A History of the Office Cubicle
If you're thinking of buying cubicles for office furniture, you're in good company. Contrary to a popular buzz phrase, the 30-year reign of office cubicles suggests workers actually do their best thinking inside the box. Variable privacy, personal storage and inviting designs are just a few reasons why the cubicle remains the king of furniture systems.
The preference for office cubicles draws from a rich history. As real estate prices rose and collars changed from blue to white at the turn of the century, economical office furniture was more important than ever. Office cubicles came to popularity in 1968, alongside the Civil Rights Act and Johnny Cash's "Live from Folsom Prison" album. Cubicles served as a bold antidote to the bay of secretaries and big, open office spaces common in this era.
The rising cost of rent and the need for increased personal privacy were just a few forces behind the creation of the office cubicle. Adaptability, aesthetics and storage options were also key. A perfect marriage of ergonomics and economics, the cubicle provided the answer.
By the 1990's, the cruder structures of the sixties were replaced by more deluxe panel systems. Technology contributed to even more compact work stations, as storage went online and desk clutter slowly decreased. In the millennium, innovations like fresh color palettes in an array of fabrics, variable height panels for configuration flexibility and translucent materials comprise the modern workspace We've come a long way, and a keen ongoing interest in office environments and their impact ensure that we will continue to see advancements in cubicle systems.
