Princeton Architectural Press Publishes No Compromise: The Work of Florence Knoll

Now more than ever, as the meaning of the workplace is changing, the ways we are working, individually or in teams, is also evolving. No Compromise by Ana Araujo, an architect, teacher and researcher, “whose mission is to amplify the role of women and the presence of a feminine sensibility in the creative fields,” explores Florence Knoll’s impact on the workplace and how the workplace contributes to who we are. Araujo, who leads a design studio at the Architectural Association in London, follows Knoll’s pioneering two-decade career, beginning in 1945 with Knoll Associates and through her position as Knoll International design director, surveying her invention of the visual language of the modern office.

Araujo focuses on Florence Knoll’s groundbreaking interiors and the creation of the “Knoll look,” which remains a standard for interior design today. Citing Florence Knoll’s motto "no compromise, ever," Araujo contends that as a woman in a white, upper-middle-class, male-dominated environment, Knoll often had to make accommodations to gain respect from her colleagues, clients and collaborators.

No Compromise simultaneously celebrates Florence Knoll for reinvigorating the International Style through humanizing furniture, textiles, lighting and accessories, and contextualizes a moment to reflect on the future of the workplace.