May 10, 2024 by Michelle Warren, Founder and President of Catalyst Consulting Group
I
am
an
endless
advocate
for
small
business,
always
have
been
and
always
will
be.
It
is
within
my
core.
The
question
I
want
to
look
at
is
why
should
small
business
manufacturers
matter
to
the
industry
and
to
GSA?
With
experience
working
for
small
business
manufacturers
earlier
in
my
career,
I
now
dedicate
my
efforts
to
supporting
them
through
Catalyst.
Additionally,
I
take
pride
in
being
a
woman-owned
small
business
myself.
Through
this
lens,
let’s
look
at
the
importance
of
small
business
manufacturers
to
the
furniture
industry
and
GSA.
It’s
important
to
understand
that
Small
Business
Manufacturers
play
an
...
Apr 22, 2024 by Gaëlle Merlin, BCF Design & Development Manager at Aquafil Group
Can
design
be
functional,
responsible
and
beautiful?
Some
believe
that
you
must
compromise
one
in
order
to
succeed
with
the
other
two.
I
believe
that
innovative,
responsible,
beautiful
design
is
not
just
a
dream
or
a
potential
for
“one
day,”
but
that
there
are
tangible,
practical
steps
designers
can
take
to
make
their
ideal
creations
a
reality.
1.
Choose
Materials
That
are
Better
for
People
+
Planet
Materials
matter.
In
fact,
Urban
Land
Institute
shares
that
80%
of
a
building’s
environmental
impact
is
based
on
its
materials.
By
selecting
materials
that
are
more
inclusive
for
all
people
and
better
for
the
planet,
...
Apr 08, 2024 by Raquel Sachser, Design Director, Co-Head of Office – M Moser Associates
In
the
heart
of
Manhattan's
Lower
East
Side,
you'll
find
a
shining
example
of
community
support
and
empowerment:
the
Chinese
American
Planning
Council
(CPC)
Community
Center.
Over
the
span
of
four
years,
a
transformative
project
has
been
underway,
weaving
together
the
threads
of
culture,
inclusivity
and
innovation
into
the
very
fabric
of
its
design.
Inspired
by
CPC's
core
principles
of
integration,
inclusion,
and
empowerment,
the
project
has
blossomed
into
a
space
that
not
only
serves
but
also
embraces
the
diverse
communities
it
represents.
At
the
forefront
of
this
project
is
a
focus
on
holistic
design
as
a
catalyst
for
community
engagement
...
Jan 16, 2024 by Kelly Jahn, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Kelly Jahn Interior Architecture & Design
Public
libraries
play
an
essential
role
in
developing
healthy
communities,
serving
as
a
third
space
institution
that
has
taken
on
many
functions
beyond
lending
books.
They
connect
people
to
information,
services,
and
each
other.
Libraries
form
partnerships
with
other
organizations
to
meet
the
social
needs
of
the
community.
They
offer
early
childhood
literacy
opportunities
and
reading
programs
for
children,
and
are
safe
havens
for
teens,
providing
after-school
homework
help
and
positive
social
activities.
They
offer
computer
classes
to
help
older
adults
learn
technology
skills.
Libraries
support
small
businesses,
entrepreneurs,
provide
job
and
career
assistance,
access
to
video
conferencing
and
maker
...
Oct 13, 2023 by Hanna Negami, Data Strategist, Perkins Eastman and Kristina Koch, Senior Design Strategist, Perkins Eastman
When
we
are
babies,
we
soak
up
the
world
like
a
sponge,
intently
watching
the
people
around
us
to
learn
how
to
move,
behave,
and
communicate.
Though
we’ve
grown
up,
observational
learning
does
not
stop
after
childhood.
In
fact,
we
continue
this
behavior
throughout
our
lives,
picking
up
different
manners,
social
norms,
and
specialized
skills
from
watching
other
people—in
all
kinds
of
contexts—whether
at
home,
at
the
grocery
store,
on
the
bus,
at
a
ballgame,
or
in
the
office.
In
common
vernacular,
listening
in,
observing,
being
a
“fly
on
the
wall”
is
often
called
eavesdropping.
In
the
context
of
the
workplace,
...
Aug 28, 2023 by Katie Decker-Erickson, Principal, Color Works Design
One
of
the
fundamental
principles
of
ontological
design
in
interior
commercial
spaces
is
recognizing
the
inherent
relationship
between
space
and
human
experience.
It
acknowledges
that
the
physical
environment
we
inhabit
has
a
profound
impact
on
our
well-being,
emotions,
and
behavior
which
then
impacts
how
we
interact
with
those
around
us
and
the
ideas
we
create.
Think
of
it
as
a
contiguous
feedback
loop
between
humans
and
their
environment.
With
this
in
mind,
ontological
design
seeks
to
create
spaces
that
align
with
the
values
and
aspirations
of
the
people
who
will
be
using
them.
It
is
about
more
than
creating
a
beautiful
...
Jul 26, 2023 by Samuele Sordi, Chief Architect, Pininfarina of America
In
recent
years,
the
nature
of
work
has
undergone
a
profound
transformation.
Traditional
office
spaces
are
evolving
into
dynamic
environments
that
prioritize
collaboration,
innovation,
and
employee
well-being.
Simultaneously,
the
hospitality
industry
has
redefined
the
concept
of
guest
experiences,
focusing
on
creating
spaces
that
foster
comfort,
engagement,
and
personalized
service.
The
convergence
of
these
two
domains
has
given
rise
to
the
concept
of
"workspitality"
in
the
architecture
space
–
a
harmonious
blend
of
work
and
hospitality.
Workspitality
represents
a
paradigm
shift
in
the
way
we
perceive
and
design
workspaces.
Workspitality
embraces
a
people-centric
approach,
acknowledging
that
a
positive
work
environment
leads
...
Jul 18, 2023 by Alex Dupnik, Senior Associate, Design at Unispace
Collaboration
has
always
been
key
to
business
innovation,
and
as
companies
compel
employees
back
into
the
office,
they
have
an
opportunity
to
reassess
where
and
how
collaboration
happens
best.
For
today’s
growing
hybrid
workforce,
yesteryear’s
workplace
design
is
no
longer
an
incubator
for
fresh
idea
exchange.
But
tomorrow’s
could
be
if
employers
listen
to
new
insights
from
the
workforce.
As
we
speak,
more
than
half
of
U.S.
employees
are
struggling
to
do
their
jobs
in
their
current
office
environments,
according
to
a
recent
survey
outlined
in
Unispace’s
Returning
for
Good,
a
Unispace
Global
Workplace
Insights
Report.
Who
can
blame
them?
Offices
...
Jul 07, 2023 by Dianne Murata, Principal Designer/Owner of kimiko designs
Hey
there
fellow
furniture
nerds
and
eco-warriors!
Ever
think
about
the
environmental
impact
of
commercial
furniture?
As
a
mom
and
business
owner,
I’ve
often
found
myself
pondering
the
legacy
we’ll
leave
behind
for
our
children
and
the
future
of
our
precious
planet.
I'm
not
alone.
The
kimiko
designs
team
has
been
shaking
up
the
commercial
furniture
industry
for
the
past
two
decades,
becoming
the
go-to
experts
for
infusing
our
passion
(bordering
on
obsession)
for
furniture
with
a
dash
of
humor
and
sass.
After
all,
“we
love
furniture
so
you
don’t
have
to”.
Over
the
last
few
years,
we’ve
been
hearing
...
Jul 05, 2023 by Lindsey Koren, Director, Communications, ASID
ASID’s
2023
Trends
Outlook
Report
Examines
Key
Design
Trends
in
2023
Perhaps
at
no
other
time
in
history
have
we
felt,
with
such
magnitude,
the
impact
of
design
in
our
lives.
As
the
landscapes
of
cities
and
workplaces
are
changing,
workers
are
experiencing
stress
at
peak
levels,
and
buyers
flex
the
power
of
their
spending
with
new
demands.
Designers
have
been
called
upon
to
better
our
world
in
unprecedented
ways,
and
the
impact
of
good
design
has
become
immeasurable.
From
health
and
wellness
to
sustainability,
aging
and
artificial
intelligence,
the
design
industry
is
responding
to
new
and
shifting
priorities
in
commercial
...
Do you have any industry insights or an original thought piece you would like to share with the greater NeoCon audience? Email us to submit it for potential inclusion.
