The C9 Trolley is a new take on the classic personal pedestal. In the modern office, resources are becoming ever more communal as new forms of flexibility emerge. Shared desks, meeting areas, café spaces, these shared ecosystems give users access to exciting new ways of working. However, without any affordances of ownership, the individual can never feel truly at home in a space. That is where the C9 Trolley comes in. It is a piece of personal storage, and as such it seeks to establish a deep personal connection with the user. The most unique feature of the C9 Trolley is its main tray, acting as both a lid to the main compartment of the unit and a dynamic functional element. When the handle is pulled, a four-bar linkage mechanism is activated that causes the tray to rise upward and outward while staying level to the ground. This mechanism is supported by two gas spring that make it feel feather-light in use.

The tray can be used as a table when seated on the trolley itself. The user can either straddle the unit or sit side saddle on it. In either case the tray should be pulled back towards the user, not at full extension. The tray is counterbalanced so it can be adjusted to any position in its stroke range. This allows the user to fine tune the tray position to match their body.

The main compartment of the unit is enclosed by perforate steel side panels. These panels provide visual contrast and texture to the unit. They also allow light to pass into the unit, illuminating the possessions within. The compartment itself has subtly integrated file bars, a fabric wrapped tray for small belongings and a generous compartment for all manner of larger belongings.

The unit features an open compartment at is back that is ideal for storing shoes, bags, or other larger belongings that do not need to be locked away.

This project was designed by Ethan Pearl during his time as in-house Lead Industrial Designer at Watson Furniture Group.