How Workplace Trends Affect Seating

Panels are dropping. Footprints are shrinking.  These are two common workplace trends that we’ve heard over and over again.  But, have you ever stepped back and asked yourself, “how does this affect seating?”

Lower panels and light-scale environments make seating more visible throughout the floor plan.  As a result, continuity of seating across all applications becomes very important.  To address this need, HON offers families of seating.  “Families” are comprised of many seating solutions in one universal series, creating a coordinated design language throughout your entire office.

The photo below exemplifies how our newest seating collection, Endorse, can fit seamlessly into any office space. Whether it is a conference room, private office, workstation or collaborative area, the Endorse collection offers the perfect solution

Another exciting change happening in our seating portfolio is the addition of Momentum seating fabrics into our core fabric offering.  HON has added 14 new patterns and over 200 colorways ranging from bright to neutral.  Learn more about what HON has to offer by viewing the Momentum and Perspectives Color Card.

Get Ready for Fall with These HON Colorways

Growing up in Central Florida, we had three seasons; hot, hotter and kind of nice. In fact, the idea of changing seasons was so foreign to me that in first grade, I came home livid when my teacher told me leaves changed colors. Luckily, now that I live in the Midwest, I have the pleasure of experiencing the glory of fall every year. There is nothing I look forward to more than the beautiful colors that grace the landscapes around me.

Beautiful colors are something HON knows all about. With hundreds of fabric colorways to choose from, you are able to color coordinate your office furniture with any look you desire to achieve. Check out some of the autumn-inspired color palettes below to get your space ready for fall.

Yellow: Tradition Sun, Red: Infusion Autumn, Orange Red: Vox Snap,
Orange: Centurion Tangerine, Brown: Odyssey Cedar

 

Green: Disperse Lime, Yellow: Messenger Maize, Dark Yellow: Pause Saffron,
Orange Red: Vox Snap, Red: Centurion Tomato

 

Light Red: Infinity Macintosh, Dark Red: Ace Engine, Red: Pause Brazen,
Light Brown: Balance Beam Red Delicious, Brown: Odyssey Roast

To discover the whole host of fabrics and finishes HON has to offer, view our full collection here. Also, be sure to download Digital Swatch Cards available on many of our most popular fabrics or view the entire Surface Materials Binder here.

Ruff Day at the Office? Bring a Four-Legged Friend

A few years ago I came across an Inc article that sang praises for the benefits of bringing your dog to work. According to a Virginia Commonwealth University study, workers who brought their dogs with them to work “experienced lower stress levels throughout the work day, reported higher levels of job satisfaction, and had a more positive perception of their employer.” How can you argue with that?!

Below are a few examples of some of our favorite 4-legged friends busy at work.  Who else has canines as co-workers? We would love to see your pics!

Even Maslow can’t help but Migrate to Flock.

Bones showing his immense admiration for the unmatched comfort of Nucleus.

Lollipop taking a spin on Purpose.

Ceres seating makes a ‘ruff’ day at the office much more enjoyable.

Steve giving Voi his official seal of approval.

Rambo chilling out on Flock.

3 Ways to Spark Creativity

Without fail, there are always moments in my day when I’m asked to be creative and imaginative. Usually I greet these moments with open arms, but other times, I’m not mentally prepared. This usually stems from being focused on analytical and logical projects all day and not completely utilizing my creative, right-brain capabilities. Nonetheless, these requests for creative inspiration still occur and it’s my job to deliver my thoughts and insight. I’ve found that the tactics outlined below help fuel my creative capabilities.

Start Writing

Jot down topics, words and phrases related to the creative project you’ve been presented with. Next, try seeing if any of these terms and phrases can overlap to create new meanings and ideas. Whenever I do this, I end up with a web-like chart sprinkled with some Venn diagrams, which reveal dozens of potential creative concepts. You just may find that creativity will spark by using something as simple as a pen a paper.

Explore Social Media

When my creative task calls for something more visual or tangible, I tend to look at other’s work for inspiration. Social platforms like Pinterest and Tumblr allow you to search by keywords for user-uploaded content. Of course you should only use these sites for inspiration and not duplication of somebody’s work!

Ask Questions

Sometimes the best answer to a question is another question. This Socratic method of discussion traces back to ancient Greece as a way to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. If you’ve been assigned a creative task, ask the project owner questions to get a better sense of what they’re looking for. Try asking others associated with the project for their thoughts and insight. Present possible ideas or concepts to someone whose opinion you respect.

As Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” I hope these quick tips have helped guide you on an enjoyable path to creative brilliance.

How do you get your creative juices flowing?

The Psychology of Color

Have you ever wondered why money is green or why school buses are yellow? You may be surprised to learn that there is science, not just personal preference, behind these color choices.  Color goes deeper than just all those aisles of paint chips at the home improvement store.  Color has an effect on us and our environment whether we realize it or not.

Yellow can raise spirits and self-confidence.  It is generally happy and boosts creativity.  Yellow can help clear your head, allowing you to make good decisions and be organized.  It is also a universal sign of caution (i.e. school buses and crime scene tape).

Red, the color of love, can raise blood pressure, stimulate the adrenal glands and increase your appetite.  Red can also incite feelings of anger or aggression.  Not to worry though, pink has the opposite effect as it is calming and nurturing.

Olive Green can be associated with rot and can make us feel sick, but change the shade and you have a whole different effect.  Green can be calming and help us connect with nature.

Blue is usually thought of as a depressing color, but this is only in the darker shades.  Lighten it up and it can help lower blood pressure and eliminate insomnia.

We all know that white is the color of purity and cleanliness, but it can also aid our mental clarity and help us get a fresh start.  While these are certainly good things, white can also make us feel cold and isolated.

The next time you are creating a new workspace, renovating your office or just adding some decorations to your desk, consider the psychology behind your color choices.

What colors dominate your office?

The Best Things Come in Small Packages

As a seven year old who could not wait to see what gifts Santa brought, I would have disagreed with the statement “The Best Things Come in Small Packages”.  But now that I am older, I think differently.  The little things make a huge difference in the world of business, especially the office furniture industry.  In a mature industry, HON has to continually think of ways to differentiate ourselves.  Our attention to detail is a way to do just that.

Sure the big things, such as having a wide product offering that is backed by a Full Lifetime Warranty, is important, but it is the small things that can differentiate one company from another.

So what are some of these best things that come in small packages?  Showing strong attention to detail in the design of product; take the Flock® stool for example.  Through the VOC process, we determined that users of the stool may be perching on their chair and need a spot to rest their arms, hence the extra ledge on the back of the Flock stool. 

Two manufacturers can have a great stool backed by a strong warranty, but that attention to detail could be the deciding factor for the customer.

Another example of attention to detail, is to not only have a Customer Support Team, but to have a live person answering calls. Then, making sure a resolution was achieved by asking “Is there anything else I can assist you with?” at the end of every call. Through efforts like these, HON becomes more than just a manufacturer; we become your business partner.

Lastly, take the time to listen and create conversation with your business partners. The small task of listening can result in a larger understanding of the best furniture solution for a customer.

The big gifts around the holiday season are great, but so are the small unexpected gifts from a loved one.  Maybe it’s a little trinket in your stocking that was only $1, but the giver paid attention to the detail and its significance to you.  The big things in business are imperative and a requirement. The differentiation can come in the small things and attention to detail.

What is a small thing you are currently doing in your business that is making a big impact?

What Your Writing Utensil Says About You

Self-expression. What we choose to surround ourselves with makes us who we are. Hairstyle, car, and preferred Starbucks® beverage are all fine examples. I, for example, model a past the shoulders, very straight hairdo, drive a Black Ford® Fusion, and sip a Valencia Orange Starbucks Refresher™ (or a grande Blonde roast, room for cream will do quite nicely as well). I don’t know what exactly that says about me, but there you have it.

Equally as telling, is what writing utensil you choose to use. The personality of a fountain pen user vs. a Sharpie® fan may differ tremendously. How do you choose to express yourself? Read below to find out!

*Note: Statements below are the sole opinions of the author.

Fountain Pen: Elegant and sophisticated – that is what you are. You prefer a small taste of luxury in your work day. The fountain pen allows you a greater degree of personalization than your average ballpoint pen. You enjoy the subtleties of calligraphy and relish the extra flourish of a well-crafted signature. You may find that a pocket protector will serve you well.