Better World, Design, Technology
October 30, 2009
By Bill Holm
Note: This is the second in a series. To read the first post, see “Getting Buildings and People In Sync.”
The nutshell idea for Programmable Environments (PE) is to use technology to fill new or existing buildings with intelligence. The building becomes a digital network so that permanent fixtures become adaptable. You can make them do exactly what you need them to do at any moment, change them instantly, and gather real time information about how they are used.
And it’s easy. Here’s the story:
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Design
October 28, 2009
By Bill Holm
Photo via: The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post blog has a fun way to get to know some fascinating concepts in architecture, all of which exemplify new technology and sustainability. It’s a poll called “11 Incredible Buildings from the Future” where you can rate startling new concepts on a scale of 1-10—Snooze to Super.
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Design, Healthcare, Well-Being, What's Up
October 27, 2009
By Carissa Carter
Today I picked up a brick and threw it across a parking lot. Maybe you crushed a sheet of aluminum foil? Your daughter might have let a pawful of sand fall through her fingers, or your best friend might be crawling around on a shag carpet right now.
Almost every material or object has a texture. These items and surfaces are tangible. They have weight, density, and a composite quality. We have tactile reactions to products and artifacts that can be drivers for our purchasing decisions and triggers for memories.
But can an experience have a texture? Does a conversation or a presentation have a tactile signature? How might we qualify the interactions and knowledge shared at a conference?
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Better World, What's Up
October 26, 2009
By Derrell Jackson
Graphic via: Greenbuild
Herman Miller will be heading to Phoenix, Arizona for the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo held on November 11-13, 2009. Hosted by the US Green Building Council, the annual conference—the world’s largest of its kind—offers attendees information on the latest advances in green building practices and design. As a sponsor of the event, Herman Miller is excited about the opportunity to share our progress towards achieving a zero operational footprint by 2020 as part of our environmental advocacy. Join us on Twitter for real-time updates on what’s new in “green” and what’s happening on the show floor.
Better World, Design, Technology
October 23, 2009
By Bill Holm
Note: This is the first in a series of four posts on Programmable Environments.
You hear it all the time: “Technology has changed everything.” Well, duh. But it’s not totally accurate. There’s one part of our daily lives that’s largely untouched by the changes. It’s the buildings where we work and live—static, rigid, set in their ways.
While technology makes us faster, our buildings often hold us back. Unable to keep up with change—much less enable change—our buildings become out of sync with us.
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Better World
October 21, 2009
By Christine MacLean
“The power of the ask” refers to what happens when we ask people we know to help: They say yes. Research shows that 71% of people volunteer when asked, compared to 29% who volunteer on their own.
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Products
October 20, 2009
By Marcia Davis
Core77 is a design magazine and resource that provides a gathering point for designers and enthusiasts alike. Yesterday they published their review of Herman Miller’s Setu chair, designed by Studio 7.5.
How does Core77 sum it up? “Setu provides an economically feasible way to stock an entire office with comfortable, cutting-edge-design chairs without the sticker shock. Setu will also make sense for consumers looking to furnish the home office on a budget. However, what we’re really hoping is that the Setu catches on not just in offices, but in the aforementioned public spaces where we often find ourselves working these days. Studio 7.5 has put roughly five years of work into this chair, and it would be nice to see it pay dividends in years of comfortable sitting for the masses, both inside offices and out.”
Want to read more? Check out the Core77 review for yourself.
Herman Miller Journal
October 19, 2009
By Brian Walker
Watercarrier sculpture by Native American artist Allan Houser
Last Monday, in an annual celebration, we welcomed 92 new Watercarriers at Herman Miller. This tradition began in 1987 with Max De Pree, CEO at the time, who came up with the idea of honoring employees with 20 years of service. Of course it’s also an obligation for these people to pass on their experience and knowledge to younger people. This year, our chairman of the board, Mike Volkema, made just this point in his talk to the group. What made it all really meaningful for me: I became a Watercarrier. I must say, I felt honored and obliged—and I was reminded again of what a great community we have at Herman Miller.
Products
October 16, 2009
By Karen Hapner
I love my chair. You can have my chair when you pry it from beneath my cold, dead…never mind. You get the idea. Those are passionate statements to make about an object as ordinary as a chair, but there is nothing ordinary about this chair. It’s an Embody chair from Herman Miller and yeah, the chair is that good.
The Embody chair and I have a history that goes back to its prototype days, when I was one of the first test “sitters.” As a 3D visualization designer, I spend all my working hours in front of an array of computers, always sitting yet constantly moving. In other words, I was a great candidate to test a chair designed to create harmony between people and computers.
I’m not the only fan of the Embody chair. Check out “Please Be Seated” from CBS News.
Design
October 14, 2009
By Marcia Davis
“Toys are not really as innocent as they look. Toys and games are preludes to serious ideas.” – Charles Eames
Visit any design firm and you’ll likely find a canister of Play-Doh, an Etch A Sketch, a Spirograph. But toy collections aren’t limited to designers and design firms—almost every office has one.
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