(Archive) #HBLTable

Motivations to design the #HBLTable

The pandemic has forced the entire world into a sudden and peculiar situation. Chemistry, a strategic design consultancy based in Singapore and Amsterdam, decided to apply their design methodology to support underprivileged communities during this difficult period.

Inspired by news reports of children having no space to study and even doing their homework on the floor or their living rooms and kitchens, Chemistry developed #HBLtable. The design is made entirely from 1 grade of cardboard that can be assembled easily and quickly without any additional fixtures or adhesive.

“To push this out quickly, we appropriated the design of a table from a previous project (#Fliptable) for online learning at home. Inspired by the idea of flipping the table, we extended that idea to provide 2 heights, catering for children between the age of 4 to 12” said John Chan, Design Director of Chemistry.

Research, Design and Development of the #HBLTable

During the research phase of this project, Chemistry interviewed and surveyed over 168 participants and discovered that many families were struggling with finding a conducive space for their children to participate in Home Based Learning. As reported by Channel News Asia, less fortunate families with 2 or more children, living in rental or 1-room public housing flats, are particularly affected.

The problem was with the fact that typical furniture set-ups do not cater to the height of children and there has never been a pressing need for dedicated ‘study spaces’ until now. This results in children trying to do their homework or attend a Zoom class on the floor, with their textbooks and stationery strewn around them.

In 2016, Chemistry designed the #FlipTable as an interactive installation featured at Archifest and Neonlights. Crazy Rich Asians actor, Henry Golding, participated in the installation as well. The #FlipTable’s intent was to facilitate dialogue around the taboo correlation of stress and productivity at work, as well as provide an acceptable avenue for stress release within the office environment.

Working with cardboard

Cardboard was chosen due to its durability and its ability to withstand flipping. With the low production cost, Chemistry realised that the #FlipTable could be quickly tweaked to work as an effective study table that could be provided to needy families for free through minimal sponsorship. By adjusting the cutting template, we managed to also make a laptop and tablet stand out of the remaining material. In addition, the cardboard can be drawn and doodled on, adding a layer of fun and creativity along with a sense of ownership.

In order to bring this idea to life, Chemistry worked with Tri-Wall, a local production company, to fabricate 100 sets. Working closely with welfare organisations across Singapore, Chemistry distributed the #HBLTables to the right households completely free of charge. The #HBLTable was also rolled out to charities such as the Society of Sheng Hong Welfare Services.