reopens to the public. It will be a moment of communal experience, allowing people to enjoy physical reconnection after a time of isolation.
