Design Speak lets you in on a some industry lingo so that you will sound oh-so-smart. From abbreviations to acronyms to phrases to trendy words, we’ll do our best to cover it, and we’ll do it in language you’ll understand.

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swatch

(pronounced swahch)

This name has become synonymous with the globally recognized watch company, but the kind of swatches that we are referring to don’t wrap around your wrist or let you know when you are running late (yet again). These swatches are samples of materials or finishes – such as fabric, wallcovering, paint, carpet, etc. – that are produced in small pieces as to illustrate the color and detailed design material in consideration. Many times people will only use this term in regard to textiles, while they will use the word “sample” if referring to hard finishes like wood, stone, tile, etc.

See also: CFA, memo sample

systems furniture

(pronounced SIS-tehmz FUR-nih-chur)

Those in the biz might also call systems furniture “open office systems” or “panel systems.” Civilians (a.k.a. those not in the biz) might refer to them as “workstations,” “cubicles,” or just plain “cubes.”

Mocked and loathed by cartoons and the entertainment industry, the typical cube has become a ubiquitous element of American business. Though it’s become the most pervasive interior workplace element, it’s still one the most complicated to tailor to the client and specify.

Not all systems furniture falls into the category of a cube, however. Pardon the pun, but some manufacturers actually think outside of the box, incorporating fluid lines, organic shapes, curved panels, and translucent materials. Therefore, the definition of systems furniture is mainly that of modularity and function: a variety of parts and pieces (a bit like Tinker Toys) that can be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled another way (or elsewhere) for maximum flexibility, efficiency, and productivity. One would hope, anyway.

take-off

In the design industry, this has nothing to do with air travel or leaping off a cliff. Instead, it’s merely another word you’ll hear to refer to estimating quantities of something. Examples? The contractor will look at a set of construction drawings and do set of take-offs to determine how many and what kinds of doors and windows she needs to order. Her paint sub-contractor might look at the same drawings and do a take-off of how much and what kind of paint he needs to procure to complete the first phase of the project.

tambour

(pronounced TAM-boor)

This word is a rather sexy, mellifluous one with Arabic and Persian roots. In some cases it meant a drum, and in other contexts an embroidery frame. In regard to modern design, it means narrow strips of stiff material that are adhered onto a flexible material so that application can be formed around curved surfaces. Most people will recognize the word in the context of an old-fashioned, wooden roll-top desk. However, with the advent of new technologies and manufacturing processes, the strips can be made of a wide variety of materials (metals, plastic laminates, wood veneers and composites) and in a variety of sizes for decorative application to walls, columns, wainscots, bar fronts, ceilings, etc.

tandem seating

(pronounced TAM-dehm SEE-ting)

Just as a tandem bicycle accommodates more than one rider, tandem seating accommodates more than one sitter. Often you will see the terms “tandem seating” and “ganged seating” used interchangeably, but we consider them to be different. We consider “tandem seating” to be have shared supports and features, such as legs and arms. Often the seats – and, sometimes, low side tables – rest on strong beam supports that occasionally cantilever, creating floor space under the furniture. For this reason, tandem seating is ideal for application where many people assemble, such as airports and other transportation hubs.

See also: ganged seating

tansu / tanzu

(pronounced TAHN-tzoo)

Tansu refers to adaptable Japanese wooden cabinetry dating as far back as 7^th Century and gaining hold in17^th Century Japan. Though it originated specifically for storage purposes in the form of chests and cabinets, it now refers to any type of furniture – e.g. tables, chairs, and accessory boxes – with a hint of the traditional Japanese motif, such as iron hardware. Frank Lloyd Wright and other supporters of the Western Arts & Crafts movement in the late 19^th / early 20^th Centuries incorporated Eastern tansu styling into their designs due to its classic, timeless appearance, its masterful joinery, and its focus on function. Tansu represents a rich folk heritage that values superb craftsmanship and simple, aesthetic sensibility is commonly found in other aspects of Japanese art and culture.

tartan

(pronounced TART-n)

Confusion exists between the distinction between tartan and plaid, so we’ll try to work it out for you. In its most succinct explanation, a plaid is an item of clothing, while a tartan is a pattern. Historically, the Scots wore a plaid – a piece of cloth that was essentially a blanket to protect them from the harsh climate – draped over their shoulder and fastened in the front. The plaid was usually in the same tartan as the kilt (though it could be solid and still called a plaid!), the pleated plaid that Westerners would refer to as a skirt. Tartans consist of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. Every Scottish Clan has its own tartan of a specific color combination and design. But here’s where it gets tricky: If the pattern is not associated with a Clan, then is can be called a plaid, which is why in the U.S. we refer to the pattern itself as plaid. Make sense? If you are mad about plaid as we are, then check out Jeffrey Banks’ gorgeous coffee table book, Tartan: Romancing the Plaid.

tatami

(pronounced tah-TAH-mee)

Customarily two times as long as they are wide, tatami are traditional Japanese floor mats made from rice straw. Modern tatami are often made from different materials for increased comfort and warmth, but the majority are still made with the usual edging of brocade or plain cloth known as heri.

tear sheet

(pronounced TAYR sheet)

This term originally emerged in the pre-photocopy era because one would actually have to tear a sheet out of a book, magazine, or reference guide if he or she wanted to save, display, or refer to it later. But what were people tearing out? Essentially, anything that had been published: a photo, article, business report, etc. In the design industry, the term is currently used to refer to a page from a catalogue (bound and perforated or loose in a 3-ring binder) that can be easily removed and presented to a client for explanation and/or approval, provided to a contractor for clarification, or filed internally for reference in a project folder. A tear sheet – let’s say for a chair or a kitchen appliance – might contain a combination of photos or detailed drawings, dimensions, finish choices, pricing, and other relevant specification information. Since the world is going digital, many tear sheets can now be downloaded (usually as a .pdf file) and / or printed from manufacturers’ websites.

teardown

(pronounced TER-daun)

See unbuild.

technical nutrient

(pronounced TEHK-nih-kehl NU-tree-ehnt)

A recent term that has developed from the focus on sustainability, a technical nutrient is a material that remains in a closed-loop system of manufacture, re-use, and recovery, maintaining its value through many product life cycles.

Temari balls

(pronounced teh-MAH-ree bahlz)

A form of folk art originating in China, Temari balls found their way into the Japanese culture half a millennium or so ago and were made by tightly wrapping and sewing together fragments of kimonos. Used initially for sport, Temari balls evolved into a highly ornamental art. Those who practice the craft as a hobby can find many patterns and ideas online, but according to temarikai.com, “To become a Temari artist in Japan today requires specific training and one must be tested on one's skills and technique before being acknowledged as a crafter of Temari.”

tenant improvements

(pronounced TEH-nent im-PROOV-mehnts)

This is a commercial real estate term that is commonly abbreviated as “T.I.” (not to be confused with the nickname for Texas Instruments) and also referred to as “Leasehold Improvements.” No matter what you call it, these are the upgrades made to a leased space either by or for a tenant who will be in that space. Particularly in new building, part of the negotiations will generally include some sort of detail about the improvements that are to be made by the landlord. That particular part of the negotiation is usually called a Tenant Improvement Allowance or a Work Letter. This document defines the fixed amount of money contributed by the landlord toward tenant improvements, and if any of the costs exceed this amount, the tenant will have to pay them. (FYI: The amount of money available for improvements is referred to as Tenant Finish Allowance.) T.I., T.I. Allowances, and Work Letters are all a part of T.D., or Tenant Development work. Many design firms specialize in T.D., working directly for commercial landlords, real estate brokers, and property management companies. It may not be glamorous, but it’s big business!

Tencel

(pronounced TEHN-sehl)

No, we’re not talking about tinsel, the strings of shiny faux icicles used at Christmas. This is Tencel®, the registered trade name for a type of lyocell, a biodegradable material made from wood pulp cellulose. One can also use the term Tencel to describe the fabric made from said natural fiber, which is environmentally friendly, versatile, soft and durable, and can be blended with other fibers such as linen, cotton and wool.

tête-à-tête (furniture)

(pronounced TET-eh-tet)

This schizophrenic word can be used many ways (see its entry under the SAY WHAT? glossary), but in a décor sense, it is this: a sofa (or other piece of furniture) intended to seat two persons, usually facing one another. Traditionally, they were fashioned in an “S” shape, but we found some various on this theme. Sometimes also called a confidante.