Design Stories: Climb by Jones + Partners

— 28 July 2026


Working habits are continually evolving, and the furniture that shapes the office environment will need to adapt to an ever-changing pattern. Furniture in these environments will need to be flexible, sustainable, and long-lasting, with design for disassembly at its heart to encourage specifiers to move towards repairable and reusable office designs.

When we set out to expand our collection with the Climb Shelving System, we collaborated with British design studio Jones + Partners. It was a project with a simple ambition - to create an adaptable spatial system built around circular principles.

Only a few months after its launch, Climb was recognised for its clever and innovative design, winning both a Design Guild Mark and an FX Award in 2025. To reflect on the success of Climb’s year in production, we caught up with Jones + Partners to explore the story behind its design, its minimum waste engineering, and how it is elevating workplace flexibility.

Climb Shelving System Detail 4

BEHIND THE DESIGN

The design journey began with a rethink of traditional office storage. Rather than treating shelving as a static fixture, the brief for Climb was to create a piece of reconfigurable architecture for the modern workplace.

"The original brief was to rethink workplace shelving and storage as a piece of adaptable architecture. Rather than design a static shelving unit, we set out to create a minimal, modular system that could store, display, and define space, responding to the changing needs of the hybrid workplace." Craig Jones, Founder, Jones + Partners

The studio approached the design by developing an intuitive kit of parts. Lightweight and easy to reconfigure, Climb was engineered to integrate accessories seamlessly, allowing the system to grow, split and reconfigure.

"Climb was designed with Modus’ DNA embedded from the outset, ensuring it sits naturally alongside the wider portfolio. As several award judges had designed products for Modus themselves, we believe this sensitivity to the brand’s material language, clarity, and design values particularly resonated with them."

PLS006 PLS003 PLC Studio Climb Shelving System

CIRCULARITY AND DISASSEMBLY: DESIGNED FROM THE SHEET UP

Sustainability was built into the product from the very first concept. We wanted to apply a strict design for disassembly strategy, combined with intelligent material yield, to ensure minimal waste and environmental impact.

To intentionally cut down on raw material waste, panel dimensions were calculated around standard sheet sizes. This structural requirement naturally dictated the proportions of the range, resulting in two core widths - 800mm and 1200mm. By standardising steel tube lengths alongside these specific shelf depths, the design achieves maximum structural strength with a minimal number of individual components.

“Climb was designed for disassembly using simple mechanical fixings, allowing components to be repaired, replaced or recycled. Its near-flat-pack construction reduces transport volume, while the system can be easily assembled and reconfigured as workplace needs evolve and extending its useful life through adaptability.”

Because the unit relies on simple mechanical fixings rather than permanent adhesives, every component can be unbolted and separated into mono-materials at the end of its life.

Climb Shelving System Detail

DIVIDING SPACE, DEFINING ACTIVITIES

Climb also acts as a dynamic spatial zoning tool. Open-plan offices need the functionality to create spaces for different activities in the office. Rigid layouts no longer serve a purpose, however, to recognise the diverse needs of the workforce, flexible furniture and zoning capabilities are necessities for office layouts. Climb offers privacy without blocking sightlines or light.

"We see Climb as a framework that gives teams greater agency over their environment. Its open structure creates a sense of separation without enclosure, allowing workplaces to define zones for focus, collaboration, or informal exchange while maintaining visual connection across the space."

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