Balance, Design
June 29, 2012
By Amy Feezor
1. “Herman Miller meets Wonder Woman” on the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s Tumblr.
2. A bookcase that magically stores chairs and tables at PSFK.
3. ”Are You Spending 1,000 Hours Preparing for Your Next Job?” at the Harvard Business Review.
4. LA Observed’s short chat with Allon Schoener, author and periodic guest at the Eames House in the 1950s.
5. It comes equipped with Wi-Fi … could you use this as an occasional outdoor office? (Via Design Milk)
6. These home-office solutions for cords, cables, and devices at Apartment Therapy.
7. The Selby’s tour of jewelry designer Philip Crangi’s NYC home and studio.
8. Did you see our SAYL Chair on True Blood? (Via latimes.com)
9. This discussion about design knockoffs at last weekend’s Dwell on Design home show. (Via Dwell)
10. Hither and Thither’s coverage of our Pop-Up Shop in Soho, NYC. There’s still time to stop by — it’s open through this Sunday, July 1.
Design, Trends
June 28, 2012
By Amy Feezor
One look at a colorfully sophisticated mobile by artist and writer Mark Leary and you can’t help but smile. Inspired by sculptor and artist Alexander Calder, they’re a modern-day take on an artform that uses motion, and a touch of whimsy, to mesmerize. We asked Mark for a look around his studio in Bend, OR — as well as his thoughts on why it is that some furnishings by Ray and Charles Eames always seem so well suited to bask beneath these captivating works of art. Read more
Balance, Design
June 27, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Amy Ruppel started out putting a bird on it (yes, in Portland), but she’s been spreading her wingspan ever since. Even if you’ve never attended one of her many exhibitions, there’s a good chance you’ve seen her work already. Her prolific creativity can be seen in every which way — from paintings, prints, and wall adhesives, to snowboards, sneakers, and electronics. Recently, when not working in paint and pixels, Amy has branched out into music, playing drums and providing vocals with her friend and fellow artist Justin Potts. Take a listen to her laid-back music mix in this week’s Playlist.
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Design, Products
June 26, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
It’s all coming down to the wire. Just as PSFK noted a surge in wire designs, this week’s Roundup features six ways – some new and some classic – designers are working in wire.
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Balance, Trends
June 25, 2012
By Amy Feezor
Did a bark, woof, or ruff (or perhaps a coo from an excited coworker) fill the halls of your office last week? Friday, June 22, was Take Your Dog to Work Day, a day dedicated to bringing man’s best friend into the workspace. This 14th annual canine celebration helped promote pet adoption, as well as the benefits of having Fido at work — which, according to recent research from Virginia Commonwealth University, include reducing stress and making the job more satisfying.
Companies like Amazon, Google, P&G Pet Care, Clif Bar & Company, and Ben & Jerry’s already have open-dog policies. What about your place of business? Would you welcome a dog in your workplace? Why or why not?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section. And in the meantime, take a look at a few furry friends that made it into the office on Friday. Read more
Balance, Design
June 22, 2012
By Amy Feezor
Here’s a look at what we’ve been reading for the past few days. (What about you? Leave us a link to your favorite post of the week in the comments section.)
1. A hidden home office created from a spare closet, featured on the Home & Garden blog of the Los Angeles Times.
2. “A Love Letter to Plywood,” a short video by sculptor Tom Sachs, in which he declares plywood “a delicious wood sandwich” (via swissmiss).
3. 20 gadgets to help you make the most of the summer — including some great items to help you take your work outdoors — from Netted.
4. Colorful ideas for waking up your home-office decor from Real Living.
5. An artistic way to deal with unsightly cords at Dwell.
6. Architect Sigund Larsen‘s “Shrine” project, a mini multitasking storage solution, detailed at Architizer.
7. Have you ever tried to go paperless in the office? (Via Apartment Therapy).
8. We spy a smart white Eames molded plastic side chair in the home of Mary Jo and Steve Hoffman at Design*Sponge (and also in the photo above, by Mark Andrew of Studio 306).
9. The Ridge House, a rural Canadian hideaway designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, at ArchDaily.
10. A fascinating aerial photo tour of New York City’s rooftops at Co.Design.
Photo: Design*Sponge / Mark Andrew of Studio 306
Balance, Trends
June 21, 2012
By Amy Feezor
“At Work,” a blog from the Wall Street Journal, just reported on a new study by The Conference Board research group about the rise in telecommuting. “The number of employees who work remotely has jumped significantly over the last decade, nearly doubling among all full-time, non-self-employed U.S. workers,” it states. Moreover, 84% of people who worked remotely, either from home or another location, did so at least once a week. That’s up from 72% in 2008.
Along with these growing stats, the research offers a few of the pros that result from working out of a home office, such as increased focus, which can lead to better productivity. Cons, of course, included feeling out of the loop and burned out because of the fuzzy line between “home” and “work.”
Are you part of this growing trend? What are the positives? The negatives? Let us know in the comment section, then take a look at a few thoughts from some telecommuters (and some in-the-know self-employed workers) we’ve featured here on Lifework. Read more
Balance
June 20, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Full of great style and wit, Fuzzco is a comprehensive branding, design, and marketing agency in Charleston, South Carolina. While making design and marketing music of their own, the music that fills their ears and offices is often times an integral partner. Along with noting their fondness for the Eames Aluminum Group Executive Chair and their longing for an Eames Lounge Chair, they share with us some fantastic music variety in this week’s Playlist.
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Design
June 19, 2012
By Iris Anna Regn
Auckland, New Zealand-born Marcia Mihotich is a designer and illustrator based in London. Attracted by the big city and the promise of an exciting job in graphic design, she moved to the UK in the late 1980s, where she eventually opened her own practice. At her live/work studio, she combines clear thinking with a quirky individual aesthetic and collaborates with companies such as Industrial Facility as well as variety of arts-related organizations and people. She is also creative director of the new tea company Rosy Lee Tea London. Other recent projects include the design of a new series of books for The School of Life and Pan Macmillan publishing as well as illustrating Philippa Perry’s book from the series called “How to Stay Sane.” Mihotich is currently working on a large comic story for the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Find out what inspires her in this tour of her space (starting with that cushy Eames Soft Pad Management Chair).
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Design, Products
June 18, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Yesterday would have been Charles Eames’ 105th birthday. Let’s celebrate the man who, together with his wife Ray, gave the 20th century much of its distinctive shape and helped set the foundation of modern design. Happy birthday, Charles — here’s six ways to you. Read more