February 23, 2017 by

Design News You Can Use—Days of Yore Edition

Looking for a major dose of news you can use? In this edition of Design News You Can Use, Workplace Strategist Joelle Jach examines some of our outdated ideas about the office.

About time: While New Year’s resolutions aren’t always foolproof, focusing on energy instead of time this year can help get us on the right track.
Green light: Green building systems are a great way to judge the environmental impact of a building, but what about the health of the workers who occupy the building? According to a recent study, certified “green” buildings positively impact workers’ cognitive function, sleep patterns and productivity levels.
Open and shut: If you’re a card-carrying member of the open-office haters club, you’re not alone. The debate has long been a hot one in the world of work, and this article from BBC outlines some of the backlash against open workspace. No matter your feelings on the open office, it’s worth a read.
Wild thing: Sure, in the big city we’ve got fast cars and tall buildings, but a little bit of greenery can sometimes be hard to come by. However, incorporating nature into cities can be good for both the ecological landscape and our physical and mental well-being. Bring on the trees!
Office evolution: We talk a lot about the future of the workplace, but in order to understand what the future will be like, it’s important to understand the evolution of the office thus far. To get the facts, look no further than this Work Design Magazine piece by our very own Jodi Williams!
Work anywhere: A workplace that you can take anywhere sounds pretty cool, right? Meet the Minim Workspace, an 80 square foot office-on-wheels that is outfitted with power, data and even a sit-to-stand desk. Kind of makes your regular old office building look boring, doesn’t it?
Anti-social media: We all know that Facebooking on the job isn’t exactly the best way to impress our bosses. In fact, the best way to get ahead at work may be to disconnect from social media.
Shake it up: Furniture giant Steelcase is known for creating functional and durable furniture solutions for workplaces around the world. But when it came to Steelcase’s own workplace, the CEO had some radical new ideas to change the way we interact and do business beyond the private office.
On the way out: If you’re looking for a forward-thinking workplace, maybe avoid some of these top office fads (read: trends that are no longer hip and trendy).
On the job: Companies want to know how to get their employees more engaged so that they’ll be more productive. But according to some HR professionals, engagement should be the end goal.