Designed by Observatory

Airia Desk and Media Cabinet

Modern Airia home office desk in white with dark wood trim and white legs, viewed from an angle.
  • White Airia home office desk with dark wood trim and white legs in front view.
  • Modern Airia home office desk from Herman Miller in white with dark wood trim and white legs in three quarter view.
  • White with dark trim Airia Desk and Media Cabinet from Herman Miller, modern media cabinet, full view.
  • White Airia Desk and Media Cabinet from Herman Miller, with dark trim, modern media cabinet, open with shelves.

Designed to last

Three quarter profile view of white Herman Miller Airia Desk with dark wood trim and white legs.

Airia Desk and Media Cabinet

From its elegant combination of wood and aluminium, to its thoughtfully crafted details such as cork-lined drawers, Airia combines beauty and functionality. Designers Ayako Takase and Cutter Hutton were motivated to design an “intelligent desk that acknowledged technology and the stuff that we accumulate when working, but do it in a subtle, integrated and intuitive manner”.

Creating connection

Takase and Hutton, of industrial design firm Observatory, believe that good design can create an emotional connection between object and individual, a philosophy that inspired the making of Airia. “We wanted Airia to be alluring to the eye and satisfying to the hand, to spark an emotional response from first sight, but also after years of use in the home,” says Hutton.

Front view whitesweep of Herman Miller Airia Desk in white with dark wood trim and white legs.
Open cabinet view of White Airia Media Cabinet from Herman Miller, with dark walnut trim.

Material beauty meets functionality

The warmth of a walnut wood frame contrasts against the white aluminium desk surface and tapered legs. A slightly elevated secondary surface provides a place to keep books, objects or refreshments. Cut-outs for cords and cables free the surface of clutter from your charging devices, and slender drawers help to organise papers. The accompanying Airia media cabinet provides additional storage and display capability. Such features make Airia a timeless piece that supports contemporary needs. “We intend it to be a desk you’ll keep for the rest of your life — and give to your kids,” Hutton says.

“We both still have unique design voices, so there are times we have to work to convince each other of something, but the end result is a more interesting harmony. The outcome is a stronger design.”

More about Observatory

Product Design Firm, Observatory

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