When they debuted in the 1960s, cubicles were supposed to make offices breezier, less confined and more efficient. So why did their creator come to wish he'd never invented them? It started in the 1960s, when designer Robert Propst headed up the research arm of furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.

Who made the first cubicle?

Robert Propst, a brilliant designer working in the 1960s for the office-furniture firm Herman Miller, invented the cubicle.

Why are cubicles bad?

Cubicles with short or thin walls are not able to stop sound. Phone calls, music, chewing, and even loud typing can be distractions to workers. If multiple employees are making noise, it can become impossible for others to focus on their duties.