To Cube or Not to Cube



My phone booth

 Working in an office furniture showroom has shown me a lot of different set-ups and layouts for a company's work environment. My station has my back to the cube door (yes, my cube has a door) with super high walls and very muted colors (gray slate wall w/ this silvery green upholstery) which creates a sense of privacy, but gets pretty drab/dark. The rest of the showroom, for the most part, is open. Different heights of panels and spaces to create an environment that allows for more collaboration.

Some businesses still hold on to the 6ft high cubes for their workers (I know my old job did) - but with such an emphasis over the last few years to allow for more collaborative workspaces, the trend has been moving forward. In a recent Steelcase article, they write, "The shift toward collaborative work has dramatically changed the topography at many workplaces. More than half of the companies in the CoreNet/Steelcase study say they’re reconfiguring individual workspaces to make more room for team spaces". But by taking away more private space, you're removing the individual's ability to work in a quiet "me" space. Not everything is group oriented, and the noise and distractions can get overwhelming.

How do you feel about the more open spaces? Does your building still have private offices and higher cubes or has your company opened up the space? Let us know!



The center of the showroom (right behind my work area)



The big table in the back set up for group work



Top Songs About Work

This week's blog needs something fun - it is hump day after all. So to spice it up, I give you some top songs about work. Many of these come from Yahoo's "The 25 Best Work Songs for Labor Day" - so if you don't like my choices, check out there list and let us know which are your favorites!

Note: Links go out to youtube

In no particular order! And I apologize - most of these seem to be created before 1990.

Workin' For A Livin' - Huey Lewis and the News
"Workin' for a livin' (workin')
Workin' for a livin' (workin')
Workin' for a livin', livin' and workin'
I'm taking what they giving 'cause I'm working for a livin'. "

Working for the Weekend - Loverboy - you have to get through the intro
"Everybody's working for the weekend
Everybody wants a little romance
Everybody's goin' off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance, oh"

It's Not My Place (In the 9-5 World) - The Ramones
"But it's not my place oh no
No it's not my place no no
No it's not my not my not my place
In the 9 to 5 world
And it's not my place
In the 9 to 5 world"

Working Class Hero - John Lennon - probably one of my favorite songs in general
(warning - language may not be appropriate for work)
"A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be"

 

Finest Worksong - R.E.M

"The time to rise has been engaged
You're better best to rearrange
I'm talking here to me alone
I listen to the finest worksong
Your finest hour
Your finest hour"

So what do you think? Have a favorite I'm missing? Let us know!

Fabrics for the Office - Why You Should Care

From Architex International

It's not something I readily think about as the marketing rep for an office furniture company. I like to show cool pictures of technologically advanced workstations and executive chairs...not the type of fabric you should choose for a panel. But if you're going through the process of buying new product or possibly refurbishing / refreshing your classics, then investigating in the aesthetic you will have to look at day in and day out for the next few years is extremely important...so I'd like to show you a few of our favorite companies to look at.

Architex - with multiple lines in various shapes, colors and (rather importantly) prices, Architex offers a wide variety to make your office and furniture beautiful. Additionally, they have a line devoted to "the common thread for the cure" - a non-profit that combines the furniture industry with the fight against breast cancer.

cf stinson is another great, versatile fabric manufacturer that offers a wide range of products to choose from. The Jazz collection is Agion Antimicrobial. Bleach solution cleanable, GreenShield soil + stain protective finish, 100% Eco Intelligent (post consumer recycled polyester) and has a non-halogenated, no-brominated FR enhance moisture barrier. (i.e AWESOME!)

 DesignTex is a favorite here at the office (and not just because they're a Steelcase company). Another large selection of everything from handmade rugs to panel fabric, I'm a fan of their environmental designs. Though most manufacturers are already very green focused, DesignTex takes the time on their website to point out their mission, recycling options, stories and history. It takes it an extra step. As a green conscientious consumer, I appreciate that.

Maharam: 2001: A Space Odyssey

And last, but not least, Maharam. A fourth generation, family owned company, they originally started out in costume fabrics and then morphed towards commercial interiors in the '60's. They, too, have the variety need to make your space creative and fun...but they also offer quite a few eccentric pieces that could make for a wonderful conversation piece.

Fabrics help accentuate your office. It can brighten up, offer a creative outlet for your co-workers and keep the office interesting. It can also create a dreary scene or unmotivated work area - so choose carefully!