From the Community Blog

It's one of the unspoken questions in the (ongoing? permanent? soon-to-be ­wrapped-up?) debate about in-person work versus remote work: How can the office be better than home? Or, for the non-believers - can the office be better than home? Home is, for many, the place of maximum comfort and convenience. There has never been - will never be, short of a Jetsons-level invention - an easier commute than the one between your bed and your desk setup. Your fridge has exactly the snacks you love and if someone burned an empty coffee pot again, you probably only have yourself to ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...