Small And Medium Businesses Upgrade To Technology Equipped Furniture

Furniture and décor needs for Small and Medium Businesses or SMBs are radically different from those of larger corporates. With space and or budget constraints as well as the benefits of a smaller team maximizing space is always top priority. Using technology equipped furniture at the workspace is something that many SMBs are drawn to. Not only does this approach ensure that every piece of furniture is of maximum utility, it allows you to do more with less.

Here are 5 ways that you can integrate technology equipped furniture at the workplace.

Furniture to help charge your gadgets

This piece of office furniture comes stacked with power outlets to make it easy to charge your gadgets at work without the hassle of leaving your desk and searching for one. Affordable and customizable to suit your office space and needs, this furniture is worth your money and also makes for a great space saver.

Customizable desk sharing

With rising real estate prices, office desk sharing is a new space saving solution. The customisable shared desk comes with an intelligent interface that automatically customizes the digital needs for each user, once their tablets are connected to it. The user can see all his/her data on the screen as the desk synchronises everything for each specific user without leaking other users’ data. The desk is portable and can be tailored to adjust to different heights and sizes.

Intelligent Lighting

Adding smart lighting is a great way to compliment commercial office furniture and also brighten up the office space! The lighting options come with sensors that can detect activity and turn themselves off when there is no one present in the room, thus reducing utility costs. Also, many come with different modes suitable for different activities. They are sleek and work perfectly in an office with a minimalistic aesthetic.

Ergonomic chairs

A number of chairs come loaded with ergonomic technology which enable them to automatically adapt to the user’s body shape and size, hence avoiding any discomfort. Depending on how far you recline, many come with headrests that move accordingly. Also, the cushions are designed so as to not overheat. Height adjustment, easy movement, good air circulation and keyboard integration are additional features that they provide.

Fire resistant file safes

A great way to ensure the safety of your data and clients’ information is by investing in fire resistant file safes. The purpose of modern office furniture is not only to make your office look sleek but also ensure the safety of confidential information. Such cabinets are built with heat resistant material and offer protection to all drawers, thus preventing any loss of information.

Tips For Office Furniture Layouts

Do you think your office looks too old school? Well in today’s competitive market, even an inkling like this one should be taken seriously. Your office layout is much more than the placement of desks and chairs, it’s your business’s basecamp. It should convey your product’s character, rather than appear like any other corporate office.

Here are five tips to consider before you start redecorating,

1.Creativity

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There are certain office layouts that have been used very frequently because they work. However it’s okay to move away from the traditional and explore something more adventurous. Placing a mini garden between your office furniture is not frowned upon anymore, in fact it might just improve productivity. Let the employees help you with this creative process. As your design moves further away from the mundane, it moves closer to uniqueness.

2.Keeping up with nature

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Decorating your office with lamps and brightly lit bulbs is appreciated by your hard working employees. However, for the sake of the environment and the economy, it might be a better idea to optimally utilize natural light. Incorporating French windows, glass exteriors could work well for your employees and your accountants. So this time consider placing your office suite furniture in a place that receives ample sunlight.

3. Brainstorming space

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Work isn’t the same without brainstorming sessions. Once you’ve lined up a meeting with a potential client, it’s time to generate amazing ideas. Now all you need is a space that will help those thinking wheels gain some momentum. It doesn’t have to be a conference room, it could be a space that most employees would feel comfortable in.

4. Let’s chat over coffee

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Sitting at your desk for hours together isn’t productive, you could just listlessly stare at your screen for hours together, it’s better to take breaks to refocus your attention. An office design should incorporate this idea, employees need breakout spaces. It could be a gaming room or simply a cosy corner where you can dish out office gossip.

5. Clutter or De clutter?

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There is always a debate whether a cluttered space is pro productivity or not. Many entrepreneurs of creative start-ups swear by it. An office that looks organized in its own haphazard way, gives the employees the comfort to be themselves instead of being cautious. It promotes creativity, on the other side are those you believe primness is a requisite in a corporate environment. You need to analyse the comfort and preference of your employees and decide which side of the argument you support.

So start selecting contemporary office furniture to revamp your workspace.

4 Awe Inspiring Office Cubicles From Around The World

 Most of us spend most of our time at work in our cubicles. Contrary to their purpose, these boring, drab and insipid boxes are creative black holes that send innovation into oblivion. These dull, box shaped workstations almost never reflect the personality of the people occupying them, and to a certain extent are responsible for killing the ardor and zeal of young vibrant employees.

This is precisely why today’s offices are moving away from old-school cubicles to newer, more modular office furniture systems. In fact, cubicles today aren’t cube-shaped at all! Cubicles are being designed in a manner that augment productivity, enhance efficiency and get the creative juices flowing.

The impact of creative cubicles that use contemporary modular office furniture extends well beyond the internal employee-productivity benefits it serves; a client visiting the office will get the message that yours is a modern office, one that defies conventional norms. Creative cubicles are like a breath of fresh air in a society beset by mindless conformity, a refreshing change from the humdrum 9-5 corporate workstations.

Here are 5 of the coolest cubicle designs from around the world —

• Google, Zurich HQ — a trendsetter of all that is ‘cool’ and modern, it’s easy to anticipate Google finding a place in this list. Located in Zurich, these bee-hive like ‘cubicles’ are designed in such a way so as to stir the creative “beans” of the employees, and stimulate innovation and collaboration. Google has been a pioneer of sorts when it comes to creative office designs, and the best part is that no two Google offices are the same.

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• The Archipod — this was specifically designed for people who wanted home offices but didn’t have the requisite space inside the house. Meant to be placed in backyards, the Archipod is a unique, eco-friendly prefab garden office made of timber floors and shingle siding. It comes with air conditioning and is insulated with fibre-glass made of recycled glass. Even calling this a cubicle would be a crime!

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• Habitable Polyhedron — this shelter-like relaxation space was designed to act as an escape route from the daily mundane routine. Harnessing natural light, this truncated-cubic octahedron shape is used as a workstation. Its symmetrical interior is cleverly designed to stir the employees’ creative beans and maximise productivity.

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• Pons and Huot — this other-worldly office was designed by French architect Christian Pottgiesser. The emphasis was laid on creating a workspace that was spacious, airy and intelligently stylish. The glass bubbles on each desk are made of transparent Plexiglas that help dampen the acoustics in the open atrium space. These domes keep out noise without restricting visibility.

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Workspaces of Famous People

There’s always this one place that inspires you and makes you feel most comfortable—that gets your creative juices flowing. This place often becomes a favorite spot and you always come back here when you want to do something out of the box. It can be as simple as a bench in the park or your personal desk. Before your mind starts drifting to that spot let me take you to the workspaces of famous people in history. Because just like you they had their favorite spots too where they made plans to change the world.

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The mathematic equations on the black board is enough to recognize this work space as one belonging to someone with a scientific bent of mind. If you still didn’t get the hint then its Albert Einstein’s office. Captured by Ralph Morse hours after Einstein’s death.

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You might have come across this picture a number of times before, and if you didn’t then the large Apple desktop on the table says it all. Yes, you got it right it’s none other than Steve Jobs busy working at his home office. I know you were expecting some lavish executive office furniture and an organized office but this is how Jobs preferred to work.

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Wondering what a billiards room doing in this list? That’s not a just a billiard room but famous author Mark Twain’s workspace. This is where he wrote his famous works including ‘The Prince and the Pauper’ and ‘Life on the Mississippi’. Take inspiration, break the rules and get creative with modern executive office furniture.

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While we are talking about famous people how can we miss out on the man who gave us ‘Anna Karenina?’ Leo Tolstoy’s small workspace is an inspiration to all the struggling writers and reinforces the idea that creativity can be found at the smallest of places.

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While some will be mesmerized by the beauty of the mid-century furniture others might find it boring. For those who think this place looks boring, let me tell you it’s the place where ‘The Jungle Book’ was born. Rudyard Kipling’s organized workspace cum library is the perfect place for getting creative.

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Offices In The World

An eco-friendly office bears testimony to the values and beliefs an organisation holds, one that brings out its sensitivity and respect towards the environment. Ecological awareness is the need of the hour, and this factor has permeated core decision making at several large MNCs with companies striving to bring their work spaces closer to the ecological harmony. 

An environment-friendly office comprises of a setup where the office furniture, the location, the interior and exterior design are in harmony with ecological sustainability. 

Here are 5 offices that are famous for being eco-friendly, in no particular order:  

1. Nike European Headquarters

Located in Hilversum, Netherlands, this office encompasses a host of eco-friendly innovations,       such as—a differently shaped roof that collects rainwater to irrigate gardens and flush the toilets, saving the company 4 million litres of clean water every year.

This office also has basketball and tennis courts made from recycled training shoes. In a process called 'Nike Grind', Nike used around 4,000 pairs of shoes to make each court.

 

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2. Google, Inc. 

Google, arguably one of the most successful software corporations of this century believes in eco-friendly and sustainable development. With its commitment to grow sustainably, Google has eliminated a large number of toxic materials found in buildings, along with using natural light and natural resources intelligently.

But, building design is just one aspect of their concern for ecological sustainability; even getting to Google is ‘green’, with Google encouraging programs for walking or biking to work, initiating a car-sharing system with electric vehicles, etc. 

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3. Bullitt Centre, Seattle

Touted as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, this building has set a new benchmark for environmentally friendly design and construction. This building is energy-neutral – that means, it produces as much electricity as it uses, which also makes it carbon-neutral. 

The building even supplies and treats all of its own water by using an underground cistern to capture rainwater. 

Bullitt Centre is on track to pass the ‘self-sufficiency’ test, and once it does, it will be known as a ‘living building’.

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4. Fusionopolis Green Skyscraper, Singapore 

A green skyscraper, something that was the unthinkable, has just been designed by a UK-based architect Ken Yeang. The building is virtually covered in plants and trees that run across the ‘spine’ of the building. In fact, each floor has its own landscaped garden terraces that are fed by natural sunlight directed to them via prisms. This ‘spine’ of vegetation serves as an insulation during winter, and provides passive cooling during summer. 

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5. Daiken-Met Architects Office, Gifu, Japan

Perhaps the most innovative of them all is the Daiken-Met Architects Office in Gifu. The firm had been facing trouble finding office spaces to lease, so, being architects, they created their own office from reused shipping containers. 

An act like this speaks volumes about the architects’ creativity and their commitment towards building a sustainable future. While using modern executive office furniture that is made of eco-friendly materials, this space is also designed to be moved if necessary, and even has an apartment on the top floor. 

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Office Furniture Styles For A Brand New Perspective

1.  Eco-friendly furniture

Deforestation has led to climatic changes and the effects of pollutants in the air have caused irreversible environmental damage. While there is much that we cannot do, small steps taken by organizations can have far reaching consequences. Go green to do your part to keep the planet healthy and choose furniture that is Eco-friendly. Fewer resources and pollution have brought about a massive change.

Quite a few places offer office furniture online that is made of recycled or re purposed materials. You could also use Eco friendly wood such as bamboo for flooring and furniture. Organizations can also choose recyclable furniture, which can be disposed in an environmentally sustainable way when it reaches the end of its life span.

2. Minimalist furniture

The work space has shrunk. People are building home offices. It is time to bid goodbye to large and heavy furniture pieces that occupy space. Less ornate furniture gives organizations the flexibility to try a more contemporary style. Swap cluttered spaces for airy, breezy rooms and heavy chairs for fun and portable stools. Lean, simple and elegant furniture that takes up little space are perfect for the modern work place and reflect the changing perspectives of organizations today.

Whether it is sleek chrome and glass modern designer furniture or neon colors and funky plastics, contemporary furniture and the minimalist aesthetic go hand in hand. No matter which look reflects your organization’s aesthetics, switch to minimalistic furniture to stay on trend!

3. Multi functional furniture

Smaller spaces cannot accommodate a lot of furniture and need to make sure the space is used optimally. Multi functional furniture is ideal for spaces like these. For example, modern furniture NYC makes space for additional storage or can even transform from a table into a chair depending on the situation. Another great example of this kind of furniture is stack able furniture, which is always a great space saver in a modern office, especially a start-up.

This type of furniture is great for conference rooms, meeting rooms, all-purpose rooms and offices that use hot desks. It is extremely effective in task based rooms as well. While it cannot be the mainstay of an organization’s office furniture, it is definitely worth having at the work place. 

5 Iconic Furniture Designers of the 20th century

When it comes to designers, chances are you are well versed with clothing and accessory veterans like Louis Vuitton, Donatella Versace or contemporary designers like Alexander McQueen. But what about furniture and interior décor? These master craftsmen and genius designers have changed the way modern man looks at furniture. Yet, their names are only well known in certain circles, while their genius goes unacknowledged by the larger population.  

Here is a list of 5 iconic 20th century furniture designers who revolutionized that way we look at modern office furniture.

Charles and Ray Eames 

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The quintessential modernist couple designed and created furniture, buildings and other art forms including exhibitions and film. They founded and spear headed one of the most creative design offices in post World War II America and their work reflected their contagious enthusiasm for life and art. Together they created some of the most iconic furniture of the 20th Century that shaped the way people looked at objects and designs. 

One of their most famous designs is the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. The designer couple wasn’t looking to change the world, when they set out to design a chair that had the ‘receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt’, as a birthday gift to friend. However, they did just that with this iconic chair which has since evolved into a hallmark of high end executive office furniture. 

Marcel Breuer 

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This famous Hungarian-American architect and furniture designer was one of the pioneers of the “modern” style of design. He was one the most influential designers of the 20th Century. Breuer was also a very successful architect, known for designing buildings like the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and the monastic Master Plan and Church at St John’s Abbey in Minnesota. 

Marcel Breuer’s designs have become representative of the philosophy and domestic culture of an entire era. He is best known for his work with extruded steel to create lightweight metal furniture. Inspired by the strength and flexibility of his bicycle, he applied the same material and construction principles to chair design and thus his master piece, the ‘Wassily Chair’ came to life.

Phillippe Starck

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Son of a French aeronautical engineer, Starck jump started his design career by designing the interiors of two nightclubs in Paris. Impressed by his work, the President of France, Francois Mitterand asked him to refurbish one of his private apartments.

Starck’s designs are subversive, intelligent and always interesting, making him one of the great designers of our time. The Hudson visitor chair by Starck is amongst the most iconic furniture designs of the 20th Century. It was designed by Starck for the Hudson Hotel in New York City. Each Hudson chair takes 8 hours to polish. It is included in the design collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

Jean Prouve

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Born in Nancy, France, Jean Prouve was a craftsman, designer, rchitect, manufacturer, teacher and an engineer. His career spanned over sixty years during which he produced furniture, prefabricated houses and facades. His work had a stylistic appeal that combined bold elegance with economy. 

While designing the Standard Chair, Jean Prouve took into account the fact that chairs bear the most weight on their back legs. Tabular steel piping was used in the front legs while the back legs were made from voluminous hollow sections that passed the weight to the ground.  

Jean Prouve is considered one of the most innovative architects and furniture designers of the 20th Century. His life and work has been inspirational to many. The Standard Chair reflects his artistry in every way and serves as a beacon of modern designing philosophy.

Mies Van Der Rohe 

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He was one of the most influential architects and designers of the 20th Century. Mies’ minimalistic style proved to be extremely popular with the elite and the masses. His famous aphorism, ‘less is more’ is still widely used by many. By emphasizing open spaces and revealing the material used in construction, he helped define modern architecture.

Mies was highly respected in Europe for his innovative structures which include the famous Barcelona Pavilion for which he designed his most iconic creation, The Barcelona Chair. It is one of the most recognized objects of the 20th Century and is a tribute to the marriage of design and fine craftsmanship.

Meis’ work, radiates his confidence, rationality and elegance. Beyond merely affecting our lives, his works endow them with greater significance and beauty.