Meet Up! — Ofita’s new design solutions for offices

Many businesses today have changed their working practices and require more creative, interconnected, flexible and, above all, collaborative spaces. The Meet Up! collection, co-created by designers Antoni Arola and Jordi Tamayo for the company Ofita, was conceived to respond to this scenario. 

Meet Up! comprises a comprehensive range of modular elements that allow for the creation of multiple, original spaces that can be easily reconfigured, such as one called Minibox as well as meeting rooms, informal areas and waiting rooms — truly creative environments tailored for all kinds of work. Its sofas, tables and panels create spaces where people can easily connect, collaborate and exchange ideas and share experiences as well as areas where people can concentrate on their own. The collection represents a step forward in understanding informal spaces. Until now, these have been separate areas of the office. But this collection incorporates them into the workspaces themselves. Technology is another key feature of the collection, which includes elements that encourage connectivity between those using the furniture.

In his design, Arola has plumped for pure, rational lines. The idea behind it is that it can be harmoniously incorporated into its environment without losing sight of such factors as ergonomics and its users’ comfort. The design’s rounded corners make his pieces more user-friendly and encourage people to communicate in close proximity to each other. The collection’s combination of structure, lines, materials and warm finishes help to personalise the normally anodyne, functional world of most workspaces. Completing the collection is a range of original, distinctive, functional pieces, such as shelving, lamps, hangers, blackboards and cushions.

Arola set up his studio in 1994. Since then, his many themes and preferred media and materials have had one common thread: to experiment, to surprise and spark conversations. His work encompasses a wide repertoire of projects, from interior design and temporary structures to industrial design. He has created lighting and furniture for such companies as Vibia, Santa & Cole, Metalarte, Fluvia, Viabizzuno, Mobles 114 and Kendo. Meanwhile, Tamayo, who once worked in Arola’s studio, founded his own studio in 2008, designing and collaborating on interior design and product design projects as well as working as an artistic and creative director.

Ofita has been a high-profile design and office equipment company for over 45 years. Its products grace many of its projects, including the headquarters of Roche Diagnostic and Torre Puig in Barcelona, L’Oréal in Bogotá and Volvo Group in Madrid.