Ethospace System

Overview

Ethospace is a frame-and-tile workstation system designed by Bill Stumpf and Jack Kelley. Herman Miller lists it with its workstations and introduced it in 1984.

Construction

The system combines a sturdy steel frame with interchangeable tiles offered in nearly 30 styles. The tiles attach to the frames and can be removed in seconds without tools. Wires and cables sit in the space between the frames and tiles.

Specifications

Planning options are 90, 120 and 135 degrees. The frames support hanging storage and work surfaces, and the product sheet's statement of line groups the parts into frames, tiles, surfaces, storage and surface supports.

Two designers, one wall

Herman Miller says Bill Stumpf and Jack Kelley saw that offices of the time were not responding well to the arrival of computers. Kelley brought an understanding of technology's impact, and Stumpf an understanding of beauty, freedom and usefulness, which led to a system "wall" that the company says surpassed industry standards for both architectural form and practical function.

Updated since its introduction

The company states that Ethospace has been updated and expanded regularly since it was first introduced, with new components and capabilities added as business strategies and work processes changed. The Herman Miller timeline lists the Ethospace system among the introductions of 1984.