Product Design in a Covid World

The Dilemma: Storage and personalization in 100% unassigned desk offices where it is difficult to predict occupancy rates.

The Solution: A storage solution that goes with the user and does not require a locker system to secure it. The Slyde TOTem Enhanced designed by SHL Architects in tandem with Perkins and Will.

TOTem enhanced was designed as an alternative storage solution to bulky and expensive office locker systems. The shift to agile offices and remote work has been building for years, and there are so few available solutions for portable office organization. In December 2019, our team began design on TOTem because we saw a consumer driven need a more elegant method to organize and transport work items in non-assigned desk office spaces. Our goal was to design a product that the user could access upon arrival to the office (or bring with them), and carry it via a shoulder/ hand strap to wherever they set up to work for the day. Traditionally, the user would retrieve their work items from an assigned locker system and bring items to and from their work area in a bag or backpack. Backpacks and purses are designed for personal use not work items (pens, samples, work papers, laptop wires and chargers, external keyboard and mouse) and using them for both leads to loss in productivity. Most employers would also prefer to have clean work areas that don’t look like college libraries with floors littered with backpacks.

The optimal solution is to keep work and personal items separate, with work items remaining in the users work tote. The tote would then be housed at the users assigned desk for the day with the ability to slide under the desk and with integrated name plate to act as signage for the occupied desk. The tote or its removable compartments could then be set up at desk or easily transported to any meeting.

At the end of the work day the tote could be left in an open shelving system or taken home by the user. Agile spaces are typically divided into team areas, so the tote could even be stored in an open shelving area in any team area. This eliminates the need for dedicated lockers.

Half way through design of the tote (in May 2020) the design team began to discuss how the tote should be used not only as a work office tote but as an at home ergonomic work tool.

As most team members worked (very uncomfortably) from home dining room tables or couches, we took inspiration from “what we wish we had” at home to work with. We designed an integrated laptop riser from a thin felt insert, as well as a wireless charging pad and a larger paper tray insert because the team was having a difficult time organizing paper at crowded homes not designed for long term computer use. Our inspiration was to redesign TOTem so that it could be used as a work and home office storage solution that could convert any surface into an ergonomic work area.

We are incredibly excited to announce that the Slyde TOTem enhanced is available for pre-order for corporate users via our website at Slyde Innovations or for home use at www.quickshipoffice.com