Briefed by Wiedens to come up with a meeting table for their new building expansion, we were interested in the idea of how we can use meeting tables to make meetings better. Let’s face it, in most meetings, stupidity is contagious.

TimeTable is the result of our efforts, conceived and produced in collaboration with ico Design. TimeTable helps better manage meetings by elegantly and unobtrusively showing the passing of time. A simple twist of a dial sets the length of the meeting at the start and a recorded voice announces “Welcome to TimeTable”. Ten illuminated light panels appear in the surface of the table, each panel representing a tenth of the meeting time. As the time passes, panels are switched off and a sound effect is played. Once the allotted meeting time has elapsed TimeTable politely informs attendees “This meeting is now complete, please leave the room in an orderly fashion”.

As a hidden quirk, the software includes a secret mode which is triggered by a combination of user commands. On activation, ʻDisco modeʼ, will subvert the meeting by playing disco tracks and randomly flashing light panels.

The 1500 x 2500mm table is built on a refectory table-style base and the surface is made from white Hi-Mac, a thermoformable composite material which resembles natural stone, ensuring it is beautiful as well as functional. The electronics are run by an Arduino microcontroller (open-source hardware) and the light panels are made up of around 700 RGB LED lights controlled by a bespoke DMX unit, allowing the colour of the panels to vary randomly. The user interface features a rotary dial for setting the time, an LCD display that shows the instructions, a USB input for changing the sound effects and a volume control made from matching white hi-mac. Design and production for the wonderful white slab of loveliness was by the good people at Nicholas Alexander (if you can think it, they can build it).

TimeTable is now up and running in Wieden + Kennedyʼs new space, The Cole, in Hanbury Street, East London.