So much design, so little time. (And with the holidays upon us, so little extra money.) Get in the know and increase your design-savvy without breaking the bank. Explore these six great ways to engage in authentic design, for less.
We’ve talked before about the pros and cons of the growing telecommuting trend. But what happens when you’re suddenly a full-time telecommuter, not by choice, but by circumstance? We chatted with several office goers in the New York City metro area (including a few of our own from Herman Miller) who found themselves having to work from home after Hurricane Sandy struck the region. Now that their routines are getting somewhat back to “normal,” we asked them what they learned — and found that their combined experiences offer a few gentle reminders on how you can try to find the balance you need to successfully work from a home office (in less extreme situations, we certainly hope!). Read more
It’s easy to see why we would take notice of the Re-Ply Chair, a Kickstarter project currently making appearances in several design blogs. Inspired by a simple form — a folded piece of paper — the minimalist recliner by architect and designer Dan Goldstein utilizes cardboard and a straightforward steel base to create seating that is permanent, durable, and surprisingly comfortable. Its material finds strength in Goldstein’s patent-pending manufacturing process, which includes stacking, cutting, laminating, molding, and folding layers of heavy-duty corrugated fiberboard into a sturdy shell. (Does this sort of innovation sound familiar?) Additionally, the Re-Ply offers a sustainable design: all the cardboard material comes from used boxes, its other components are as green as possible, and the entire chair can be recycled. But what truly caught our eye? Re-Ply’s popular upcycled prototype takes shape using our own Herman Miller shipping boxes — interesting timing, particularly since Herman Miller just won the Reusable Packaging Association’s inaugural Excellence in Reusable Packaging Award. Take a look at more photos of the Re-Ply here, and learn more at kickstarter.com. Read more
Driven by a mission to make sustainable design accessible, architect, designer, and eco advocate Michelle Kaufmann is someone who is making a real difference. Awarded for her green home design principles and often credited for helping pioneer the green prefab category, Michelle and her firm specialize in sustainable lifestyle design for single family homes, eco-luxury resorts, and multi-family communities. In addition, she consults with builders, developers, and architecture firms on sustainability and prefabrication, most recently with Google. Here, “the Henry Ford of green homes” (as she’s been called by the Sierra Club) tells us, in her words, about her background, her commitment to finding sustainable solutions, and the studio space she’s thoughtfully created along with her team in San Francisco. Read more
A look at some interesting finds on the web this week.
1. What’s the perfect Bohemian interiors furniture accent? Eames Molded Plastic Chairs, says Bohemian Treehouse.
2. Your daily transit is in the cards with Norman Ibarra’s repurposed Metrodeck playing cards. (Via Core77)
3. Jägnefält Milton takes rail transit and city planning down a completely new track.
4. Tour the Portland-inspired Midori.so, a new green (sustainable and covered in ivy), co-workspace in Shibuya, Tokyo. (Via Spoon & Tamago)
5. Dwell’s Olivia Martin considers the individuality of designer Ray Eames.
6. Fast Company profiles Herman Miller’s sleek and strong AGL Table Group, designed by Leon Ransmeier.
7. Ease into your weekend with David Garland’s look into the musical equivalent of mid-20th century modern design, on WNYC.
8. Arnold Newman’s portraits offer us an intimate look into the lives of Charles Eames and other artists. (Via WSJ)
9. Check out these light and lively workspaces for kids on Apartment Therapy.
10. Photographer Shawn Clover seamlessly merges present day San Francisco with its well-shaken 1906 ancestor on Colossal.
Featured in the above photo: Eames Molded Plastic Armchairs and Eames Molded Plastic Side Chairs
Toronto is the home base for the lively workspace of Bento Box, a boutique Web and business development studio that stopped us in our tracks when we saw how many of our SAYL Chairs filled its offices (very impressive). Take a look at their space — also home to coworking artists, designers, and developers — in this latest tour. Read more
The arrival of the Olympics always creates a stir of excitement. But is it just us, or do these summer games in London seem to hold a special sort of spark? Maybe it’s a surge of American spirit — or perhaps it’s simply the access we now have to live streams of every Olympic event on NBC’s website starting early in the workday and on into the evening.
Either way, we’re feeling it. And apparently, so is the bandwidth of Internet connections at companies across the country. In fact, according to the Los Angeles Times, just a few days ago at L.A.’s City Hall, chief technology officer Randi Levin issued an email asking employees to stop watching the games, as its high-traffic demands were ultimately “impacting city operations.”
Network speeds, however, may not be the only thing affected. As reported by SmartMoney.com, the time spent viewing the events by workers (and not spent actually working) could create an estimated loss of $650 million for U.S. companies — a seemingly high price to pay for the chance to see if your favorite team can strike gold. Some inspiration could come from the downtime, though: South Florida’s Sun Sentinel lists a few lessons that employees could learn from watching world-class Olympians in action.
So what about you? Are you watching the Olympics at the office? How is it affecting your workload? And is it pre-approved by management, or is it in secret? (We won’t tell. Besides, we’ll probably be off watching today’s cycling events starting at 11am EST…)
Featured in photo: Setu Chair options
Celebrate our forthcoming Independence Day with a little tour of U.S.A-made items that are as all-American as apple pie, baseball, and the Aeron Chair.
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
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