Monday at NeoCon 2014

Stunning view of Chicago from Haworth’s Showroom

Monday at NeoCon was a day of learning for the eager attendees. We navigated through a sea of tours in the Mart while trying out new product, stopping for the occasional “ooh” or “ahh” at something especially unique. The “Best of NeoCon” awards were given out in the morning at a breakfast hosted by Contract Magazine, honoring the creative and functional designs of the show. Haworth’s showroom was buzzing with excitement upon receiving the coveted “Best of Competition” honor for The Openest Collection by Patricia Urquiola. Other Haworth awards include Gold in Conference Room Furniture for Openest, Gold in Case Goods for Suite, and Silver in Architectural Product for the Trivati walls. For a complete list of winners, visit http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/news/Winners-of-the-2014–11056.shtml?imw=Y

NeoCon’s Best of Competition Winner

Exhibitors continue to use innovative brand tactics to create appealing showrooms. One of my personal favorites was the AIS showroom. I was originally drawn in by the smell of fresh popcorn, but continued to be captivated by the unique products. Individual workspaces were connected by lounge seating for comfortable meetings at your desk. Some desk surfaces were made of whiteboard material to jot down notes and ideas. The AIS showroom even featured an Oxygen Bar, live DJ, and people actually sitting at the desks doing work. It was one big office party!

Collaborative Desk and Lounge Seating

Another highlight from our day was a guided tour of the OFS Brands showroom. The theme of their showroom was bridging the gap between “Productivity and Inspiration.” It highlights spaces where one can work, play, heal, and learn. The color palette was muted and soothing, and the designs were comfortable yet functional. Aside from the traditional desks and lounge seating, OFS featured adjustable height surfaces, a ping pong table, and customizable boxed shelving (Hitch by Loewenstein). We also sipped on a complimentary healthy drink from their Balance Juice Bar.

Hitch by Loewenstein

Did you see anything especially eye-catching at NeoCon 2014? Let us know your impressions of the conference in the comment section below!

 

 

 

Posted by Chelsea DeBoer

NeoCon 14: Sunday Haworth Preview

NeoCon 2014 is finally upon us! On Sunday Haworth hosted a group of dealers and members for developmental sessions, then took the group of excited NeoConers to Chicago’s iconic Merchandise Mart for showroom orientation. Here are a few observations from our time in the Mart.

Haworth’s showroom is marked by a residential atmosphere, marrying clean and crisp aesthetics with a homey feel. From beautiful leather lounge seating to collaborative booth pieces, the showroom highlights unique spaces where teams can comfortably work together. The overall aesthetic of the showroom is reminiscent of a polished southwestern dwelling; burnt orange, muted sky blue, and Haworth’s iconic red hues are displayed throughout the area. For the eager tech-savvy conference goer, Haworth displays its interactive Bluescape technology for live experimentation. Across the hall from Haworth is a brand new space featuring Haworth Health Environment’s (HHE) product. Haworth’s group attended a ribbon cutting for HHE, toasting to the manufacturer’s strides in the healthcare industry.

The Interphase team looks forward to seeing more showrooms and connecting with vendor partners on Monday and Tuesday. Stay tuned for more updates! Facebook: Interphase Interiors, Twitter: @InterphaseGR, Instagram: @interphaseinteriors

Collaborate, Concentrate, and Cut Costs

Many companies struggle providing the resources so that its people are productive cross-functionally and individually, but costs are minimized.  Is there a way to hit a sweet spot where people can collaborate together, concentrate on an individual level, and also cut costs? Yes!

The key to get employees to collaborate, concentrate, and cut costs is a mixture of workspace solutions in your organization’s office.  No one wants to be stuck in a cubicle from 8 to 5 every weekday, but people also find it difficult to focus if they are in large open areas all day every day. If you have ever been a part of an organizational buying decision, you also may know that furnishing a huge area of real estate can be costly.  It may be difficult to believe, but the sweet spot can be reached! Here’s how.

Mix of Collaborative Space and Quiet Individual Areas

                       

Many people may have observed the recent shift toward eliminating cubicles in offices.  The reason behind this trend is evident; collaboration is becoming increasingly important in today’s business world, costs can be cut though space reduction, and more energetic work environments are valued.

This is all good and true, but some people are wary of this shift.  No matter how collaborative of a role one has, individual assignments must also be completed, and the truth is that people want to be able to have peace and quiet to complete them.  Concentration is often compromised in large, open, and energetic areas.  For this reason, many have found that companies must plan for both types of areas.  We recommend a mixture of collaborative café-type areas, as well as quiet areas with glass or mesh partitions to allow a distraction-free option when the time is appropriate.

Invest in Easily Adaptable Components

Trends in the workplace are changing very quickly, and many organizations find it hard to plan for a work environment that will sustain their business for a long period of time.  Renovating offices or moving buildings is a pain for companies because it involves a lot of planning time, moving time, and of course the bottom line: costs. Is there a way to avoid this?

Placing adaptable components in your workspace allows you to change things around every so often, without incurring huge expenses.  Moveable walls and storage components that fit with a variety of surfaces are currently very popular ways to keep products but still change the look and function of your space.

 

To find out more about workspace solutions, click here: http://www.interphaseinc.com/

Written By: Chelsea DeBoer

The Benefits of Unconventional Workspaces

 

Arcade? Lounges? Couches? These are certainly not the first words that come to mind when you think of an office. And yet, these features are becoming increasingly common in the workplace. The image of the workplace is drastically changing to incorporate collaboration, creativity, and a more enjoyable setting for employees. The workplace environment can increase employee satisfaction, productivity, creativity, and retention; companies can no longer overlook the physical design of their workplaces. Although the workplace design features are infinite, here are five examples of features that can provide the greatest benefits:

1.  Flexible Workplace

Employees no longer need to be confined to one boring workstation. With flexible workplaces, employees can work wherever they want, varying up their daily routine. This provides a “fresh” perspective and feeling for each day, as employees no longer need to feel confined and bored with one workstation. This flexible aspect allows employees to move around throughout the day, collaborating with different colleagues.

2.  Gaming

Sure, at first glance, gaming seems completely out of place in the workplace. There’s a common belief that games can only serve to distract employees, decreasing their productivity. This, however, is not the case. Benefits of gaming and arcade systems include stress relief, creativity boosters, and fun. Everyone likes a little bit of fun, and just the right amount can help you recruit top talent and increase employee satisfaction.

3.  Bright, Artistic Design

It has been scientifically proven that color choice can trigger productivity, creativity, and performance. Want to boost creativity? Incorporate the color green into your workplace. Brightly colored offices help to boost employee mood and performance. Additionally, the overall layout of the workplace is critical. A visually appealing and intriguing workspace can help make employees want to come to work everyday and create a positive impression for potential clients, customers, or recruits.

4.  Technological Devices

Technology is an integral part of everyone’s daily life, so why not make it an integral part of the workplace? The presence of communal tablets in the office space not only makes information readily accessible, but also encourages employee collaboration, which can help improve performance. Most importantly though, technology makes data portable, and employees are given even more variety in flexible workplaces.

5.  Lounges

A sense of community is often integral to a successful corporate culture. Lounges not only provide a place of relaxation when employees need stress relief, but they also create a casual environment for inter-colleague interaction. Colleagues can form stronger relationships with one another in lounges—this can ultimately boost collaboration and employee satisfaction.

For more information about creative workplace solutions, check out: http://www.interphaseinc.com/

 Post by Alyssa Mandarakas