This desk was designed by architecture practice Future Systems for the London office of Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman of the board of media company Condé Nast International.

The desk is one of the earliest pieces of furniture designed by Future Systems and is the joint creation of architects Amanda Levete (1955-) and Jan Kaplicky (1937-2009). Its design was based around Newhouse's way of working and his desire for an uncluttered environment. Additioinally, the designers were inspired by the possibilities of computer-aided design and manufacture to create its form. As Levete comments, the high-gloss resin finish which addes to the desk's hyper-modern appearance, 'creates a smooth and lovely surface for papers to slide across'. The design was conceived of at the same time as their Stirling Prize winning design for the Lord's Cricket Ground Media Centre, London and has the same architectural language as many of Future System's subsequent works, as Levete explains, 'the table really embodied Jan’s obsession for many years with these new forms enabled by new building technology'. However, even though the desk appears to be machine-made, a specialist boat builder crafted the desk’s sinuous shape by hand.

Future Systems (1979-2009) was founded by Jan Kaplicky and David Nixon. In 1989 Amanda Levete joined the practice as a partner from Richard Rogers & Partners.