Client
Allied Beverage Group
Accounts Receivable Department
Designer: Karen Harmelin
The Challenge
The Accounts Receivable team at Allied Beverage needed more than just desks and chairs to do their work well, they needed focus. Their department operates at the intersection of financial accuracy and confidentiality, yet the low height of their existing cubicle system didn’t offer the room divider wall or acoustic separation required for deep concentration.
Enter Karen, their lead designer, who reached out to MIO Culture to explore options for increasing privacy without rebuilding the space from scratch. The request was specific: develop a custom solution that enhances confidentiality and focus, without sacrificing color, character, or budget.
Our Approach
While our core acoustic solutions, like Feltforms acoustic wall panels, Nomad modular room dividers, Quiltforms, and Shift Walls, offer robust performance out of the box, we knew this project called for something custom and unique to the Allied beverage brand.
Working closely with Karen, our team created a custom screen extension designed to increase the height of the existing cubicle panels. The screens were tailored for the space and the team working there. We matched the material language of the space, incorporated brand-sensitive color blocking, and added playful form language to keep things visually light.
The result? A fully integrated acoustic panel that felt like it had always belonged.
Form, Function, Focus
This wasn’t just an upgrade in sound performance through custom acoustic panels and modular dividers. A complete recalibration of the work environment. The custom extensions helped reduce distractions and provide staff with a stronger sense of personal space, without isolating them. Team members reported improved focus and comfort immediately after installation. The space was noticeably quieter and more focused.
Plus, the color and texture we introduced did more than just solve the acoustics problem, they turned up the volume on the space’s visual identity. Instead of adding barriers, we added rhythm. Instead of dulling the environment, we dialed up its personality.
[products ids="nomad-system-felt-acoustic-room-dividers, shift-walls-room-dividers"]
Custom is in Our DNA
At MIO Culture, we don’t just manufacture acoustic solutions, we design for people and planet. Our product lines are modular, flexible, and responsibly made. But not every space fits a catalog. That’s why we offer custom services that respond to:
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Functional challenges like noise, visibility, or wayfinding
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Design constraints like budget, layout, or existing furniture systems
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Aesthetic considerations like brand identity, color palettes, and materials
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Unmet needs that no off-the-shelf solution can fix
Whether we’re building something entirely new or designing a complementary product that integrates seamlessly with what’s already there, our goal is simple: Create spaces that support creativity, focus, and wellbeing. Responsibly.
Results
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Increased privacy and acoustic separation in a high-sensitivity department
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Seamless integration with existing furniture systems
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Enhanced visual identity with custom color and form
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Budget-conscious design that avoided full system replacement
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Improved employee satisfaction and focus
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Measurable gains in office acoustic design performance.
Project Takeaways
This project demonstrates how a seemingly small change—adding a screen extension—can have outsized impact when it’s designed with care. It’s a reminder that acoustic performance, visual design, and human comfort all belong in the same conversation. And that’s the conversation we’re always excited to have.
Let’s Talk About Your Space
Got a workspace that’s feeling a little loud, flat, or undefined? We can help. Whether you need a turnkey acoustic solution or a completely custom installation, MIO Culture will meet you where your space is, and help it evolve.
Reach out to start the conversation.
