By: Randall Braaksma

Randall Braaksma — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:10:10 +0000

Eugene,
Your comments are a perfect example of how difficult it is to achieve a balance between privacy and transparency. And solutions that may work for one organization and its culture may not translate to another. Adding more choices for people to gather that let them decide how much privacy or transparency they need may be part of the answer. But, as with so many things in life, if there was a one-size-fits-all solution, everybody would be using it.

By: eugene ely

eugene ely — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:07:06 +0000

we have conference rooms in our office that are the only enclosed, acoustically private spaces available to anyone. there is a transparent glass room and a translucent glass room to choose from. any time the translucent room is used with the door closed everyone’s ears prick up as to what might need to be discussed at this level of privacy. it’s quite the distraction, even more so in times of stress when people’s careers are potentially on the line. fortunately we’re past this stage, but the issue remains when privacy is at such a premium, the call for it sends all kinds of signals, many of them unnecessarily off the mark.

Comments on: Design Dilemma: The Private Office and the Bathroom Door

By: Randall Braaksma

By: eugene ely