Balance, Design, Products
December 22, 2009
By Cerentha Harris
Photographer Benji Wagner woke up one day and found himself a professional with three kids living in the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon. I talked to him about how he balances work and play.
When you were 10 what did you think you’d be when you grew up? This sounds ridiculous, but whenever they asked this at school, I would write that I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic. Not so much because I understood what I was saying, you know, but more because my dad was a photographer and I wanted to be like him. There are many years between then and now where I would not have said that, but at 10 I was sure I was going to be a photographer.
How does your work as a photographer and film-maker shape the way you work from home? Because I specialize in photographing the people in the environment, getting out, having adventures, my actual shooting occurs outside the home. Of course I only shoot a fraction of the time I spend editing, organizing, and planning all of which takes place at home. I have worked from home for about 5 years. Prior to that I didn’t really have a home per se. I traveled a lot and lived out of a bag. I worked on my own no budget short narrative film for a year while I slept on my friend’s couch…It may sound intriguing, but I wasn’t very happy at the time. All that changed when I met my wife and we decided to get married. Having a family really solidified my work ethic and has taught, and continues to teach, me how to juggle family life with work life.
What would you like to change about your workspace? I work in a really cramped room in my basement. The main thing I would like to change about it would be to be to make it a big spacious modern industrial loft (with a ping pong table) that I don’t have to pay rent for.
What item on your desktop could’t you do without? I would have to go with my headphones on this one. There is nothing like turning up the volume on one of your favorite albums (I have been jamming to Bill Callahan lately) to drown out the periphery and bring your focus back to what you are trying to accomplish. That said, you would have to duct tape my arms to my chair to get my Kensington trackball mouse away from me. Once you commit to the trackball, going back to a regular mouse is infuriating.
You’ve got three children. How do you keep them from messing with you things? I went to Home Depot and bought a whole bunch of industrial shelving and plastic flip-top boxes to match. I have all my wires, camera parts, cds, etc…in these buckets which are a little to bulky and hard to open for my 3 year old to rummage through. Although she somehow manages to get into anything she can. One day she called me into her room and I found her in this clear plastic bucket. She had filled it with her aminals and pulled the lid on over herself.
Design, Products
December 22, 2009
By Chrys Wu
Work is so much more pleasant when surrounded by beautiful objects – whether that be just the right light or a clutch of perfect pencils. To inspire you during the gift-giving season, here are some recommendations for beautifully designed and useful office tools you shouldn’t be without.
Paramount table lamp ($49.95 at CB2): Touch the base of this spare, sleek table lamp to warm work area with ambient light. Touch it again to brighten your room. (Pictured above, far right)
Muro notepaper roll dispenser ($23.75 at Lumens.com): Never have an “I can’t find a scratch pad” moment again with this stainless steel paper holder. Write what you need to, then tear off the sheet.
Letter rack and magnetic memo board ($20 at Three By Three Seattle): Wrangle paper, jot notes and stash your keys on this space-saving magnetic memo board in your choice of painted steel, stainless steel and bamboo.
Incense-cedar pencils ($2.75 a dozen at ForestChoice): You may love your laptop, but sometimes it’s necessary to sketch things out on paper. These pencils, made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified incense-cedar, feel good and leave a strong line. Buy here.
AeroPress coffee and espresso maker ($25.95 at Amazon): Other coffee machines might have more buttons (and cost more), but for elegance, simplicity and tasty joe at a reasonable price, the AeroPress by Aerobie (makers of the flying ring), can’t be beat.
Vers 2X iPod speaker system (Starting at $179.99 at Versaudio): This compact unit combines good sound with environmentally conscious manufacturing processes to provide a beautiful base for listening to your iPod without headphones. A 14-function remote lets you control the music from a distance. Auxiliary in and out jacks mean you can connect it to your desktop computer as well.
Sharpener pencil holder ($30 at SFMOMA): Recall the low-tech era with this giant pencil sharpener-shaped pot. Use to keep a smile on your face and your writing instruments and craft tools within reach.
Quote-Unquote bookends ($89 at Unica Home): These clever quotation mark-shaped bookends keep your favorite works in place while making a statement.
BackPack computer shelf for the Mac ($29.99 at Twelve South): Keep your external hard drive out of the way with this adjustable shelf from Twelve South. Two clips clamp onto the iMac or Cinema Display desk stand, gravity does the rest.
Design
December 22, 2009
By Cerentha Harris
A gingerbread house can have a flat roof – at least it can if you’re the designers at Hometta – a collaborative of designers, architects, builders, writers and editors who have banded together to rethink the way residential architecture is designed (think prefab meets especially savvy internet guys). To celebrate the holiday Hometta are offering a free downloadable set of plans for a somewhat smaller, tastier version of Draft House (designed by award-winning HouMinn Practice). The plans, as well as detailed instructions on how to build it, are available on the Hometta site until the end of the year.
And, please, if you build one please send us a pic – we’d love to see it!
Balance, Design
December 21, 2009
By Cerentha Harris
A place for everything: Carin’s new home office
Working from home can seem like a simple move…until you do it. At Herman Miller we’ve sent 12 staff home – to work! We wanted to see first hand how they made the transition. More on that little experiment later. Designer Carin Castelnuovo-Tedesco made a similar transition when she left her 750sf office and set up a virtual studio that she runs from a sunny upstairs office in her Los Angeles home. I talked to her about the big move and discovered there are definitely some ups and downs.
How long have you been working from home? For exactly 4 weeks. After having managed a full-service in-house creative department with up to 8 designers for 17 years I went from a 750sf space to a slick 150sf space.
Why the move? It was really inspired by my dream of owning my own business when I was older, and guess what….I’m older. The transition to owning my own design business was new enough, and starting out from my home made perfect sense for a number of reasons - including economic and convenience. Now I’m employing some of those same designers and creating a virtual design studio that’s convenient for all of us, because it’s in each of our homes!
What obstacles have you faced? The first is dog barking. I’m used to having my dog by my side, it seemed natural that she would be by my feet in my new home studio. But on my first conference call she was distracted by someone walking past, and let out a series of loud barking howls. Now before a scheduled call I walk my dog out to the backyard, it gets me on my feet too. Another obstacle, remembering to break for lunch – no one walking past my office talking about where they are going, eating, or if I’ll join them. The last thing is training my family (that’s a polite way of saying my mom) that I don’t answer the house phone when I’m working and that just because I’m at home doesn’t mean I have time to chit chat about endless subjects.
Do you have any tips for someone thinking about working from home?Shower and get ready for work before you sit down, it’s a phsyc thing. Let your significant other (in my case, husband) know that they are about to get squeezed out of your precious free time, but it’s a temporary thing until you get into a groove. Invest in a proper comfortable desk chair!
Design, Products
December 21, 2009
By Cerentha Harris
Designer Todd Oldham has come up with the perfect child’s gift – a craft book (Ammo Books) that engages all of us. And best of all it is inspired by some of Herman Miller’s favorite designers. I asked Todd about Kid Made Modern…
In Kid Made Modern you’ve got over 50 craft projects for children inspired by designers like Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Noguchi – all of whom have a strong connection to Herman Miller. What draws you to these designers? When we started out conceptualizing the book we knew we wanted it to be equal parts of how-to projects, art technique essays and love letters to our favourite artists that contributed to the mid- century aesthetic.
I am not terribly interested in the idea of nostalgia or vintage notions but what I do find fascinating about this group of artists is the spectacular communication of their ideas and the desire to connect. They were real artists exploring new ideas that resonate still today.
We chose a cross section of artists from different mediums like Alvin Lustig, Luis Barragan, and Calder as well as better known heros like the Eames and George Nelson. One of the main points I wanted to share with the book was how to be a fan, be inspired, but do not copy – a serious problem in modern society.
So in the instance of the Eames we did a stop animation film inspired by their kaleidoscope films. With Noguchi we made origami paper cubes that slip over twinkle lights and a poster board sculpture that examines form and function.
We have just made a fun new website for the book – kidmademodern.com - that has film. We finished a sweet and a little bit creepy stop animation for Alexander Girard and a psychedelic tribute to Verner Panton.
Which is your favorite project? I like them all fortunately but I have a real soft spot for anything to do with duct tape. I have made most of them and I have seen someone make all of them so they are indeed tested with functioning directions. I did want to write the directions in a precise enough way to follow but with room for personal interpretation and I think it worked
What are you giving for Christmas this year? And what’s on your wish list? I am making my Christmas presents this year, as usual, and if I told you i might ruin a few. I am a very lucky guy and I don’t really have a wish list.
Photo credit: © 2009 Todd Oldham/Courtesy www.ammobooks.com
Balance
December 21, 2009
By Christine MacLean
One of the best—and worst–things about working in a home office is that anytime you’re hungry, you can eat. Potato chips, ice cream, and that last slice of pie are to a home office worker what the Sirens’ songs were to Ulysses—simply irresistible. Binding yourself to your chair, the way Ulysses was bound to the mast, might work, but there’s a better way.
Margaret Dosland, a registered dietitian in Olympia, Washington, says the key is to have healthy food close at hand that is also satisfying. Dosland, who sometimes works from home, keeps a stash of unsalted almonds in her desk drawer and eats a small handful mid-morning. They are a great source of calcium, magnesium, Vitamin E and Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and dietary fiber. A hard boiled egg or single-serving size pack of tuna have protein and can keep you going strong until lunch. Clementines, carrots, sweet potato sticks and blueberries are all snacks that pack a nutritional wallop.
And if you want to think, don’t forget to drink! “Dehydration reduces the volume of blood in the body, and that means less oxygen to your brain,” says Dosland.
Finally, are chips ever okay? Absolutely, she says–if you plan to take a nap.
Design, Products, Technology
December 20, 2009
By Cerentha Harris
We found out what designers Ayako and Cutter will be giving for Christmas…but what about what they would like to receive?
ModKat Litterbox: It’s a new kind of littler box with unique ‘roof top’ access. We really like both visual and functional aspects of this product and would love to get one for our cats to try.
Donation to OCEANA: We love the ocean and we love sushi. Seafood is an important part of Japanese culture, and we feel somewhat responsible about the ocean being overfished. Any efforts to bring the ocean eco-system in balance is a great gift.
Leica 18420: An update on a classic. Who doesn’t want a Leica?
New Zealand Motorcycle Tour: This is on our big list of things to do in life. The country we really would like to visit, traveling by bike and eating amazing food.
Design, Products, Technology
December 20, 2009
By Cerentha Harris
HP has partnered with designer Tord Boontje to create a lovely little laptop that’s environmentally friendly and beautifully designed – two things we treasure at Herman Miller. It is Tord’s first foray into the world of technology and he’s taken his signature floral cutout design and embedded it into the laptop’s exterior and interior. HP has managed to create a 10.1″ mercury-free LED screen and they printed the user guide using environmentally friendly soy inks. Certainly a step in the right direction. For all the info on this beauty go to HP’s site (make sure you’ve got your sound on – you’ll feel like you’re in the woods!)
Products
December 20, 2009
By Heather John
Heather John returns from a trip to the stationery store…
Whenever I have writer’s block, chances are you’ll find me alphabetizing my spices, color coordinating my closet or reorganizing kitchen drawers. There is something highly cathartic about imposing order on chaos. A clean desk, clear mind, etc. Which is why I found myself roaming the aisles at Staples this weekend for office supplies to mentally prepare for a week of heavy research and interviews for a story I’m writing. Inspiration comes in all forms—and to me these tactile brown folders made from 100% postconsumer recycled paper are totally gorgeous in their simplicity and uniformity. I also grabbed a pack of Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils made from reforested California cedar—my writing tool of choice to unblock writer’s block and a favorite example of form + function.
Design, Products, Technology
December 18, 2009
By Cerentha Harris
In the midst of this holiday season and a deluge of gift guides we’ve decided to do something a little different. Herman Miller has a long rich history of working with designers – one that continues today with contemporary designers like Ayako Takase and Cutter Hutton of Kaiju Studios (they are the clever creatives behind the elegant Airia desk and media cabinet). I’ve asked them for their unique take on what to give…and receive. Today we’ll look at giving and tomorrow check back to see what they’d like to receive.
SodaStream Soda Maker: We got one this summer and it has been the best thing in the ktichen. Any sparkling water lover could switch to this system from buying bottled water. It is convenient, green and tastes great.
Cedar Sake Vessel & Cup Set: This Japanese Magewappa craft is not only beautiful, but the smell of cedar is nice and soothing.
New Harvest Coffee Beans: It’s always nice to have some local flavor with gifts. These beans are tasty, organic and from a local Rhode Island coffee roaster. We like our favorite cafe’s blend – White Electric Dark Roast.
Nike+ iPod Sport Kit: We’d like to give this to every runner friend. We not only tracks your running but also has agreat online community. Check it out at NikePlus.com.
Compostable/reusable Skoy kitchen cloth: We use this Skoy Cloth as a replacement for a sponge and paper towel. It’s green and it has fun patterns!
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan: This is such a great book on the reality of the food we eat every day.
