Tell us a little about your backgrounds. We’re both creatives who spend equal time working out in the world and from home. I’m a freelance photographer specializing in weddings, portraits, and events, but my work is continually evolving. Kyle’s a web developer for Treehouse, a startup creating an online school for technology learning. We collaborate during wedding season when Kyle joins me as a second photographer.

Tell us about yourselves and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I spent a lot of time studying art and design while in school, and photography has been a natural progression into a field where I can hold onto my creativity and make a living. People, beauty, and happiness inspire me, and I feel fortunate to work with clients during their most joyful times.

Kyle’s worked professionally as a graphic designer, photographer, web developer, and snowboard instructor. He’s driven by a love of nature and simplicity, and created a social backpacking network for the Pacific Northwest called Went Hiking. At Treehouse, he garners inspiration from helping people get better jobs and improve their lives through technology learning.

I think this David Bowie quote sums up each of our lives: “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike about it? I love all things vintage, and Kyle appreciates a more modern aesthetic. Our apartment has taken on an eclectic combination of our individual tastes that we both appreciate.

The apartment was built in the early 1900s and is bursting with vintage charm. Our favorite room is the sun porch, which is gloriously warm and bright and is currently serving as a small library.

We could definitely use an extra room for our office area. Both of our desks are sharing space with the dining room, which isn’t ideal, but it works for now.

There is a SAYL Chair in your office area. Why did you choose it? I was extremely picky about this decision because too many office chairs are bulky and unappealing. We both love Herman Miller designs, so when it came time to choose an ergonomic chair for Kyle to sit and program in every day, it was an easy choice. The SAYL is attractive and comfortable, and I appreciate its low profile and lightweight look. We would definitely recommend it to others!

Photos: Christy Cassano-Meyer

Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I focus on responsive, future-friendly, front-end design and development. This means I design and code websites that flex and adapt to the device the user is viewing them on. Progressive enhancement ensures that users visiting a site from their phone on a congested mobile network aren’t forced to download the same site assets they would see on their 30″ display at the office. Future-friendly development means writing flexible, modular code structure that is mindful of what’s next in tech.

I’m inspired by quality craft, regardless of medium. It is endearing to witness a maker who is good at what he or she is making. I’m also inspired by my city and the people who call it home. Winnipeg has an incredibly rich arts and cultural scene, especially for a city of relatively small size. In the past few years our downtown has seen some really cool architectural installations, like a huge steel/LED sculpture called “Emptyful” that’s shaped like an Erlenmeyer flask, and OMS Stage, an open-air performing arts venue that looks like it’s straight out of a science-fiction movie. When the rivers freeze in the winter, we clear the longest skating trail in the world and line it with warming huts designed in an annual architectural competition. I think there’s something to be said for the resilience and outward thinking this city embraces.

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike? My space is a bit of an audio playground, with instruments and recording gear and a life-size cardboard cutout of Raj Koothrappali from the TV show ”Big Bang Theory” (he’s camera shy). I have a flawless Fender Rhodes piano that was built in March of 1972, and will forever be the coolest thing I own.

The studio monitors on my desk sit on foam/steel wedges that isolate the speaker vibrations from my work surface. These are my go-to for listening to most music, but if I’m listening to a concert recording I’ll also bring up the mono speaker stack for a different timbre. If I’m listening to something with poor quality sound, I’ll route the audio through an old GE stereo I modded a few years ago that can plug directly into my mixer. This is kind of like the aural equivalent of taking a mediocre picture of your feet with Instagram and applying a filter to make it “better.”

The big white pillow things on my walls are broadband absorbers that help eliminate sound reflections and frequency nodes. Each panel is 4″ of rigid fiberglass insulation and an open wood frame that is wrapped in fabric and hung with picture frame wire.

My window treatment (if I can even call it that) is several layers of translucent plastic tablecloth, held in place with binder clips and magnets. It turns my basement window well into a big softbox. When rabbits hop in the garden above it’s like a shadow puppet show without the puppets.

I’m constantly exploring ergonomics, and love finding new ways to make working better. Currently my wrists rest on a water-damaged piece of hardboard from an old drawer. This sits atop a stack of dollar-store craft foam that raises the leading edge of my keyboard and trackpad so they parallel my desk. I think most people have increased fidelity in their fingers and thumbs with their wrists either parallel to their desks or relaxed forward, instead of pulled back as most keyboard designs imply. This is in part why pianists are trained not to drop their wrists while playing.

My display sits on a 3″ roll of black duct tape, the underside of which is covered by parchment paper. Parchment paper has a low coefficient of friction, so slides around my glass desk with ease.

If I could change anything about my current setup, I definitely wouldn’t be working on a black glass desk. It is an incredible pain to keep clean. I’d like to try a sit-stand desk with a wood surface and motorized legs.

You have both an Embody and an Aeron in your space. Why did you choose them, and how do they differ for you? I like them both, and they are very different. I typically start the work day in the Aeron because I love its forward tilt. It arches my back and keeps my body in attentive posture, which helps me kick-start productivity if I stayed up too late writing code or playing hockey. The Embody feels more relaxed to me, and I’m most comfortable in it slightly reclined. I usually tackle less intensive tasks in the Embody, like long-form reading or answering email. The Embody’s arm rests adjust closer to my body than the Aeron’s, which I find helpful in reducing shoulder strain.

It may seem excessive to have two high-end chairs in such close proximity, but an investment in design and comfort is easily justifiable to someone who spends as much time at a desk as I do.

Photos: Brad Cerasani

1. Cool Hunting’s preview of our redesigned Mirra 2 Chair by Studio 7.5.

2. Phaidon’s preview of the Wireframe Sofa by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin.

3. “The Psychology of Seating” at Dwell.com.

4. A look inside the portfolio of Sydney architect Madeleine Blanchfield, which demonstrates “the new Australian aesthetic,” at Desire to Inspire.

5. More from Australia: this simple modern home by architect Jessica Liew in Melbourne (via HomeDSGN).

6. 10 chalets, spas, and sanctuaries that help combat stress via Architizer.

7. This south-facing home just above the Miño River in Spain, built mostly of glass and concrete, at Inthralld.

8. The mix of mid-century modern and vintage industrial style at Irvine-based design firm Mattson Creative, courtesy of California Home + Design.

9. The American Institute of Architects’ top ten sustainable projects of the year, covered at Dezeen.

10. Did you see the making of our “Everywhere in Your Day” contest video? If not, be sure to check it out here.

Featured in photo: Branca Chair by San Hecht and Kim Colin

1. This article and video on the Re-Think the Eames show in Milan exploring the “Eames condition,” the “ideal paradigm for a reflection on design understood as a narrative, curatorial, and collective tool.” (Via Abitare.)

2. Craig Steely Architecture’s compelling design for Lavaflow 7, a house on the Big Island of Hawaii, at Contemporist.

3. Inhabitat’s look at the reopening of San Francisco’s Exploratorium, now the largest net-zero-energy museum in the U.S.

4. The clean, compact workspace of graphic designer Alex Yeske featured at Eva Black Design.

5. How many designs by Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard can you spot in “Through Don Draper’s Eyes: A Tour of the Time-Life Building of the Sixties” at style.time.com?

6. This smart bedroom addition (complete with a new home office) featured at Modern Findings.

7. The vibrant Brooklyn home of identical twins Teman and Teran Evans at NYTimes.com.

8. The stand-out Orient IV Residence on Long Island by Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects (via Inthralld).

9. “Why Some Spaces Make Us Feel Right at Home” (penned by Herman Miller’s own Betty Hase) at the Drucker Exchange.

10. A double dose of inspiration from Illinois-based artist Chad Wys: his personal Tumblr and his graphic design Tumblr.

Featured in photo: Eames Sofa by Charles and Ray Eames

Give us a little information on your background. I’ve been a freelance illustrator and letterer since graduating from Sheridan College’s renowned Illustration program in 2001. Like most young illustrators starting out I needed a day job in order to make ends meet. So for a few years, I worked full-time as a wiretapper with one of Canada’s largest police forces and moonlighted as an illustrator. Talk about a contrast of worlds. Eventually the illustration gigs picked up enough that I could leave the day job and completely focus on my career.

Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to vintage things that have character, good design, and a story, whether it be a guitar, tools, products, or random found objects. I like keeping myself surrounded by those types of things because I find them inspiring and they’re kind of like a receipt for a good story. I guess that’s the artist in me coming out, as well as my upbringing. Coming from a family full of carpenters and woodworkers has heavily influenced the way I create; layering and meticulously working with my chosen materials. The deeper into the digital world we get, the more I desire to produce hand-crafted work. Lately, my focus has been on combining the illustrator side of me with the carpenter side of me, hoping that I can satisfy both of those needs while still making the kind of art that I enjoy making. I’m not sure where it will lead to, but that’s the direction I’m currently heading.

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike? What would you change if you could? For years my workspaces were always tucked away in a corner of my living room. So when I bought my house four years ago, it had an unfinished basement which I renovated in order to give myself a dedicated studio. I also built a larger work area for miscellaneous projects, as well as a workshop. My actual studio space is fairly basic but I love it because it’s comfortable enough to hold everything I need to create work and to relax when I need to. As much as I love having my studio in the house, it’s getting tougher and tougher as my young family grows.

You have an Aeron Chair in your space. What do you like about it? Why did you choose it? I love the Aeron. Without a doubt, it saved my back. The vintage wooden secretary’s chair that I used to use looked amazing, but it was causing damage to my back. A friend turned me onto the Aeron convincing me a good ergonomic chair was a wise investment; he couldn’t have been more right. I also use an Eames Molded Plastic Chair at my painting station.

Photos: Darren Booth; bottom photo – Todd Fraser

Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I recently finished directing and producing my first documentary film called “Linotype: The Film.” It is about the Linotype typecasting machine and its impact on communication and the modern news media. It is also about a bunch of awesome old guys that work with crazy machines.

As trite as this answer will be, I find my inspiration all around me. I love travel and find my clearest thinking at 30,000 feet with my computer off. Most of my favorite projects have started as a result of traveling.

I am currently teaching typography and letterpress classes at Missouri State University and working on freelance design and video projects. I just finished two years of traveling around the world with the film, so I am trying to slow down and decide what is next. I have a few ideas about upcoming films, but I don’t have a direction just yet.

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike about it? I share the office with filmmaker (and “Linotype: The Film” cinematographer) Brandon Goodwin. It is in an old brick building in downtown Springfield, Missouri and we share the building with a few other creatives.

My aesthetic is a mix of trying to be clean and modern but also accepting that I am a collector of vintage ephemera and objects. I decorate with many letterpress-printed posters along with objects found at flea markets.

Brandon and I built our own desks using solid-core doors and legs. This kept our costs down as well as gave us a hand-built feel to the space. As a collector, I can never have enough flat files to organize and sort my vintage finds.

One perk of the office is our single-malt scotch collection that everyone shares. This keeps things relaxed around the office. My current favorite is Lagavulin 16 or Glenmorangie Finealta.

Photos: Doug Wilson. See the short film of the office’s Mirra vs. Aeron competition here.

There’s a quiet battle brewing in Springfield, Missouri, where designer and filmmaker Doug Wilson shares an office with Brandon Goodwin, also a filmmaker and Doug’s co-conspirator on “Linotype: The Film – In Search of the Eighth Wonder of the World.” When we asked Doug to report in from the scene, he not only sent over an explanation, but also gave us a first-hand look with the above short film.

Doug states: “I worked previously in an ad agency with Aeron chairs and learned that a good chair is worth the investment. When we moved into our office, Brandon and I went to our local Herman Miller dealer to test out chairs. I thought I would simply purchase an Aeron, but I found the Mirra chair to be more comfortable for me and I ended up choosing my own colors and features. Brandon purchased an Aeron.”

Since the purchases, their workspace has been enthralled in an unending contest. “Any time we have friends visit the office, we have a competition to see which chair they prefer,” Doug says. “It is a friendly rivalry, but obviously I think I made the better decision. Currently, Brandon’s Aeron is winning, but the Mirra is staging a comeback.”

Which chair do you prefer? Weigh in with your comments or tell us about it on Twitter.

Video courtesy Doug Wilson and Brandon Goodwin

1. A quick tour inside the Ray Eames exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento via Esoteric Survey.

2. Le Prado, a warm, welcoming home near the beaches of Marseilles, France, spotted by Design Milk.

3. More from Marseilles, this time from Contemporist: the simple and elegant Vieux Port Pavilion by Foster + Partners.

4. Co.Design’s peek inside a new book on Irving Harper, who designed Herman Miller’s logo and contributed to the design of George Nelson’s Marshmallow Sofa.

5. A surprising house design by Aires Mateus in Leiria, Portugal, found at I Need a Guide.

6. The Makoko Floating School project by NLÉ architects at designboom.

7. Remodelista’s roundup of “smart and skinny” houses in Japan.

8. Great shots by photographer Alan Wanzenberg at Plastolux. (We’re fans of the nicely lit image of a pair of Eames Walnut Stools.)

9. This chat with David Calvin Laufer, who presents interviews with George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames, and Buckminster Fuller, among others, in his book Dialogues with Creative Legends and Aha Moments in a Designer’s Career (via Peachpit).

10. The renovated LeRoy Neiman Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Be sure to check out its interesting combo of Eames designs and colorful Caper chairs. (Via Retail Design Blog.)

Featured in photo: Eames Molded Plastic Chair; Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair; Nelson X-Leg Table

A number of years ago, Herman Miller conducted research on the “natural preferred habitat,” which are places that our prehistoric ancestors sought to settle in while they were hunting and gathering. In these spaces, they looked for certain features with benefits. One of these was a wide, distant view. With this view from your habitat, you would get a lot of information, like where your resources were located; whether or not danger was approaching; and if there was a clear path available if you needed to move.

As part of the research, we applied this attribute — a view from the natural preferred habitat — inside that of a built environment. We found humans still have this longing for a wide, distant view, just like our prehistoric ancestors. We still want to put ourselves in a place where we can see out and not be seen. This is due to all the helpful information that a view can give you.

As humans, we are also innately attracted to nature (biologist and researcher E.O. Wilson coined the term “biophilia”)—it’s in our genetic makeup and our genetic memory. We have an affinity to and seek comfort in nature, and when we have views of it, it enhances our well being. In fact, there have been studies done in the healthcare arena that indicate that when patients have a view of nature, they heal a lot quicker and don’t need as much medication.

There may be more attention given to nature nowadays because our lives are more hectic. We are always online, always connected, always on, 24/7. It has put us in this continual state of partial attention to everything, without focusing on anything. And that does cause stress. Anything you can change in your surroundings to alleviate stress is healthy — and making sure you have a window view to nature is one of the best, most human things you can do.

- As told to Amy Feezor

Find the above featured Nelson Swag Leg Desk, Eames Molded Plastic Chair, Aeron Chair, Setu Chair and other inspiring furnishings for an elegant and intelligent office in the Herman Miller Store.

Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I am a graphic designer and a very passionate collector of all things modernism, mostly from the mid-twentieth century. I collect vintage furniture, pottery, toys, ephemera, records, books, packaging, etc.

Living in California has had a direct impact on what I do and what I like. The modern homes, the furniture, and all the history of designers in the area made it a very obvious choice for me. I am very inspired by my collection as well as by folk art, color, and, in general, the warmth of modernism from that era. I like to surround myself with things that inspire me, from the things I sit on to the things I look at.

My work is a direct reflection of the things around me. I have a dresser in my office that is filled with vintage ephemera that I’ve picked up over the years and I like to open drawers and just look at things every now and then. I also have two shelves with vintage packaging and an ever-growing library of vintage books.

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike? My space is an ever-changing showroom in a way. I am constantly looking for things and replace others when I find something that suits the area better. This forced me to start selling the things I don’t need anymore and it’s now growing into a store of vintage things.

You have a few vintage pieces by Charles and Ray Eames in your space. Why did you choose them? I have many of the vintage molded fiberglass chairs in different colors, some upholstered. They are just so fun and I use them all the time. I also have two molded plywood DCM chairs that I believe are some of the most beautiful, simple, and comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat on. Definitely recommended.

I picked them up because, well, Ray and Charles are probably one of the most influential designers in the U.S. — and on me personally. I just had to have them in my home.

Photos: Javier García

1. “The Untold Story of How the Aeron Chair Was Born” at Co.Design.

2. 12 backyard office pods from Inthralld.

3. Designs by Charles and Ray Eames (molded plastic chairs, an Eames Aluminum Group Side Chair) found by Automatism.

4. Jauntsetter’s tour of Zubehaus, the upstate New York home owned by Fab.com founder Bradford Shellhammer.

5. This clip from 1967 featuring Walter Cronkite previewing 21st-century technology — and his foreshadowing of how it could change the way we work at home — via FORA.tv.

6. Six things to know when setting up a home office from Kiplinger.

7. The light and airy home of Jesper and Majbritt in Copenhagen, Denmark, spotted by Lovenordic Design Blog.

8. ArchDaily’s look at Interstice, a settlement house from the 1930s rehabilitated by Fabi Architekten BDA in Regensburg, Germany.

9. The just-opened AETHER shop in San Francisco made entirely of shipping containers (and decorated with a pair of Eames Lounge Chairs) via The Fox Is Black.

10. Normann Szkop’s inspiring aerial photos of tulip fields in the Netherlands at Colossal.

Featured in photo: Eames Sofa; Eames Wire Base Elliptical Table; Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair with upholstered seat and back

Tell us a little about your background. Prior to starting Basik Design a decade ago, I worked at various movie studios in LA. I started as a photo editor, but through the years, gradually transitioned my position into an in-house designer before eventually going out on my own. Liz also worked as a photo editor at several film studios, her final position being a Senior Photo Editor at Paramount Pictures prior to our move to Nebraska. She continues to edit photography for studios but on a freelance basis.

What are you passionate about, what inspires you, and where are you going? Liz and I both love design in the general sense, as in we just like well-designed stuff. Whether it’s a car, clothes, a room, a poster, a house, a computer (we’re huge Apple fans, surprise) or a piece of furniture (also huge Herman Miller fans, surprise), anything that is well designed is interesting to us and inspires us. We truly feel fortunate to make a living in a creative field.

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike about it? What would you change if you could? I’m a little neurotic, so less is more for me. Liz likes to fill a room with lots of stuff, so we’ve had to do some compromising! But living in the Midwest means having more space, which means having more of the furniture and accessories we love without cluttering up the room. If we could just do something about all the cords, it would be awesome.

You have quite a collection of Herman Miller pieces in your space. What are some of your favorites? One of our favorite possessions is our Nelson Marshmallow Sofa. It’s iconic, fun, comfortable, and it just makes us smile. I also love my Aeron Chair. It’s super comfortable and looks great. It’s an office classic. Liz has a SAYL Chair that she loves. It’s also very comfortable and totally unique — there’s no mistaking it. I would highly recommend any of these pieces — the design, the build quality, the classic nature, and the general feeling of delight you get from using (and staring at) them make it all worth it. And as a bonus, they’re made in America.

Photos: Paul David

Last week, just before “Shatner’s World” was wrapping up the latest leg of its national tour, we got word that the truck carrying all the show’s equipment had broken down — and Mr. Shatner’s team needed to rent one of their regular props, an Aeron Chair, for his East Lansing, MI, performance. Like any good crew, we, of course, got to work immediately. And quite quickly that same day, thanks to the help of Herman Miller Certified Network Member WorkSquared in Lansing, we were able to deliver an Aeron to the stage right on time.

The show must and did go on. But it just proves that, even if you’ve made your living off helping save the universe, you still need a little support yourself sometimes.

“Shatner’s World: We Just Live In It” has finished its national tour for the time being, but will show again in 20 more cities in December 2013 and January 2014. Stay tuned to shatnersworld.com for details.

Photo: Joan Marcus, taken on the show’s opening night on Broadway, February 16, 2012, at the Music Box Theatre in New York City.

Shared office space in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, CA

A group of like-minded creatives (a photographer, videographers, graphic designers, and a DJ) call this loft studio in LA their work home. With its “mid-century modern meets the desert” style, it features a brightly-hued array of designs by Charles and Ray Eames, such as their Molded Plastic and Molded Plywood Chairs. (Photos: Bethany Nauert)

Curiosity Shoppe, Austin, TX

Distinctively-cool downtown Austin gets a little more curious with the arrival of this collective space, a multimedia outfit housed in a converted warehouse that’s packed with timeless Eames pieces, including a Wire Chair and Wire Base Elliptical Table. (Photos: Chris Perez)

The Design Office, Providence, RI

Independent designers work side by side in this downtown-Providence-based studio, which features a vintage-modern look led by designs like the Aeron Chair and the Eames Hang-It-All. (Photos: Sarah Rainwater)

Original post by Chris Perez. Used in partnership with Apartment Therapy Tech.

A balance of health and harmony in your workspace reduces aches and pains, increases your mental well-being, aids productivity, and can even increase creativity. Sit up straight and take notice of these six ways to a healthier new year.

1. Embody Chair, Bill Stumpf and Jeff Weber - By maintaining your physical alignment, Embody’s ergonomic support reduces pressure and stimulates blood and oxygen flow. A little extra of both goes a long way to keeping you relaxed and focus. Customize yours at Herman Miller.

2. Flavor It Water Infuser Bottle - Staying hydrated is key to your health, but it can get a little, well, dull. Freshen up your fluids with this flavor-infusing, glass water bottle. A harmonious addition to your desktop. They’re popular, find yours at Overstock or Uncommon Goods.

3. Envelop Desk, Bill Stumpf and Jeff Weber - Posture care is no longer just the dominion of your chair. Do your work seated with pin-height adjustable legs or opt for a standing posture with Envelop’s electric adjusting legs. Find both at Herman Miller.

+ Envelop Desk pairs perfectly with an Embody or Aeron Chair, too.

4. Flo Monitor Support - Flo’s adjustable monitor arm brings your display into clearer focus reducing eye strain, reducing clutter on your desktop, and encouraging healthy sitting posture. High or low, Flo puts your work right where you want it. Single and double monitor arms available at Herman Miller.

5. The Big Happy Family Kit, Urbio - Along with staying hydrated, staying oxygenated has unlimited health benefits. Add a little flora to your field of vision with The Big Happy Family Kit. Originally designed for urban gardens, the modular wall system can be used for both planting and office organization. Find yours at YLiving.

6. Flute Personal Light, Tom Newhouse - Simultaneously good for you and the environment, the LED Flute delivers affordable, high quality light, and a tiny carbon foot print. You won’t even need to replace a bulb, the LED light source has a lifespan of more than two decades. Find it at Herman Miller.

Photos linked within text.

Book cover designer and lifestyle blogger Anna Dorfman showed us not one, but two home offices: the first in a small rental apartment in Brooklyn, and the second in upstate New York, where she and her husband are slowly renovating an 1891 Victorian row house. (Photo: Anna Dorfman)

Architectural photographer David Lauer gave us a tour of his new mid-century-built home in Denver, complete with a home office centered around bold color choices, like his green Mirra Chair. (Photo: David Lauer)

This weekend-getaway workspace belonged to J3 Productions and Happy Mundane’s Jonathan Lo, who is normally based in Orange County, CA, but instead opted to rent a “second office” near the beach in San Diego for the summer. (Photo: Jonathan Lo)

A sunny view and an original Eames Wire Chair passed down by her grandparents made up this tour from photographer-turned-designer Jennifer Levy of CAVdesign. (Photo: Jennifer Levy)

Artist Laura Hughes let us take a look at her combination home/workspace (Aeron Chair included) in the middle of Manhattan. (Photo: Laura Hughes)

Makoto Mizutani and Ben Luddy — better known as the brains behind multidisciplinary design practice Scout Regalia — let us take a peek at their living space/company headquarters in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Photo: Scout Regalia)

We found out just how organized the workspace of a professional organizer can be with this step inside the home office of Justin Klosky, founder and Creative Director of O.C.D. Experience, a bi-coastal organizing service. (Photo: Justin Klosky)

Photographer Clark Lara introduced us to a space filled with modern Herman Miller designs — check out the Embody Chair, Eames Molded Plastic Chairs, and Eames Storage Unit just in the one photo above — as well as his scene-stealing dog, Cooper. (Photo: Clark Lara)

Singer, songwriter, producer, photographer, cinematographer, and director Thomas Piper Jr. showed us around his home workspace in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. (Photo: Thomas Piper Jr.)

Food writer and co-author of The Kimchi Cookbook Olga Massov gave us a glance at her Brooklyn home office (as well as her well-stocked kitchen). (Photo: Amy Feezor).

Our SAYL chairs fit nicely in the newly-built backyard office shed shared by organizer Vanessa Hayes and her husband Dan, a technology/marketing/media consultant, in San Antonio, TX. (Photo: Vanessa Hayes)

Kiwi-born and London-based designer and illustrator Marcia Mihotich — who collaborates with the likes of Industrial Facility and other arts-related organizations — opened the doors to her live/work space, which includes a cushy Eames Soft Pad Management Chair. (Photo: Marcia Mihotich)

What year was your business established? What led to that point? I technically have been organizing since I could walk . . . no joke. I will have some stories about that in a book I am writing that comes out in December 2013. My business, the O.C.D. Experience, was founded in 2008 with the vision to help people find clarity in their lives through my own OCD practice — thus birthing “Organize & Create Discipline,” a bi-coastal service teaching organizational discipline in every area of your life.

With some hard work, despite days waking up not knowing what city I was in, and with an incredible group of supportive friends, the business continues to grow every year. When Oprah was in her heyday, very early on in my business, I got to work with her go-to organizer, Peter Walsh, who lent me some wisdom along the way (basically telling me to stay out of this crazy world!). After working with Peter, I continued to build out different divisions of the O.C.D. Experience. I launched O.C.D. Events (Original & Creatively Designed) with Heather Schertz and started discussions on other aspects of the business. O.C.D. Experience also just finished working with Saks Fifth Avenue, Joss & Main, and the Container Store to develop strategic partnerships and product services. We are proud to be growing into a recognized national brand and taking on organizational consultants throughout the country while upholding a solid reputation.

Tell us about your space. Any special considerations that influenced its set up? What do you like or dislike? What would you change if you could? I consider everything when it comes to the way I setup my personal space. It is part of my OCD.

Our entire place has a specific purpose for living. It has been that way since I was a child. My favorite space right now is the O.C.D. Experience office. On the ground, I put in an red area rug, which fuels me, and an ottoman that doubles as a two-person window seat and storage for all our office supplies. Cork boards line the walls for organized visions, goals, and creative expectations. I brought in a large citrine crystal to add life and career energy, as well as “El Jeffe,” our security guard — an office plant of five years, who has traveled from NY to LA, LA to NY, and NY back. The best part of the office is the desk system I built from scratch; I’ve labeled it the “O.C.D. Desk System.” (Did I mention that you can’t see one wire, as the desk hides them all?)

I always like bad news first, so what I dislike about my office is how obsessive I can be about maintaining its structure and flow. Constantly thinking about space, not just outer space (which I love), can take up a lot of time and energy. It also affects the people around me, sometimes causing a little more stress than necessary.

The redeeming fact of this is that I have managed to make sure the positive moments of my space-obsessing outweighs the negative. My office is always clean and my desk never has piles. I then get to help clients throughout the world make stronger choices about their personal space, thought process, and decisions through my practices.

What I would change? I would revamp the desk system, which is in its second prototype process! I have some new organizational solutions that will be incorporated into the next one.

You have an Aeron Chair in your space. Why did you choose it? I have three, actually. I got my first Aeron because I used to work for a talent agency and I remember all the agents having these big, comfortable, ergonomically-correct office chairs. I was 18 and wanted one so bad. The moment I had my own working office, I got one. A few years later, I needed more chairs and had no choice but to buy two more because they all had to match.

Design for Mankind’s Erin Loechner keeps clean and contained spiral notebooks at the ready in her own home-office setup: a laptop, desk, and white Eames Aluminum Group Executive Chair combo.

It’s no surprise that notepads filling the desk of designer and illustrator Alexie Hiles contain the thinkings of an artistic mind.

Neat stacks of notebooks — including Field Notes, a Lifework favorite — await reminders and to-do lists from Rick VanderLeek, a Saugatuck, Michigan-based art director and graphic designer.

Loose-leaf paper notes and tracing paper play a part in typographer Nick Keppol’s Brooklyn home office  — a must-see space which includes, among others, a black Embody chair at the desk and an Eames Wire Base Low Table supporting the printer.

Confirmed doodler: designer and illustrator Katie Kirk, author of the children’s book “Eli, No!,” brain power behind Eight Hour Day, and owner of a pair of Eames Molded Plastic Chairs.

A collection of colorful sketchpads and notes helps keep the workflow flowing for Erin Jang, an art director and graphic designer who runs The Indigo Bunting out of her studio in New York City.

Industrial designer Joey Roth, a Los Angeles resident who frequently works in his backyard, knows that a single notebook can help him streamline his time outside. “When I can, I leave my laptop inside and take only a pen, notebook, and cup of tea or coffee with me,” he says. “The less I take, the more I tend to accomplish.”

Photos: Linked to their sources. Top photo: Carrie Strine and Tim Lahan

Don’t Forget To Blink
Many of us dramatically slow down our rate of blinking when we’re staring at a glowing computer monitor. Blinking helps to naturally lubricate your eyes, and not doing so makes you dry out and feel uncomfortable. Force yourself to blink frequently as you’re working on the screen. You can even get some help blinking if you must.

Drink (Water)
Help your body by staying hydrated. It’s even easier when you’re working from home, where you can use your favorite glass and always get chilled water instead of a drink from a communal water fountain. If you’re finding yourself hankering for a drink, it’s already been too long. Set “hydration nudges” to remind yourself if you’re not getting enough liquids.

Posture and Ergonomics
If you’re going to be sitting at your desk for a while, make sure you’re comfortably and properly doing so. Find yourself a good ergonomic chair and sit properly at your desk. Keep your wrists and hands comfortable as well with an ergonomic keyboard. (Check out this roundup of ergonomic keyboards highlighted by Apartment Therapy several years ago.)

Clean Air For All
If you’re seeing floating dust particles in the glow of your computer monitor, it’s time to get yourself an air purifier. If it’s stuffy and dry, you’ll need a humidifier. You can even bring a little green into your office to help with the air quality and make yourself feel better.

Get Up And Walk Around
Don’t just sit in your chair all day. Move and stretch a bit. You can even exercise directly from your chair. Keep your body healthy and your blood flowing to your head for a healthy day at the office. Here’s got a great set of 10 exercises you can easily do in the office in just a few minutes.

For more tips on ergonomics and staying healthier in the office, click here.
Original post by Jason Yang. Used in partnership with Apartment Therapy Tech.

Each hybrid synthesizes essential traits from two “parents” of differing typologies; for example, a set of bookshelves combined with the stepped form of an arena results in the book-arena, which doubly functions as storage and seating for office-wide meetings. Other hybrids include the tree-chair, mountain-offices, house-table, and sky-cave …. This conceptual intertwining of interior office and exterior world expands the experiential possibilities of inhabitation. To sit in a chair as if inside a tree, or occupy a table as one would a house, is to prompt a rethinking of how we exist with objects and environments. One’s fundamental notions of dwelling and working are consequently upended, yet simultaneously clarified.

This larger idea of merging solutions within the office space has already won Ogosta the AIA Los Angeles Next LA Honor Award 2012 as well as recognition in several publications. But the details also got our attention: the project’s light, airy setting incorporates several designs by Charles and Ray Eames, such as Eames Aluminum Group Management Chairs, Eames Molded Plastic Chairs, and Eames Molded Plastic Armchairs with Rocker Bases — all in white. We asked Ogosta why he selected these styles and color. “It was important that the seating be compatible with the limited palette of wood and white materials for the project,” he stated. “The various Eames chairs seemed to complement the project’s furniture hybrid-objects, as they have a simplicity which does not distract from the overall space.”

Also considered? Charles and Ray’s California connection. Explained Ogosta, “The project also aims to internalize and clarify the surrounding areas of Los Angeles — its natural forms, its urban character, and its cultural openness — so including Eames chairs seemed appropriate given that they are indigenous creations of Southern California.”

See more of Hybrid Office here and at edwardogosta.com.

Images: edwardogosta.com

1. “Design Q&A with Charles Eames,” a short film from 1972, featured on Network Awesome.

2. A full tour of Jonathan Lo’s Solana Beach, CA, rental home at Old Brand New.

3. The Design and Architecture Crossword from the New York Times and Design Within Reach. (Here’s a hint for 95 Across.)

4. Speaking of married couples who design together (another hint for the crossword above), check out Design Is One, the documentary on Lella and Massimo Vignelli opening October 18 (via Very Short List).

5. The idea-filled chat about home offices with organizer Kacy Paide from the Washington Post.

6. Curbed’s look at the transformation of an NYC loft to accommodate a collection of Eames furniture.

7. 10 of Architizer’s favorite workspaces, including the Obscura Digital HQ in San Francisco, featuring our Setu Chairs (in the photo above).

8. This quick 1955 telegram from Alexander Girard to industrialist J. Irwin Miller at Documenting Modern Living.

9. Jaunted’s history lesson on Eames Tandem Sling Seating in airports.

10. The playfully inspiring design of this floating dreamscape made from hundreds of kites featured at Co.Design.

Photo: Obscura Digital / Architizer

How long have you worked from home? What lead to this decision? I’ve been working from home since February 2011. I came out of college with a business degree and worked on Wall Street for about ten years. I felt like, as an immigrant, it was the sensible, practical thing to do. But it wasn’t something I loved. Until my last job, when I wound up with a pretty amazing boss and worked with incredibly talented people, it was rather unexciting. I spent all my free time, however little there was of it, cooking and writing. I started a food blog which made me feel much more alive than any work project I ever had to do. All I wanted to do was hang out in my kitchen, learn various cooking techniques and dishes and write about it. At work I was pretty unfulfilled; but when I came home and made dinner, no matter how simple it was, I would come alive. In 2008, after the markets tanked and the economy fell apart, I really started to ask myself what I wanted out of my life, but I was too timid to leave. Around February of 2011 an opportunity presented itself to try to do food writing/recipes full time, and so I took the plunge. I got to work with amazing folks like Melissa Clark and Andrew Scrivani of the New York Times (I still work for Andrew), and Melissa introduced me to Lauryn Chun, with whom I wrote my first cookbook, The Kimchi Cookbook. I’m now working on my second cookbook with a famous chef, trying to freelance, and spend a lot of time at my desk writing, researching, and everything in between. I practically live at my desk in my office chair.

What do you like and dislike about working from home? I’ve been working from home for more than a year now, but some of my work takes me to other people’s houses. For example when I work for Andrew, I’m at the photo studio where we cook, style, and shoot food. When I was working for Melissa, I was at her house. But when I work on my blog, on freelance assignments, or on the books, I am in the living room, at my desk. I’ve always joked that I’d do my best work from 7am until 1pm in my pajamas. Sometimes, that actually happens. I’ll be up since 6am and by the mid-afternoon realize I need to shower, but I’ve been writing and working non-stop. What I like about it is that my home is cozy and comfortable. If I’m working on recipes and need some reference, I’ve all my cookbooks around me so it’s incredibly helpful. Our cat Forrest provides ample entertainment and is a pretty outsized personality and he loves it when we work from home. When my husband Andrew works from home (he’s a climate science writer), we sit back to back at our respective desks and for most of the time, all you hear is just a bunch of typing noises. Sometimes I make a mad dash for the kitchen to test a recipe. If it works — we have a delicious lunch. Otherwise, we have an okay lunch. It’s also nice to have a little bit more freedom with your time. If I can fit my work into a 10-hour day, I can go for a run or a workout at a time that’s convenient to me. I can run out and meet a colleague for a coffee and just exchange ideas and thoughts. It’s nice to be your own boss especially when you’re pretty disciplined about setting your own schedule and meeting deadlines. I’ve always been a very dedicated worker and if my former employers trusted me and let me have a bit more wiggle room, I might have been more motivated.

Our kitchen is pretty amazing, considering it’s a rental, and the space is very intelligently laid out with quite a bit of storage. I initially took the apartment because I’d never seen a rental with a kitchen like this. That, in and of itself, is a glimpse into my decision-making!

What I don’t like about working from home is that sometimes, you realize you’re still in your pajamas and it’s 2 in the afternoon! That it’s too quiet, and that it’s a little lonely at times. You really can get lost in your work and realize that you’ve become a tiny bit hermit-like. Writers are introverted to begin with, so in some ways it’s great to have that time to be in your head, but it can also not be great, too.

Basically, the stuff that you love can also become the stuff that drives you crazy.

The last piece of working from home that I dislike is this: you can never leave work at work. It’s here, with you, because you also happen to live here. And if something is messy and out of place, you focus on that and have to fix it before you can focus on work again. I’m a total neat freak and I feel like I spend my days sweeping, dusting, putting things away, when I’d rather be in a quiet room, just writing.

Tell us about what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I’m a food writer/blogger. I create/test recipes for my blog and freelance assignments. I love the process of testing a recipe. When I’m on a very tight deadline and the recipe refuses to work it drives me crazy, but I also love the process of learning. You always walk away from a new recipe having learned something new — and it’s an incredibly empowering feeling. I am constantly humbled by other talented bloggers and food writers. There’s a discipline, a drive for excellence, that’s a great source of inspiration. It keeps you from getting stagnant.

The first book I worked on as a co-author, The Kimchi Cookbook, I walked away with such better understanding of fermentation, Korean food, how similar agrarian societies are to one another (Russian vs Korean), how the intimidation factor of making your own kimchi is really just in your head. I learned a lot from Lauryn (Chun) and I’m learning a lot from the chef I’m writing my second book with. He has worked so hard to get to where he is and he is an incredibly focused, driven, nice person.

I am hoping to write many more cookbooks with other chefs/personalities. I really like the process of collaboration and I am pretty good at taking on the voice of the person who is writing the book. I’m a bit of a chameleon that way. My best reward is hearing from the person, “This really sounds like me!” Then I know I’m doing my job.

I think down the road I want to write my own cookbooks and stories. I love writing and I think I have some good stories to tell and great food/techniques to share. But right now, I am eager to be learning from people who have years’ more experience and wisdom than me. I’d love to do a stage at some restaurants and just keep my head low and learn from anyone who is willing to teach me. It’s like my culinary school.

Tell us about your space. How would you define your aesthetic? Any special considerations that influenced its setup? I love my desk. I recently splurged on it because I realized I needed an older desk to work at. I have a pretty short torso and most desks are too high for me, which results in really awful shoulder pain. When I was finishing up the manuscript for the second book, I wound up writing the last two weeks of it at a friend’s home office near by. She had this old secretary desk, and I realized that because it was made for shorter people, it was perfect for someone like me. I happened to spy one the next day at a local antique shop and it was a mint-condition mahogany secretary desk. My aesthetic is eclectic. I don’t like matching pieces and I really like to mix old and new. Our dining room table is something I got on sale at Crate and Barrel and the grey chairs around it were hand-me-downs from one of my best friends. And then, since I needed a fourth chair, I splurged on an orange Eames molded plastic chair, and it’s one of my favorite items in the house. Our coffee table is a Danish mid-century modern elongated table. I’m told they’re quite rare. It’s been somewhat beaten up in the last year or so, but I am hoping to, someday, restore it to its old glory. I also hate clutter, and always fight to get rid of it. This can be hard because as a writer, I am surrounded by paper, paper, and more paper. And also kitchen items take up room! So while it’s clutter with purpose, I wish there was a bit more room for it.

I’m not much for flower prints, so a lot of the colors in the apartment are mid-century modern. My desk is a Chippendale mahogany secretary desk and my SAYL chair is a bright apple green. I totally love the juxtaposition. It very much reflects my personality. I love that I have a work space and that my heart delights in seeing it every day. But I wish that I had a small room where all I did was work. It’s hard to have work in your living room, especially when you have visitors or when you want to say, “I’m done for the night.” Because literally a few inches away is our couch.

Why did you choose the SAYL chair? I love the SAYL for so many reasons. I think its price point is excellent. I also think it looks terrific in a small space, particularly if you have to make it part of your living room or bedroom. It can be a very cool accent piece. People who come over to the apartment always ask me about where I got such a cool-looking office chair. If I knew about the lumbar option, I would have gotten that on top of the chair. But I didn’t realize there was that option. Now I put a pillow behind my back (because I have a small torso/frame on top). But the chair is awesome and I love it. And even though our neighbors’ kitten sort of did a little damage to it, I love it even more.

Tell us about your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I’m a professional organizer and I love to help clients go from chaos to calm. My business’s tagline is “Life; Simplified, Organized.” That’s what inspires me and that’s how we strive to live our lives, too. Dan’s passion is simplified design and technology that makes people’s lives better. He also has a gift for breaking down complex tasks and explaining them in a way that people just get it. For us, life is better simple. We like to help people who want “more simple,” not “simply more.”

How long have you worked from home? What do you like or dislike about it? We’ve worked from home for the last two years. We actually had two different home offices that were separated from one another by only a few feet: one was the dining room table and the other was a glider we bought in anticipation of the birth of our now five-year-old daughter. As comfortable as the glider is, it didn’t make for much of an office. We both run our businesses from home: I have my Get Simplifized! business and Dan does technology/marketing/media consulting. Together, we’re on a quest to simplify all aspects of our lives, from family lives to digital lives to our business lives. I spent much of my work time on site at clients’ homes, businesses, or schools and Dan has no desire to have a traditional away-from-home office. Further, we both wanted to be more available to our kids, family, each other, and even ourselves after nearly three decades of structure. Working from home allows that. Typically, Dan wakes without an alarm, takes the kids to school, prepares for the day, and then hits the office after his short commute (about 19 steps from the back door to the office door). I still commute to serve clients, but the major change for me is the burst of creativity I get when I get back to our office. I can really focus on writing blog posts and planning out videos. There used to be many distractions when I worked in our home; those don’t happen anymore when I’m in the office.

What inspired the building of your office shed? How has it changed your workday? We both got pretty tired of our temporary offices and the clutter that inevitably takes over. We decided that an actual office was not only necessary to keep the peace, but also to keep our sanity. So, we built our own. Thankfully, Dan has a passion for design, and after looking around the Internet for some inspiration, he designed one for us. The biggest change with having the office shed is the options we now have with clients.  With a separate office, I’m able to coach/consult with organizing clients virtually no matter where they are in the world. I couldn’t do this as effectively without a dedicated space. Dan can now have clients in for training sessions without having to disrupt the rest of the family or find an off-site facility.

Tell me about your new space. Any special considerations that influenced its set up? We mapped out our goals before we started, so the things we needed were designed into the office. We think that is what good design is all about. We absolutely love the modern aesthetic but form must equal function — for us they are mutually supportive attributes of good design. The result certainly achieved our goals of having a space large enough for two separate work spaces, that can host three or four clients comfortably, and is tech-infused, meaning Dan could have all his gear integrated in (and as cord-free as possible). It needed to be comfortable in the hot San Antonio summer and cool winter and look great in the back yard. Finally, if we had the choice, we would choose sustainable options over non-sustainable. We love the result. We get lots of light from the clerestory windows and the glass double doors. But, the one “wish” we have is that the design would have allowed for one tall casement window on a wall to help with circulation on those mild Central Texas winter days. That’s it…we feel we nailed everything else we wanted.

You have a pair of SAYL chairs. Why did you choose them? We absolutely LOVE our SAYL chairs. These were a splurge for us — but it really makes sense that, if you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting, you really need to invest in a good chair. We were well aware of Herman Miller’s commitment to design. With a bend toward the contemporary aesthetic, the SAYL chair line caused a Pavlovian response in Dan the moment he saw it. To us, it was the embodiment of the same function-meets-form test we applied to the whole project. A former paratrooper, Dan has some back issues, and since we both were previously in the military, we each still feel the effects of years carrying around a rucksack. We knew it made perfect sense to invest in solid ergonomic design. After using the chairs for over a year, I am still amazed how comfortable they are and how much better we feel at the end of a long day sitting when compared to other chairs we’ve tried. Dan says sometimes he gets jealous when showing off our “world shed quarters” and the first thing people notice is the SAYL chairs before his design and DIY skills! Jealousy aside, we enthusiastically recommend the SAYL…it just doesn’t make sense to skimp on yourself, your back, or your productivity.

Any tips for couples who share a home office? First tip: Make your space “yours.” I have a few things on display that to me represent peace: a little tea pot I bought in China, some little boxes I got in Korea, and a small plant. Dan doesn’t have decorations, but has his gadgets — podcast equipment, an iPad, etc. — and these things make his space his own. Together we love to listen to music via Pandora or radio stations on AppleTV. We didn’t have those options in traditional offices. And when it’s time to take a break, we like to take it together and spend a few minutes enjoying the day on the deck. So, I guess my first tip would be make your space individual but take time for togetherness, too.

Second tip: Headphones work great! And third: It can be easy to fall into the trap of chit-chat and letting conversation rob your productivity. So, let your partner know if you need to completely focus on a task — and commit to respect each others’ efforts during those focused times.

Photos: Vanessa Hayes

By Lydia Brotherton. Used in partnership with Apartment Therapy Tech.

1. The Tokyo home of designer Daisuke Genma featured at The Selby.

2. Wallpaper’s “Best Business Hotels of 2012.”

3. Pleased to spot our Eames Molded Plastic Side Chairs on the cover of the latest issue of Lonny.

4. Also happy to see our Aeron and Embody chairs on Lifehacker’s list of Five Best Office Chairs.

5. A look at work by visionary industrial designer, urban planner, and futurist Norman Bel Geddes at NYTimes.com.

6. “13 Desktop Wallpapers To Kickstart Your Creativity” from 99U.

7. This interview with illustrator Darren Booth at The Great Discontent.

8. The interior design of this modern LA home by Guilherme Torres at Ideas to Steal.

9. Desire to Inspire’s look at this space by Bulgarian design firm Fimera.

10. How many Herman Miller pieces can you spy in Business Insider’s tour of the Squarespace offices in NYC? (Above, in a photo by Daniel Goodman.)

Photo: Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

Give us a glimpse into your background. When I first came to New York, I worked in fashion in a showroom on Seventh Avenue. I became very interested in photography, and through a stylist I met at the showroom, I got a job as a studio manager for a well-known celebrity photographer. After years of producing and casting jobs for this photographer, I went out on my own. During this time, I started taking my own photographs. I was shooting with Polaroid Land Cameras and was the recipient of many Polaroid Artist Grants. For 10 years, I showed my work in galleries and shot CD artwork and book covers. Wanting to try something different, I took up needlepoint. At first, I stitched homages to my favorite artists, then created my own designs using my photography, psychedelia, and pop culture as inspiration. This obsession with “thread” led to my blog, Meanderings in Thread.

What year was your business established? I made it official in 1990. I knew I would have many pursuits, so named my studio Laura Hughes Productions. This was the umbrella for production, casting, and art. I got to the point where I wanted to take the leap and do my own thing. I figured if I did a few different things, I would never be bored or broke. There were times when I was busy with everything at once and that was very stressful. Four years ago, I decided to stop producing and casting and just focus on my creative endeavors.

Tell us about those endeavors — what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. Right now I am passionate about crochet. I’m new to it, and though it’s popular in Japan and Eastern Europe, it doesn’t have the following knitting has. I started Meanderings in Thread in 2008. It is an archive of artists and designers I’m inspired by who use thread in their work. I also love to travel, take photos, and discover new artists and designers

I am focusing on a few crochet projects; designing bespoke sweaters that are wool free (I’m allergic), and creating a home collection of coasters, place mats, and table runners (PDF patterns will be available for the home collection; I won’t be manufacturing them at this point. The sweater collection will be available as PDF patterns, too.)

I will also be representing a truly unique property in Red Hook, Brooklyn, for film, TV, photo shoots, and events. The property takes up half a city block and has an in-ground pool, ivy-covered courtyards, cobblestone paths, large finished and unfinished rooms, and the best views of the city from the rooftop. This brings my past work full circle, and I am very excited to be in touch with my old contacts.

Tell us about your home office. What do you like or dislike? What would you change if you could? My space is small — 550 square feet — and I live and work there. I decided to go minimal with lots of storage via built-ins. The space looks like a gallery with white walls and lots of natural light; not only is it my office, it’s also a showcase for my art. I didn’t want it to look too sterile because I live in it, yet I wanted it to look professional for clients. I am very happy with the balance.

I like my workspace since I re-designed it. When clients come to visit, they can’t believe how efficient it is. But I wouldn’t mind more windows since light is so important to what I do.

You have an Aeron Chair in your space. Why did you choose it? The Aeron is the piece of furniture I use the most. I have had the same chair for 12 years and it is still like new. I suffer from arthritis in my hips, and this chair has been a lifesaver as I am able to sit in it for hours. I would, and have, recommended it to anyone who is looking for an office chair — the investment is worth it. I needed seating that would give me lumber support and that could adjust to my body. So many chairs might have lumber support, but are lacking in the adjustment details. I find my Aeron to have it all.

Photos: Laura Hughes

What is the benefit of having such an open plan? You overhear conversations; you learn by osmosis. And you’re expected to collaborate. You get to turn around, look over somebody’s shoulder to see what they’re working on, and ask questions. We’re very open about communication here, and it may sound funny, but it does really help when you hear people talking about something you’re not familiar with, especially if you’re from the same industry. You become curious about it and you start to learn about it. Over a period of time, it doesn’t seem so foreign.

An open plan also helps me understand the attitude and the vibe of the place without having to seek it out. I walk in and see who is and isn’t engaged. I can see if we’re not busy, or if we’re overwhelmed and stressed. You can read it much more quickly.

Additionally, it creates more interaction and helps people get to know each other better, which makes for a warmer, more friendly environment and culture. It allows for more transparency for everyone. And it’s important for people to be able to hear what’s happening on a project without having to call a meeting for it. You can just turn your chairs around and talk. A more free, flexible environment allows for things to happen, to get figured out quickly.

What are the drawbacks? Some people like it, some people don’t. It definitely takes people who are not insecure and aren’t afraid of admitting that they have things to learn. Competition is tough and we are doing things that are different than a lot of other companies, so there is a lot of learning that has to happen. We evolve on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. The setting supports that.

It also helps us flush people out a lot more quickly. There’s no hiding here. This business is fast-paced, relationship-based, and project-based, so you never know if you’re going to get that next project. It’s important that we’re all working toward the same goal without any hidden agendas, because that would ultimately cost us business or a relationship or have a negative impact on the quality of our work.

Because things don’t stay the same here for very long, we move people around based on teams or specific projects. You can’t become attached to an office or a spot. But every workspace is the same, so you can just get up and sign into another station, and that’s where you’ll work for the day or for the week or the month. You have to be flexible to be successful here.

Why did you choose Herman Miller furnishings for the space? How do they add to the environment? This is a setting that takes some getting used to it because it’s non-traditional in structure, from the open environment and open communication, to the flexibility of with whom and in what space you’ll work in. So I wanted the things that our teams have and use to be comfortable and beautiful, with special features and touches. Furniture is something I love. It’s like art. It creates an overall feeling of comfort, like you’re being treated a little bit special. Even though there are some things that perhaps people here feel they’re compromising on, they still have a beautiful chair and they still get to look at beautiful things.

I think it’s inspiring, especially the creatives in our company. It makes a difference that you have pieces of art all around. It doesn’t have to be something on the walls—it can be a shelf or a chair or a couch or a table. That’s what I love about our Herman Miller pieces. They’re functional art. Those pieces, along with our two outdoor spaces and other furnishings and features, keep people happy and comfortable being here. It makes them appreciate the space and have a sense of ownership. They are proud of it. It’s good to feel that way coming to work each day.

Thelab is quickly growing with plans for more regional offices around the country and possible offices abroad. As you’re expanding, how do you keep your employees motivated and feeling creative? I am definitely a big believer of environment and space. Our new space in Columbus, Ohio, is in an old furniture warehouse with incredible 40-foot tall ceilings with skylights. We tried to keep it unique, but also bring in a lot of the elements from this office. So a lot of the furniture is very similar. We have several Herman Miller tables, a lot of Aeron Chairs, Eames Molded Plastic Chairs with wooden bases. The furniture is something that helps us create a consistent “creative” look and feel. This keeps us on brand because we’ve really used interior design as a way to help distinguish ourselves as a specific kind of company.

So what does your interior design say about thelab and the message you’re communicating? It says that we’re a visual company. That we understand what looks good and what doesn’t. That we have some taste. And that we care about our environment enough to make this kind of investment in it. And I think that translates into how we approach our work and what people can expect from us if they do business with us: an attention to detail, the ability to go a step further than somebody else, and a passion for creativity.

Photos: thelab

This new SAYL recently became part of the London-based workspace of interiors stylist, writer, and publicist Kate Baxter of the blog Fabric of My Life — and its new owner was sold on its benefits right from the start. Kate explains: “…the very first time I sat down to work in it, I was the most comfortable I’ve ever been sitting at my desk.” (Photo: Kate Baxter)

TreeHugger design editor Lloyd Atler doesn’t use office seating — he instead opts for a standing desk — but his wife Emma does, and she reviewed this SAYL chair for him on the eco-focused website.

“There are so many ways to adjust it that it’s quite easy to make it fit you properly,” Emma says. “You can get your back right up against the mesh for support and it’s comfortable enough to sit in all day.” The only downside? “The cat loves it too, and I occasionally have to wrestle him out of it to get my work done.” (Photo: Emma Alter / TreeHugger)

She’s a fashion model by trade, so Ruth Crilly has to have good posture to make a living. But it wasn’t until the arrival of her SAYL chair — and instruction for adjusting it to fit her — that she learned how to not slouch off the runway, too.

“With the back tilted forward but set to ‘free float’ it’s like having continuous, gentle support for your back, neck and shoulders — you’re right where you need to be, right over the desk,” she states. “But instead of slouching your back makes contact with the chair back, guiding it into a long, upright position!” It’s helped Ruth stay comfortable during long days sitting in front of a computer and writing for her website, A Model Recommends. “I can’t tell you what a difference this is making,” she says. (Photo: Ruth Crilly / A Model Recommends)

See how other SAYL owners rate this chair and leave your own review now at store.hermanmiller.com.

Ample desk space and a flexible Mirra Chair help a busy business traveler stay on task at the Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport. Photo: hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com

Designed by Terence Conran, the Charles and Ray Eames Room in London’s Boundary hotel lives up to its name: an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Aluminum Group Management Chair, Wire Base Low Table, and Hang-It-All all call the space home. Photo: Paul Raeside and Lisa Linder / theboundary.co.uk

Once home to 19th-century tobacco and Bourbon warehouses, the very artsy 21c Museum Hotel now keeps Aeron Chairs in its spacious guest rooms and suites in Louisville, KY. Photo: 21cmuseumhotels.com

A collection of Aeron Chairs keep meetings comfortable in the business center of downtown Chicago’s Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. Photo: sofitel.com

A compact (yet efficient) guest-room workspace offers the use of a Mirra Chair in New York’s Wyndham Garden Chelsea Hotel. Photo: wyndham.com

The luxe Gene Autry Residence (yes, that Gene Autry) at the Parker Palm Springs contains an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman to keep guests, ahem, humming right along. Photo: theparkerpalmsprings.com

Have you spotted any Herman Miller furnishings during your business travels? Let us know about it in the Comments section now.

So where did the name “Fotobia” come from? Fotobia is a name I made up. My whole life I’ve dealt with people misspelling my name, and I found that people had trouble finding my website DanielGoncalves.com because it was so hard to spell. One night while trying to think up an easy-to-remember website ad, I came up with Fotobia. It’s photographic bliss.

Tell us about what you do, what you’re passionate about, and where you’re going. I’m passionate about making images. Compiling an anthropological record of people as they are today. I’m fascinated by fleeting moments and try to immortalize them forever with my images.

My favorite subject to study via my camera apparatus is people. I love shooting portraiture, lifestyle, and travel photography. And although I’m not a photojournalist, I love street photography and shooting sports. It’s all about instinct and reaction. I find it a challenge and an opportunity to hone my craft/eye.

What inspires your work? I’m inspired by travel; it keeps my mind fresh. Most recently, my wife and I mucked around in various cities throughout the UK and also Paris. Our next major trip will be to Argentina and to Rio to experience Carnival. I can’t wait.

In Jacksonville, we also surround ourselves with creative people and most of our friends are local creatives. I find them to be a constant source of inspiration.

Most of all, Magda inspires me every day with support and encouragement. She also comes up with the craziest ideas sometimes and I love it.

Tell us about your space. Any special considerations when you set it up? The studio is located in a historic seminary that was converted into lofts near downtown Jacksonville. Magda was getting fed up with my gear taking over our living space; as punishment, I got my dream studio. She has always had a love for design, graphic elements, spaces. So when we found this loft, we created the clean, modern design together.

We were as much about function as we were about form. We found all sorts of little solutions to everyday needs. I love the couch, as it turns into a comfy bed for when I’m burning the midnight oil (more often than I’d like to admit), and also converts into a great super-lounge chair for three or four people for movie nights at the studio.

The studio is not huge, but it fits our needs perfectly. It’s right on the line of being just big enough to shoot in, but not so big that we don’t use all the space. I love the view; it feels like we’re in a secluded warehouse district. While brainstorming, I like getting lost in the image of cars on the highway looking like they are driving over the rooftops of the adjacent buildings.

You’ve got an Embody chair in the studio. Why did you choose it? We were thinking of getting the Aeron chair as recommended by many of our friends. We looked around and tried a few different chairs, including the SAYL. I fell in love with the design of the Embody. It’s a piece of functional art. I usually cannot tolerate to sit for a long time; but, with so many possible adjustments with the Embody, it is unbelievably comfortable, for any body type. I love it and would recommend it to everyone. I definitely think it’s one of my best investments. I’ve made my money back many times over in increased productivity.

Photos: Daniel Goncalves / Fotobia