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

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