Desks

Desks have featured strongly throughout the history of the firm - early examples were invariably made to order for individual customers. Contract orders in those days were principally for schools, universities, libraries and office interiors. In the thirties, which heralded the move to modernism, a new wave of designers, including Dick Russell, Eden Minns, David Booth and W.H.`Curly` Russell were responsible for many new desks, quite often made in exotic timbers, including rosewood and macassar ebony. In the post war years, desks, associated storage, tables etc. took up the greater part of production. The Contracts division, Gordon Russell Contracts, provided a total interior design service for office interiors, supplying both standard ranges and specially made furniture for prestigious companies, offices and boardrooms. As well as furnishing the cellular office, the firm moved towards the new concept of the landscape office, designed to improve work flows and staff interaction. In 1984, Gordon Russell, in association with the Design Council and the Architectural Review, launched an "International Office Furniture of the Future" competition. The competition attracted well over 100 entries, and was judged by respected design leaders, including Sir James Stirling, Sir Terence Conran, Ron Carter and Jane Priestman. The winning designs were subsequently put into production.