Dimensions: 30" dia x 18" h
Materials: Birch Ply with durable chalkboard surface
Designer: Eric Pfeiffer for Offi & Company

Years ago, Offi & Company had big plans to corner the office-furniture-as-modern-design market. When Offi had the chance to buy out Eric Pfeiffer's beautiful and brilliant bent ply designs, they fell in love with almost everything he had done... except the kids stuff. They thought his kids furniture was clever and well designed, but it did not really go with Offi's plans. Eric thought otherwise. All he had to say was "it's my best seller," and Offi was convinced. And of course Eric was right, and now Offi's kids furniture is some of its best selling products. It always seems to happen that way...

To read the rest of Eric Pfeiffer's story, scroll south...

The Story:

I don’t know about you, dear reader, but it seems like I can never have enough floor space. Any flat surface in my house tends to double as a storage unit for magazines, mail, or other miscellaneous and homeless pieces of paper. Eric Pfeiffer identified this need as one that many people have, and based several of his designs on it. The Perch Lounge, Tiki Stool, and Flip Stool all function as both seating and storage. And I love them. Sometimes you just cannot overrate multifunctionality.

The man also surfs very well, and once upon a time he even surfed semi-professionally. But saying Eric Pfeiffer is a surfer is a little like saying Paul Newman is a manufacturer of salad dressing. Sure his Thousand Island is undoubtedly delicious, but it is his legacy as an actor that astonishes. And it will be Eric Pfeiffer’s legacy as a product designer that people will still be admiring after we are all long gone.

He served as the VP of Design at Offi from 2000 through 2004, coordinating product design and directing the Offi innovation process. During his prolific tenure at Offi, he designed most of the products that were introduced and was credited with several design awards, including the 2003 ID Magazine award for the Offi Perch Lounge. Also while at Offi, Eric co-authored a book called "Bent Ply: the Art of Plywood Furniture", which features the step-by-step making of the Offi Wave Desk. Eric says that the culture of California influences his work. He enjoys design that is “laid-back, whimsical but practical.” One obvious forbearer of his bent plywood designs is Charles Eames. Eric credits the “spirit of innovation that appears in Eames chairs” as well as the aerospace industry and Silicon Valley as other sources of inspiration.

In January 2005 Eric started his new design studio "Pfeiffer Lab" with the goal of exploring the "the design of everyday objects in our lives." He is also working on another book about design, home and the modern family.