Inside the Furniture Company That Puts Inclusivity Over Ego

If you don’t know what modern home furnishings company Blu Dot is all about, you will within a few minutes of walking into its Minneapolis headquarters. Located in a light-filled converted warehouse, the space serves as a stage upon which the firm’s founding pillars—democratic design, modesty, and collaboration—play out each day through its genuinely passionate, egalitarian team. Launched in 1997 by John Christakos, Maurice Blanks, and Charlie Lazor with the then radical aim of making good design accessible to everyone, Blu Dot has managed to maintain its core values—a feat that now makes the brand more radical than ever. Here, from their studio, Christakos and Blanks, along with other staffers from various parts of the company, talk about the spirit of Blu Dot, illustrating how its culture of playfulness, Midwestern roots, and unwavering focus on inclusivity permeate the lives of everyone involved.

Surface Studios is the brand marketing unit of Surface Media.