Small Details To Tie Your Office Design Together

It can be easy to forget about the little things in interior design like power outlet covers and door knobs. We rarely give it a second thought but that gives it all the more reason to catch our attention when it’s out of the ordinary. For some, even the furniture isn’t as planned out as it should be. It’s the details that make an office stand out from boring ones. Take the opportunity to display your great attention to detail and impress your clients by putting a little more emphasis on often overlooked furnishings.

So what things should be on your checklist so that you don’t forget them? Furniture is definitely at the top of the list. However, a lot of offices drop the ball in choosing furniture for the office. Everything, from the arms to the upholstery can bring all of the design elements together.

Wooden accents add a natural cozy look. You can bring a little bit of nature inside of the office in some fairly simple ways. Wooden bookshelves or chairs are great to add a bit of nature. Reclaimed wood paneling and furniture with wood accents are good ways to incorporate wood in the office.

Other details to consider are the small pieces that bring everything together. Matching power outlet covers and door hinges to light switch covers and door knobs can really bring everything together. Show off your attention to detail by focusing on the little things that bring your office design together. Putting more emphasis on the finishing pieces can make a huge difference in the way your office looks. Impress more clients with the look that these little changes can make.

Today’s Workplace Gone Global

In today’s shifting business landscape – many companies and organizations have strategically placed offices in both rural and urban areas across the globe in efforts of expanding their reach and gaining a full perspective on the markets they serve. In order to truly accomplish business without borders, it’s more important than ever to offer local knowledge, national insights and an international perspective.

With that being said, every business in the world, no matter its size, benefits from tactically developing a brand and maintaining it as a recognizable representation of the organization. A strong brand identity propels it to the forefront of those consumer attitudes which facilitate their spending decisions. To accommodate global structuring while maintaining consistency in brand, more and more companies are turning to internationally standardized office equipment and furniture that can be easily configured in any rural or urban location. Thoughtfully designed, prebuilt offices that can be shipped and installed to and from any location, will strengthen brand identity while streamlining processes and reducing design costs. Customisable furniture in design, material and colour choices all offer flexibility in creating consistent brand identity.

When designing standardized offices, for cross border business, consider the value in creating open networks and utilizing tech hubs or co-working spaces which will allow for creative, collaborative and innovative work in any location. Integrating local cultural or geographical design pieces into each location’s workspace creates a personal touch, that will make executives and employees feel more at home in the workplace – increasing overall job satisfaction and productivity – allowing your business to reach its true global potential

Photo by Inhouse Brand Architects

Dealing with Office Acoustics

Many companies have moved to open floor plans in their office buildings. It’s estimated that about 70% of offices have an open floor plan. The open office concept was created in the 50’s to promote communication among workers. It was meant to unify a company and help them to create better ideas. However, your clients and customers may have complained that this type of office floor plan has done the opposite for them. Many are finding that an open floor plan can be difficult to manage if not planned properly.

With little to buffer the noise, many have found it difficult to concentrate. According to a study done among six major US corporations, 70% of employees complain that noise is the number one distraction at work. 52% reported that they felt stressed due to a lack of ability to focus on their work with phones constantly ringing, email alerts and text messages pinging. Morale and concentration plummets throughout the day and can ruin an employee’s productivity.

So what can we do to help improve the acoustics in our client’s offices? There are a few things from adding plants to help absorb noise, or adding acoustic ceiling tiles or carpeted floors.

However, one of the lower cost options is to replace the furniture. Sound absorbing and acoustic furniture can not only go a long way in terms of helping to buffer noise but is a nice, low cost and space saving way to brighten up and refresh an office space. Luxmy Furniture offers a few different pieces that will help your clients and customers to give their workers more privacy.

If you are looking to implement a designated area for employee interaction or phone conversations, the Cone is great for any office. It is designed with a high back to block outside noise preventing distractions to others outside of the area.

The last piece of acoustic furniture by Luxmy is the Hoop. The Hoop is a large acoustic booth meant to keep unwanted noise out. It great for private conversations or even interviews.

Noise and distractions in an open office floor plan can drastically reduce productivity among employees. Adding acoustic furniture to an office is a must to consider when redesigning an office for a client. If your customers need a way to implement private areas to reduce echo and distractions, including acoustic furniture in their offices is a great choice.

Picture: WINNews

Workplace Furniture That ‘Stands’ Out

With an average of more than one-third of our daily lives being spent in the workplace,work-based health and wellness initiatives are taking significant precedent as they are being weaved into the traditional office environment. In fact, numerous studies have shown that promoting employee health improves workplace morale, increases productivity and in turn, drives revenue.

We’re taking the workplace taking health-positive movement to a new level, by introducing a true ergonomic furniture solution. The Sit-to-Stand Paustian Table makes moving from sitting to standing—and back again—a natural part of your day. Combined with the right chair, it gives you a full range of supported movement to help you stay more active and healthier while you work – allowing you to get the most out of your workday – every day.

Understanding the appeal of an ergonomically designed sit-to-stand desks is simple. When you spend over three hours a day in the sitting position, your metabolism drops and you begin burning calories at a third of the rate. The theory goes that by standing instead of sitting at work, you burn more calories and counteract the effects of staying stationary for long periods of time. Increasing your metabolic rate by reducing the amount of time spent slumped over a desk could reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

With that being said, we all need to take a seat from time to time. For those who put in long days at the office, spending extended periods of time standing could cause fatigue for even the healthiest among us. That’s why the Sit-to-Stand Paustian Project Table moves with you, allowing you to sit and stand as you see fit – for a true, workable solution.

Inside the Designer’s Studio – Max Harper

On this edition of “Inside the Designer’s Studio” we had the pleasure to chat with Max Harper, the mind behind the Corker Light Series.

Sydney born and raised, Max’s designs were discovered by Luxmy in Milan earlier this year, we have since then started this collaboration and recently launched his amazing series of lights at Sydney Indesign 2015.

Max’s interview is inspirational and unpretentious. A must read.

1) Tell us a bit about you.

I was born and raised in Sydney, after some initially studying drafting, I decided to go to RMIT to study industrial design where I kept my head down and ended up being a finalist for the prestigious graduate of the year award (GOTYA).

During my time at university I was lucky enough to do an exchange program in Foshan China, a large southern manufacturing hub. The time spent there really changed my perspective. So after I graduated I moved to Guangzhou a large city near Foshan, and spent a couple of years there working in 3D interactive design.

After seeing a colleague of mine do really well in Milan I wondered if that was a possibility for me so I came back to Sydney and have been doing lighting ever since.

I’ve been lucky enough to land an award at Melbourne Fringe Furniture for my Corker series in 2014, from that success I was invited to show in Milan as a part of Melbourne Movement. Melbourne Movement is a collective started by Kjell Grant to showcase Melbourne trained emerging designers in Milan during design week.

I’m currently doing projects with Australian manufacturers, as well as developing my own products and brand.

2) How did you get into design?

When I was younger I always thought I would be an architect, I ended up studying drafting and worked for an engineering firm and found out what the construction industry was all about and realised that it really wasn’t for me. I always had affinity for furniture and for products so I’d thought I’d give industrial design a go and I haven’t looked back since.

3) What would you be if not a designer?

It would be hard to think as myself as anything else, I’m quite technical so I believe I would dedicate my time to finding out how to do other things other than products and processes work.

4) How would you describe your workspace?

It’s a little crowded, it’s a desk at home which changes roles depending on what I’m doing. I do concept development work there so I keep my sketchbook, computer for all my detailing, my 3D printer for mould making , lots of silicone and resin casting supplies.

5) What’s your favourite City and why?

My favourite city would be Hong Kong. I’ve been there about a dozen times after living in China for a couple of years. It really is a vibrant city of ultra-convenience where everything works, locals are friendly and there is always something new to discover. When you get tired of the city it’s really easy to get out and explore nature.

6) What advice would you give to a younger you?

I would tell myself that the KISS principle is golden, and try to work smart not hard.

7) What gets you excited?

Innovative Eco-Materials.

8) What turns you off?

6000K or cool daylight LED light globes.

9) What sound or noise do you love?

The sound of rain on a tin roof, the house I grew up in has a tin roof and I used to love falling asleep when it was raining.

10) What sound or noise do you hate?

The sound of my alarm in the morning, and waking up to that sound.

11) What’s your favourite word?

Fastidious – for me it’s fun to say, and I love its meaning.

12) What’s your least favourite word?

Congeal – it just conjures up graphic visualizations for me.

13) If you have to wake up in someone else’s body, who that person would be?

(Does anyone have a good answer to this question?)

The assistant of Marc Newson, I probably wouldn’t want the stress of running his studio but rather be an onlooker and see how the projects develop as an outsider.

Inside the Designer’s Studio – Caren Elliss

Meet Caren Elliss and find out what excites this Adelaide based designer responsible for the successful Splinter Stools discovered at Workshopped14 by Luxmy Furniture CEO, Priyanka Rao.

1) Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m an Adelaide based designer that has a Bachelor of Industrial Design Degree (honours). I have spent 2 years training with The Jam Factory and I have recently started my own studio.

2) How did you get into design?

I had started to admire the design of everyday ‘things’ and found out that the designing of these things was called Industrial Design. So I applied to University, got in and in my 3rd year I did a 3 month internship in Mexico where I was put on some furniture projects and my love of designing furniture began.

3) What gets you excited?

New fresh design and resolving design issues. Going on holiday and having new cultural experiences (learning).

4) What turns you off?

People passing off being mean as being competitive.

5) What would you be if not a designer?

My childhood dream was to be a designer and creator for Lego. I was told that I would have to move to Sweden, to the younger me this was too great of a move. However, I still think this is my dream job.

6) How would you describe your workspace?

Currently my studio is still under construction (I moved to my own studio earlier this year, still getting it completely ready). However, it’s usually part design/prototype area and construction. So drawings, partial mock ups and final designs waiting to be resolved. Oh and a spattering of colours.

7) What’s your favourite City and why?

Would have to be a tie between Mexico City and Berlin, Germany. Mexico is completely overwhelming and amazing. So many people, so many cars and just very different to Australia. My favourite zone in Mexico City was Zona Rosa. People are very happy and there’s dancing in the streets. You will be walking past and a stranger will just grab you and start salsa dancing with you. Amazing and lovely people!

When I travelled to Berlin, I was in awe of the history and the re-construction that was taking place. It has been quite some years that I had travelled there (the Berlin wall had only come down a year earlier) and East Germany was getting re-vitalised and construction was in full swing, it was an amazing time in history and I was there to be a part of it. I found the people lovely and very welcoming especially around Christmas time.

8) What advice would you give to a younger you?

Be very, very determined and keep going. Personal happiness is worth more than anything.

9) What sound or noise do you love?

Love the sound of birds chirping outside my studio

10) What sound or noise do you hate?

When the router grabs end grain on your work piece

11) What’s your favourite word?

Lotus

12) What’s your least favourite word?

Funky or Rustic

13) If you have to wake up in someone else’s body, who that person would be?

Hmmm, not sure. I wouldn’t mind spending a day in Marc Newson’s body. I’m in awe of his design skills and would love to be involved in some of those design meetings.

The Splinter Stools were recently showcased at Sydney Indesign 2015 and the Whitehouse Institute of Design.

Two Tones Pablo Chair

How beautiful the 2 toned Pablo Chairs look on this great project for Teleflex?

We absolutely loved the results and were very pleased with all positive feedback:

“The Pablo was the perfect fit as it was on a short lead time, could be powder coated and most importantly have 2 tones upholstery. We were very impressed with the consultative approach Luxmy adopted for this project.

Luxmy guided us and the designer towards a solution that would not only be technically suitable and fit within the lead time but that also added onto the design intent.”, says Raphael Bicard from Workarena.

A big well done to: Our clients at Workarena and to designers Erin Donelley and Kristelle Fiori from WMK and Construction managers / Project managers (Ed Lau) from MPA.