#Japan #Tokyo #ITOKI #Opacity #Co-Workscenes

Itoki's Innovative Divider: Opacity

Itoki Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, is set to launch its new divider, 'Opacity', on August 4, 2025. This product is designed to provide a balance between transparency and functionality in modern office spaces, addressing the evolving needs of hybrid work environments.

Background of Development

With the rise of hybrid work, offices face new challenges such as enhancing communication, creating flexible spaces adaptable to varying occupancy rates, and providing an attractive environment to retain talent and elevate corporate value. As a response to these challenges, Itoki has reevaluated the concept of 'co-working areas'—spaces that combine workstations and other activities.

Key aspects of the new design include:
1. Seamless connectivity between work and communication.
2. The ability to increase workspace flexibility in accordance with attendance changes.
3. Creating an appealing environment that enhances employee morale.

A co-working area is a place for diverse activities, requiring a balance of personal space and interaction to foster collaboration. Overly defined boundaries can hinder communication, making it essential to establish a 'divider' that supports both comfort and social interaction.

This philosophy is what led to the creation of 'Opacity'. Its unique structure allows for the integration of various items within the divider framework, providing both storage functionality and a space for communication while respecting privacy. The clear materials and open design create a 'comfortable boundary' that nurtures a sense of connection.

Key Features

Versatile Adjustments for Space and Functionality
The Opacity divider features a structure allowing users to customize how they separate and connect spaces to their liking. By using transparent punching metal panels in combination with steel shelves, recessed shelves, and cabinets, users can ensure optimal privacy while still maintaining visual openness depending on the spatial context. This adaptability allows office workers to feel a sense of unity while being able to concentrate on their tasks.

Facilitating Interactions
By attaching counters and sofas to the divider, the space can serve as both a boundary and a hub for communication. This makes it easy for areas to become casual meeting points or transitional workspaces. For instance, integrating a sofa and a niche shelf can create an inviting display area in an entrance lobby, while positioning counters can transform workspaces into social café-like environments—all fostering easy interactions among employees.

Aesthetic Depth and Quality
The interplay of shadow and material in the Opacity divider creates a subtle elegance and depth within the workspace. With a design that extends close to the ceiling, it offers a visual impact while achieving a minimalist feel through the inset design of its vertical supports. Each component is crafted to be visually pleasing, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the office, encouraging a warm and welcoming environment where employees naturally wish to gather.

Two Support Structures for Versatility

The Opacity product line offers two types of vertical structures to choose from:

• - Full-length Fixed Type: This option maximally divides spaces from floor to ceiling, resulting in a more dynamic visual experience while maintaining a clean look with all vertical supports consolidated at the base.
• - Stabilizing Foot Type: This allows the product to stand independently without ceiling supports, making it easier to adapt or relocate setups after installation.

Product Overview

• - Product Name: Opacity
• - Launch Date: Available sequentially from August 4, 2025
• - Dimensions: Width options of 600mm, 1200mm, 1800mm, and 2400mm; Depth of 350mm or 500mm (sofa width only 600mm); height for stabilizing foot type at 2300mm
• - Color Variations: Three steel finishes and three wooden veneer options for the furniture.
• - Price: Open price
• - Product Pages: Full-length Fixed Type and Stabilizing Foot Type.

In addition to a unique design made from certified flame-retardant materials, Opacity is part of a larger group of co-working products known as 'Co-Workscenes'—highlighting dynamic, flexible environments for collaboration.

About Itoki's Workplace Business

Founded in 1890, Itoki has continuously evolved its mission to design the future of work. From office furniture manufacturing to work environment consulting and spatial analysis services, Itoki supports a wide range of designs focused on human experience ('Tech × Design based on PEOPLE'). As hybrid work becomes the norm, Itoki offers consulting services aligned with productivity and creativity demands, also fostering collaboration with external designers and partners to cultivate new work styles and environments.