MIO Culture.
Shaping the future of sustainable design through furnishings.
Client: MIO
Industry: Commercial Furniture
Services: Product & Service Design, Experiential and Visual Design, Sourcing and Manufacturing, Strategy Development, Industry Research
Design Brief.
FutureTogether’s sister company, MIO Culture, is on a mission to redefine work and living places through category defining, sustainable, ancillary furnishings and acoustic products.
Outcome.
MIO Culture was founded by Jaime and Isaac Salm with the belief that sustainability should be beautiful, functional and accessible. Since 2001, our teams have created innovative products that challenge preconceptions about sustainability and the built environment. FutureTogether is responsible for the design, development, manufacturing, and marketing of the MIO Culture collection as well as the creative direction of its brand.
Social Impact.
MIO Culture’s track record of challenging the perceptions of recycled materials and expanding the markets of locally produced products has positively impacted the tri-state region. Supporting the local economy, reinvigorating craft and high-value industries, and introducing sustainability as a mainstream way of doing business are just a few of the ways in which our work for MIO Culture has benefited society.
Environmental Impact.
Since 2001, tons of paper and plastic waste have been diverted from waste streams to create modern furnishings. Every design and decision taken during the development of products accounts for their environmental footprint—from where they are sourced to where they will end up once they are no longer needed.
“Our ongoing work has advanced sustainability and creative culture through human and planet-centric design. ”
Isaac Salm - Co-founder & Managing Director
Surfaces & Dividers.
In the early years, MIO focused on sustainable materials such as recycled paper, cardboard, and cork. These material investigations led our team to elevate sustainable resources and infrastructure in innovative ways, like reimagining surface treatments as modular, three-dimensional wall coverings or crafting room dividers that are modular, reconfigurable interior architecture pieces.
Acoustics Innovation.
MIO Culture has been innovating in the acoustics space by creating products from waste streams—addressing the acoustic needs of emergent work and living spaces—for over a decade. The rise of the open plan office only accelerated the demand for MIO’s products and pushed our team to creatively uncover new sound control solutions.
B2C 2 B2B.
MIO has serviced both the B2C and the B2B markets. At one point the brand had a presence in Europe and was part of the international wholesale trade show circuit. Today, the brand works directly with representative groups, furniture dealers, architects, designers, and other contract specifiers. Their products retain the essence, warmth, and creativity of residential products with the performance and durability required in commercial settings.
We Are Everywhere.
Our designs for MIO can be found everywhere—from blockbuster Hollywood sets and church stages in Texas to residential living rooms in Nebraska and boardrooms in Silicon Valley. The thread that connects all these places is a need to shape space for beauty and performance. Our team has guided MIO Culture to become a leading B Corp with a growing collection of furnishings that are loved and respected in design circles worldwide.
Links & Media.