Design-led research / research-led design

POLO Labs is the logical progression of what used to be the office’s competition design team. As such it builds on our existing expertise with regards to conceptual thinking and innovative “outside-the-box” solutions. It has evolved into an autonomous free agent within the office, capitalising on the experimental and open-minded approach needed to produce unique competition-winning designs.

With a more diversified workforce and range of projects, Labs has become a hub for feasibility studies and fundamental research. Establishing a dedicated team for this purpose provides POLO with a strong theoretical backbone and a continuity of thinking. As such Labs functions as a permanent “backup team” providing conceptual quality control to the whole office, embedding our daily practice in an expanding body of knowledge that branches out and connects to other specialisms.