Furniture students at Buckinghamshire New University took part in a spot of role-play to help internationally-renowned office furniture company Herman Miller gauge interest in its new products.
The students, studying MA Art & Design Practice: Furniture at the University in High Wycombe, were involved in the exercise as part of Clerkenwell Design Week, in London, which showcases leading UK and international brands and companies.
Students were videoed giving their feedback to the company on what they thought of various items of KIVO furniture at its showroom in St John’s Lane, Clerkenwell.
Herman Miller also asked the students to transport a mobile version of the furniture around the area to show the many different ways its new products could work in different configurations.
Course Leader Lynn Jones said: “The role play was aimed at helping Herman Miller with the primary research for new products. It is brilliant learning experience for the students’ own research and helps them understand the role of furniture-related primary research in industry in a real, live way.”
Andrew Duncomb, of Herman Miller, said: “The students did an amazing job, showed a lot of enthusiasm and were a credit to Herman Miller and to Bucks New University.
“I have had many positive reports of sightings of the mobile KIVO out on the streets and the students were excellent ambassadors who generated great feedback on the furniture.”
