Robert Propst (1921–2000) was an American inventor. He was the inventor of the Action Office that evolved into the

cubicle A cubicle is a partially enclosed office workspace that is separated from neighboring workspaces by partitions that are usually tall. Its purpose is to isolate office workers and managers from the sights and noises of an open workspace so that ...

office furniture system.

Biography and work

Born in Colorado, Propst worked for Herman Miller (Research) in

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

, where he was hired in 1958 by company president Hugh DePree to "find problems outside of the furniture industry and to conceive solutions for them." Propst's 120 inventions include: *a vertical timber harvester *a quality control system for concrete *an electronic tagging system for livestock *a mobile office for a quadriplegic *modular systems for use in hospitals In 1953, he formed Propst Co. in

Denver, Colorado Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, to commercialize his inventions. Propst's work has been exhibited at the

Walker Art Center The Walker Art Center is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center in the Lowry Hill, Minneapolis, Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is one of the most-visited modern and contemporary art museums in ...

Minneapolis Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...

, the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

, and the Henry Ford Museum.

Cubicle

"Father of the Cubicle" is a misnomer. When Propst designed the Action Office system, so-called "cubicle farms" were not his intent. Propst's own research into developing the action office philosophically was against the cubicle in many ways. The Action Office system was designed to promote productivity, privacy, and health (they attempted to increase blood flow) at the expense of some inefficient use of space. Cubicles are now typically designed to maximize efficient use of space. The efficient "cubicle" became popular in office design because of the movable wall seen in the Action Office II (AO2) system, which initially saved money in construction and development costs. After their introduction into the marketplace, the Action Office II and other office systems were modified to pack in as many employees as possible into an office space . This vision was contrary to Propst's intentions, and he stated that "The cubiclizing of people in modern corporations is monolithic insanity."

Awards

*Best Collection of the Year, Home Furnishings Daily, 1964 *21st Annual International Design Award, American Institute of Interior Designers, 1970 *Distinguished Service Citation, Institute of Business Designers, 1972 *Design Review Industrial Design Award, 1976

Notes

Burial

Mr. Propst has a burial marker at the Propst family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Sterling, CO.

References

Cubicles: The great mistake

Robert Propst at hermanmiller.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Propst, Robert People from Colorado People from Zeeland, Michigan 2000 deaths 1921 births 20th-century American inventors People from Ann Arbor, Michigan