Blu Dot Furniture Review
Blu Dot is a modern furniture brand that has been around for many years. They offer competitively priced furniture with sturdy designs and simple assembly.
They are known for their sofas and chairs, but they also have other furniture pieces. Their selection includes upholstered sofas and chairs as well as solid wood options.
Design
When Blu Dot founders Maurice Blanks, John Christakos, and Charlie Lazor started their furniture company in 1997, it was a reaction to a void in the market. The three friends, all from college, wanted to fill their homes with design-forward home goods that were useful, affordable and desirable.
Today, Blu Dot remains on the cutting edge of modern design. They still create their products in a studio in Minneapolis, and they continue to offer a selection of high-quality, functional furniture that is designed to last.
They've come a long way since their first collection of 12 pieces, but they remain true to their founding principles: a commitment to quality without attitude, and a library of modern design that is timeless. They've evolved into a 145-person company that produces a full assortment of contemporary furnishings for retail spaces worldwide, including locations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Soho.
The company's brand voice is down to earth, with a witty, self-deprecating sense of humor. This can be seen in subtle winks like their fabrics named after disgraced politicians (Nixon Dusk is an umber cotton blend) and their monikers, such as "Son of a Bench" and “SHILF.”
Their approach to design is to look at things from a variety of angles. From materiality to tooling, user- friendliness to shipping cost, they always consider the bigger picture of the product.
For example, Blu Dot's $400 "hot mesh" stackable metal chair was crafted in a family-owned factory in northern Italy that specializes in metalworking. The resulting design is sleek, sophisticated and affordable.
In an industry where name-dropping celebrities is the norm, the company’s brand voice is disarmingly down-to-earth. The company’s employees work hard, but they also enjoy making jokes and giving a laugh to the public.
The company's brand strategy is to make a difference in the world, but at the same time, they want their designs to be practical and easy to use. This requires a thoughtful and efficient design process.
We redesigned the brand’s website to better articulate its value proposition and unique point of view in the furniture space. We designed pages that are elegant, utilitarian and share the story behind some of their more iconic designs.
Materials
Dot Furniture, a modern furniture company founded in 1997, is known for its original design and the use of durable materials. The brand has an impressive collection of furniture that is suited for every room in your home. The selection includes sofas, sectionals, lounge chairs, coffee tables and more.
Blu Dot’s design process is rooted in collaboration and an innovative approach to furniture manufacture. Rather than relying on the typical furniture industry manufacturing practices, Blu Dot’s designers use a variety of simple processes and off-the-shelf materials to create high-quality furniture at a price that makes it accessible to all.
The co-founders of Blu Dot, John Christakos, Maurice Blanks and Charles Lazor, shared a common goal: to offer modern design to as many people as possible. The men used their backgrounds in architecture and art to develop a company that would offer high-quality furnishings at prices that were affordable for their clients.
They are also committed to sustainability throughout the furniture making process. They blueprint and sketch their designs countless times over before they settle on one, which allows them to ensure that their furniture is as environmentally friendly as possible.
Another way that Blu Dot strives to be sustainable is by incorporating bioplastics into their furniture and packaging designs. These products are designed to replace traditional petroleum-based plastics and can be made from reclaimed or renewable plant-based materials.
While these bioplastics are typically more expensive than petroleum-based alternatives, they can be a great option for manufacturers who are looking to create a more environmentally conscious message. The product can be made to mimic the look of wood or other natural materials and has a long lifecycle.
Green Dot’s compostable elastomer, Terratex(r) Flex, is a great alternative to leather. It has the same feel and texture as leather but does not require tanners or water-intensive manufacturing processes. It is compostable after use and can be used in a wide range of applications, including furniture and packaging.
Blu Dot uses a variety of different woods to create its designs. These include manufactured and solid hardwoods, as well as specialty veneers like walnut. The tables are sturdy and feature a variety of accents to add a touch of elegance. Most customers find their furniture from Blu Dot to be a good value for the price. However, they do have a few complaints about the durability of the veneers and colors.
Sustainability
Sustainable furniture is often made with eco-friendly materials and a manufacturing process that produces little waste. It can also be a great option if you are looking for an affordable alternative to traditional furniture.
Several major brands are making furniture that is environmentally friendly, including Herman Miller, West Elm, and IKEA. These companies have created a line of furniture that is made with recycled materials and FSC-certified wood. They also use a variety of other eco-friendly materials, such as glass, stainless steel, and bamboo.
Some of these companies even offer sustainable carpeting and flooring options. Interface is an example of a company that has committed to producing modular carpeting using eco-friendly materials. Their products are made from sustainable materials like bamboo and cork.
Another sustainable brand is Nendo, which is a Japanese design studio that creates minimalist furniture and accessories. They use sustainable materials, such as bamboo, wood from sustainably managed forests, and cork.
Nendo also partners with designers to make furniture that’s made from recycled materials. These pieces are stylish and durable, and they’re perfect for any modern home.
Burrow is another sustainable furniture company that focuses on creating durable furniture. Their pieces are made from FSC-certified wood and recycled materials, and they’re easy to assemble and disassemble. They’re also very versatile and can be used in many different rooms of your home.
The Dot Collection by Blu Dot is another example of a modern piece of furniture that is made from recycled materials. Their Dot system consists of three simple components that can be assembled into numerous different shapes. This allows you to save space and make furniture that’s flexible for your needs.
One of the biggest challenges in sustainable furniture design is developing designs that appeal to a broad audience. This is where young designers are often able to take a fresh approach and create new, exceptional furniture.
Sustainability is a growing movement in design, and it’s becoming an increasingly important issue for consumers. With more and more companies focusing on the environment, it’s more important than ever to choose sustainable products when shopping for furniture.
Value
Founded in 1997 by three Minneapolis friends who shared an affinity for modernist design, Blu Dot offers high-quality furniture at prices that consumers can afford. Co-founders John Christakos, Maurice Blanks, and Charles Lazor used their experience as architects and artists to develop products that blend functionality with whimsy in an effort to create timeless designs.
The company’s pricing strategy is built on a philosophy of using innovation, simple manufacturing processes, and off-the-shelf materials to make artistically modern furnishings affordable for everyone. In order to achieve this goal, Blu Dot has adapted its products to appeal to a wide range of consumers, from the low-end consumer who’s looking for something basic and inexpensive to the high-end client who wants to buy custom designed pieces and is willing to pay for them.
At the low end of the price spectrum are sofas and loveseats that range in price from $2000 to $10,000. In the higher end are sectionals, chaises, and leather couches. Regardless of the style, Blu Dot is known for offering sturdy designs that are easy to assemble.
Customers who have purchased Blu Dot items have rated them highly for durability and quality, with only a few minor complaints about finish scuffing. The company’s upholstered items feature solid, manufactured wood frames and synthetic blend upholstery.
In addition to its online store, Blu Dot also has an outlet in Brooklyn, New York. The outlet features a mix of full-priced, first-quality Blu Dot pieces as well as its private-label products for Crate & Barrel and Target.
The Blu Dot outlet focuses on the company’s most popular furniture pieces, including its sectional and sleeper couches and a handful of coffee tables. However, there’s a lot to see at the outlet, as it showcases more than 50 other furniture designs that may not be available in Blu Dot’s catalog.
In addition to the physical retail space, Blu Dot is utilizing a wide variety of marketing strategies to spread the word about its brand. One of the more popular is the “swap meet” campaign, where customers are encouraged to swap furniture for whatever they have on hand. The company has received more than 750 swaps so far, and about 50 have been accepted. The co-founders review each submission and decide what pieces to offer customers in exchange for their originals.