Howe

Folding Surfaces

Power where you need it. Space when you need it. A large-format folding table with integrated battery power-built for agile, on-demand workspaces.

Design Strategy
Industrial Design
BIFFMA + EN standards
Design for Manufacture (DFM)
Visualisation

Project Purpose

Folding Surfaces was developed by Jones+Partners in collaboration with Howe to meet the evolving needs of dynamic workplaces. Today’s environments demand more than flexibility - they require mobility, simplicity, and independence from fixed infrastructure.

This adaptive table solution folds flat for storage and unfolds into a fully powered workspace anywhere it’s needed. With in-built battery power discreetly housed within the frame, users can plug in and work immediately - no floor boxes, no restrictions.

Perfect for hot-desking, breakout zones, and spontaneous collaboration, Folding Surfaces transforms space in seconds.

Large foldable work surfaces

Integrated battery power

Optional mobile ‘Powerhorse’
for extended energy

The Detail

The frame takes cues from the traditional gate leg table, reimagined through modern engineering. Built from tubular steel with torque-assisted hinges, even the largest format is intuitive to operate - by a single person.

Durability meets tactility through soft PET covers and premium surfaces in oak veneer or coloured laminate. The battery housing is enclosed within the central spine of the table, balancing functionality with visual simplicity.

Folding Surfaces is a facilities and specifier’s dream.
The simplicity of folding and unfolding is unprecedented.

— Judge, Best of NeoCon Awards

DFM...standards, iteration etc...

Designing a foldable table of this scale required deep engineering and extensive prototyping. Dozens of iterations ensured the structure passed rigorous strength and stability testing, while remaining easy to use. The result is a product that balances technical performance with everyday practicality.

User Interaction

Ease-of-use was non-negotiable. We focused on making Folding Surfaces intuitive for all users, regardless of strength or familiarity. Clear interaction points and balanced weight distribution allow the table to be folded or unfolded quickly, safely, and solo.Whether for facilities teams or individual users, it’s a solution designed to make workspaces more responsive and less reliant on fixed setups.

Power Horse

For extended run times or larger teams, the optional Power horse unit provides mobile battery support. Easily wheeled into place, it connects directly to the table - extending flexibility even further, without cables or wall outlets.

Our Process

S

Strategy

Before a design brief even exists, we help uncover the opportunity. This phase is about asking the right questions - what does your portfolio need, where is the market heading, and how can your product make a difference? Through workshops, research, and strategic mapping, we identify ideas that align with user needs and commercial goals. It’s where good design starts - with clarity, not assumptions.

Getting the strategy right upfront is the difference between a great idea and a great result. Many of our most successful product launches have begun here - with insight, not instinct.

Existing Portfolio Assessment
Competitor Analysis
Market Trends
Insights into Product Opportunities

01

Design

With a clear opportunity and direction, we shape the brief and map out each project phase. Then we get to work - diving into research, gathering user insights, and exploring trends to guide creative development.

From sketching early ideas to building digital models, we prototype thoughts fast and visually. We test how it looks, feels, and functions, all while keeping feasibility in mind.

The design phase ends with a compelling presentation, rich in visuals and backed by insight, showing multiple concepts that balance creativity with commercial potential.

Design Brief
Project Planning
Research
Concept Design
Sketch models
Design Visulisation
Presentation Documents
Design Meetings
Phase 1 Sign Off

02

Build

Here’s where ideas take shape. We select the strongest concept(s) and build realistic, full-scale prototypes using processes that mirror how the final product will be made. This gives clients, users, and our team something to interact with, test, and refine.

We adapt to different manufacturing methods and collaborate closely with suppliers to ensure accuracy, practicality, and cost-efficiency. At the same time, we begin shaping supply chains and exploring initial tooling and production costs.

All findings are consolidated into a design pack that moves the project forward with confidence.

Phase 1 Review
Design Development
Sourcing
Costs
Prototyping
Presentation Documents
Design Meetings
Design Visulisation
Phase 2 Sign Off

03

Refine

This is where the product becomes real. Every detail is reviewed, every challenge resolved, until the design is both ready to manufacture and fit for purpose.

Working with your team or managing the process end-to-end,
we iterate prototypes and CAD data to meet all requirements: performance, cost, production, and aesthetic.

We also support supply chain setup, whether integrating with your partners or sourcing new ones, ensuring quality and competitive pricing. The result: a full pre-production pack including drawings, BOMs, and a final prototype that’s ready for sign-off.

Phase 2 Review
Design Development
Sourcing
Bill of Materials
Pre-production Prototype
Presentation Documents
Design Meetings
Phase 3 Sign Off

04

Deliver

With everything in place - from suppliers to costs to signed-off design, we deliver a complete production pack ready for launch.

That includes detailed drawings, data for manufacturing, and everything your team needs to go to market smoothly.

If needed, we also support product testing and certification to ensure compliance with regional and international standards.
We’re there to answer questions, join conversations at trade events, and help set your team up for a confident rollout.

Transfer of all Production Data
Testing and Certification
Support at Product Launches and Shows

M

Marketing

We don’t just hand over files and walk away. When it’s time to launch, we help bring your story to life.

From photography and video to 3D renders and animations, we create assets that capture the essence of the design and make it stand out. These are tools for your sales and marketing teams, designed to amplify impact and bring the product to the right audience, fast.

Videography
Finished Product Photography
Photography of Design Process
Animations
Demonstrating the Design
Copy
Award Submissions