Flexible Working.. What the experts say

We are always promoting flexibility in the workplace so it’s great to see key figures are also supporting it. Read below to find out their shared views.

Adam Crozier, chief executive of ITV:

When we set out to transform ITV it was clear that the ability of our people to work flexibly and adapt to a changing media environment would be a key part of that journey.

While there is still some way to go the changes we have made in our workplace technology have facilitated flexible and mobile methods of working, which have enabled staff to communicate and collaborate more effectively.

Creativity and consumer needs are at the heart of our business and increased agility in our workforce benefits both our employees, and our business, in particular our customers and clients.

The media landscape will continue to evolve and we will continue to look at ways to keep adapting for the needs of all our stakeholders.

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister:

The Coalition Government believes that a more flexible approach to working practices can deliver real benefits for business, the economy and families. The leadership being shown by the Agile Future Forum on flexible working practices is an important input for helping British business to be competitive in the global market place.

Martyn Phillips, chief executive of B&Q:

We're delighted to be a founder member of this new forward-looking employers' group, and are committed to encouraging and facilitating workplace agility not only to help future-proof our employment needs but also to help future-proof the careers of our employees.

B&Q has a strong track-record of flexible employment policies. They are core to our business and help us to ensure that we attract and retain a diverse talent pool: people who are able to work flexibly ensuring a work-life balance, who deliver a great service for our customers, and whose skills, knowledge and expertise we are able retain within our business.

Retail is renowned for being a dynamic sector, and that's no more true now with our constantly transforming operating environment. We look forward, through membership of the AFF, to working alongside other leading organisations to develop employer best practice to further strengthen the agility of our business.

John Cridland, CBI Director-General:

Businesses need to be agile as they go about creating and managing increasingly mobile workforces.

That means thinking about flexible working, responding to fluctuations in demand to meet business and customer needs, as well as engaging fully with staff.

The Agile Future Forum’s work throws a spotlight on both the tangible economic benefits of workforce agility and the challenges that lie behind building models of flexibility for the future which work for employers and employees.

Jo Swinson, Employment Relations Minister:

We know that flexible working is good for business - it can boost motivation and productivity of staff and ultimately help support growth of our economy. This report by the Agile Future Forum provides clear evidence to show this.

I welcome businesses taking the lead on this issue and demonstrating to other business how valuable flexibility can be. Sharing best practice is important in making sure that flexible working becomes the norm.

We love Dropboxes new head office

As Dropbox enthusiasts as Hi design we couldn't help but notice the inspiring new offices the file sharing geniuses have moved in to. Located in San Francisco and designed in collaboration between Geremia Design and Boor Bridges Architecture, the office space provides a flexible environment for the fast-growing team.

Geremia Design notes:

“We clad the entire core of the building in a washed black walnut, and used raw copper throughout the space that will continue to patina as it is used. The copper reception desk is an original design of ours, as are all of the conference room tables (fabricated by Alexis Moran), and the couch seating in the main lobby. We hired a local designer to make all of the desks and a traditional sign painting company for the signage above and around the conference rooms.

Plants, especially palm trees, were an important part of the design, we were dedicated to having a lot of greenery in the space. A collaboration with a local lighting designer led to the creation of innovative LED lighting in the office, rather than the traditional fluorescent lights found in most offices. We designed a ping pong ball wall was an experimental art piece in one of the hallways. The creation of office lounges were an important part of our design, our design included a music room with a grand piano and a beautiful custom chandelier designed by Lindsey Adelman.”

Boor Bridges Architecture notes:

“If cubicles are the suburbs then our approach to Dropbox HQ is downtown, with their core product as the design inspiration.  The company’s new workspace a simple, well-executed container that maximizes functionality and allows for customization without compromising honest aesthetics.  Our design reiterates our belief that all spaces – particularly the all-too-often neglected office – deserve real materials and attentive, appropriately-scaled interventions.

The primary challenge of this design was to continue the charged and collaborative newsroom feel of the company’s former open office space, while planning for projected growth that could more than quadruple staff.”

Location: San Francisco
Size: 87,000 sf
Completion: Spring 2012
Design: Geremia Design
Contractor: Skyline Construction
Architecture: Boor Bridges Architecture
Photography: Bruce Damonte and Boor Bridges Architecture

We think Geremia Design have done a fantastic job and we can really appreciate their creative use of space and colours. We also love the exposed ceilings as its something we would love to do with the right client!

Could that be you?.. take a look here 

Artwork that doesn't require a frame

When we saw this, the first thing that sprung to mind was the lickable wallpaper scene from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.

Barcelona-based company The Wallery is partnering up with some unique artists to create spectacular pieces of art for your walls. This frameless artwork comes in the form of wallpaper murals and vinyls. The colour in some of the pieces is simply astonishing and others seem to almost come to life! We think its a great way to make a statement wall without using wallpaper!

Take a look at our favorite designs..

TANGRAM L

FOUR TIGERS

MUSES

Pupa habitat in Bloomberg office by Lazerian, London

Pupa is a habitat within Bloomberg made from reclaimed cardboard and pallets. The form and aesthetics are inspired by natural habitats – cocoons, bee hives, spiders nests and weaver birds nests. The ceiling assumes the appearance of a shelter; snug and cave like, but also references the vaulted ceilings of church naves.

The numbers which can be extrapolated from Pupa reflect the almost Sisyphean task faced, whether by human, bird or insect, to create these sort of structures: 3,972 triangular cardboard borders make up frame 3,972 triangle inners fill the exoskeleton providing the cover 1,981 units build the table and pillar. Coincidentally 1981 is the year that Bloomberg was founded 180 wooden pallets taken apart for chair frame and legs 11,000 nails removed from wooden pallets 252 leather offcuts from make up the chair seats.

The original Bloomberg cardboard arrived in damp bales so was pulped and re-constituted at a factory in Stalybridge using machinery originally installed in 1910. Constructed in triangular sections Pupa utilises the structural and acoustic properties of cardboard.

Computer design techniques were used to generate the form and the individual components were then extracted from the virtual model to create flat layouts that are glued together by hand.“Commissioned for Bloomberg Philanthropy by art and design agency Arts Co, ‘Waste Not, Want It’ is a series of specially commissioned art and design projects made almost entirely out of Bloomberg’s waste.”

Designed by Lazerian

Tetra Shed Office Space

The Tetra-Shed is a new modular building system that would arguably make for a pretty awesome home office!  Designed by David Ajasa-Adekunle to be a modern garden office, the Tetra-Shed is a system of modular clusters that can be connected together to form a work space suitable for a wide range of possible uses, including outdoor.

A combination of two modules are suggested to make an ideal office, whereas clusters of up to 6 modules are better suited for use as classrooms or exhibition/retail space.  Tetra-Sheds will come with a choice of birch faced plywood or plasterboard internal lining, and a choice in exterior of either copper, zinc, COR-TEN steel, marine plywood, or your favorite RAL color!

A new twist on a classic design

When searching for a contemporary yet classic style sofa to feature in a VIP FBO lounge we needed something that stood out from the competition. The style needed to be cutting edge but with a timeless quality so we were thrilled when we came across the Arlington sofa.

Arlington is the latest refined seating collection from Lyndon Design introducing an innovative and modern twist on the classic buttoned back sofa.

Inspired by design classics of the 1920’s, Arlington’s hardwood frame has been especially sculpted to give the illusion of a floating upholstered back - a distinctive aesthetic that sets Arlington apart. The fixed seat and back composition further provides a refined and indulgent level of comfort that not only epitomises all Lyndon Design’s seating, it helps provide crisp lines and cleaner visibility.

Arlington is available as an armchair, 2 seater or 3 seater sofa - more details can be found here

A clever little design..

We love this clever little design, simple yet so functional; a table lamp with a USB charging point. There has been countless times this would have been a life saver on those last minute business meetings and all night parties! Available from Chantelle Lighting we are hoping to use something similar on our next big project.

The contemporary table light is made from polished chrome and an opal glass dome shade. Bringing style and convenience together, the table light houses two USB charging sockets in the base of the light, giving the added benefit of charging your favourite gadgets.

Designed to house the USB points in the base of the light. Wired directly into the fitting to avoid any extra wiring, the USB is compatible with all modern gadgets.