On Tuesday, April 4, Humanscale and Surface hosted an intimate group of guests for an aperitif and informal talk at the brand’s Re:Charge Café. New York-based Todd Bracher designed the pop-up venue as a place where Salone visitors could relax, drink fresh juices, and charge mobile phones during the hectic Salone del Mobile week. Surface executive editor William Hanley spoke with Bracher, diving into his critiques of contemporary practices, as well as the science behind human-centered design.
“My challenge to the designers out there is to find solutions that will affect people’s lives and support a business,” Bracher said, advocating for the needs of the environment and the consumer. “I think design is too much about the cosmetic solution, not the problem and how it actually lives in the world and where it is going to die.”
To ensure the best outcome, Bracher explained, firms should form multifaceted teams. At Humanscale, designers work with a large cohort of engineers and scientists, and find immense value in the process. “We have nineteen collaborators we bring into projects that have specific expertise in fields like optical science, lighting science, and air science,” Bracher said. “There’s a varied skill set that comes together to help elevate the products. We do this so that we can deliver a product that really solves the problem.”
