© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The cubicle wasn’t designed to make you miserable

Flickr - Katy Warner

The cubicle gets a pretty bad rap. The boxy workspace has become almost synonymous with isolation and corporate drudgery. But that’s not what its creator Robert Probst intended when he launched his innovative “Action Office” design in 1964.Current State speaks with Mark Schurman, director of corporate communications for Herman Miller, the Michigan company that originated the design, about the evolution of the cubicle. He says that while it’s hard to imagine offices without cubicles, workspaces in the early 20th century were the opposite of isolating.

Related Content
Kickstart 2025 with a commitment to quality journalism in mid-Michigan! Your donation to WKAR ensures trusted news and essential storytelling remain accessible to everyone. Together, we can start the new year strong—make your impact today!