Remodelista

This Ironing Board folds down to a mere 4.5", but storage isn’t the goal with products made by Side by Side. Instead, these well-resolved forms are designed to be left out in the open rather than hidden in the closet. There’s a quiet presence to these objects that’s in keeping with how each is made. Based in Germany, Side by Side is a nonprofit mentoring program that matches a craftsperson with a mentally or physically disabled apprentice to create a team that brings a designer’s work to fruition. These workshops are subsidized by various welfare organizations in Germany, so that all profits can go directly to the people handcrafting these well-reasoned products. Side by Side is successfully fulfilling two missions: To create modern, useful objects and to bring a social environment and professionalism to a wider portion of the community.