Last week we had the pleasure of unveiling our brand new Miro chair at Sydney InDesign.
With many positive comments about the chairs comfort, quality and aesthetics, we look forward to it’s release which is just around the corner.
Thank you to everyone who stopped at our stand, we had a great few days and it was lovely to see a bunch of new and old faces.
Should you have any questions about Miro, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We are excited to announce the launch of our much anticipated Miro task chair at Sydney InDesign this week. Miro has all the hallmarks of a star perfromer and promises to become a signature part of our range.
We can’t wait to showcase it as a part of the Collection at the Galleria, 2 Locomotive St Eveleigh, this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Please come and check it out!
The original swivel chair was first invented in the 1800’s by former US president Thomas Jefferson to make seating more comfortable for office workers. His invention consisted of an English style dining chair with the seat and leg sections connected by an iron spindle.
Swivel chairs allowed workers to move more freely and quickly. In an era where productivity was the essence of livelihood, firms realised how much more efficient their employees could be with comfortable and effective chairs. The old four leg dining style office chairs soon became a thing of the past.
More advanced models then began to surface, including the introduction of swivel chairs with castors and cushions. However, it wasn’t until about 100 years after its invention that the first upholstered, steel versions hit the market. The advantages of adjustability, weight, cost and aesthetics were immediately greeted.
Between the early 1900’s and today, further advancements to the swivel chair’s design have seen the rollout of some of the ground breaking features we see today. Slimline designs and ergonomic inclusions such as synchronised mechanisms, lumbar and height adjustments, memory foam and mesh upholstery make swivel chairs the best they’ve ever been.
The trend of the last decade has been open planned offices that for the most part encourage communication and increase employee satisfaction. But what are the top trends of 2013?
1. Technologies on the rise - With tablets and multiple monitors becoming the norm, monitor armsthat cater for all different types of devices and multiple screens are in high demand. Tablets have become a critical and capable device for many (or all) business processes. A good monitor arm ensures your devices will be positioned in an optimal position for comfort and productivity.
2. Is it Ergonomic? – Seems to be the question on everyone’s lips as employers seek furniture that is beneficial to their employees health, wellbeing and productivity. There’s been an increase in sales ofheight adjustable desks, mesh chairs and fully adjustable chairs. The shift comes with the increase in awareness of ergonomics and how harmful poorly designed furniture can be to our bodies and efficiency in the workplace.
3. Awesome breakout areas – Boring breakout areas are a thing of the past, 2013 has been the biggest year for bold and well thought out breakout areas. Between ottomans, lounges, stools and trendy chairs in a variety of colours, breakout areas are really becoming a place where staff can relax and unwind.
4. Be Green and keep them keen – Many people want furniture that is environmentally friendly from production right through to disposal. Lots of people are raising the question of whether their products can be recycled or reused at the end of their life-time. Being ISO 14001 certified for environmental management systems has been a great advantage for us.
5. Bench desking – Limited space has led to bench versions of workstations becoming the norm. Our Trak, Benchwork and Mint workstations are becoming increasingly popular. Benches can accommodate for more people and are also great for open planned offices, hot desking and activity based work.
It’s a bit disheartening that more and more recent studies are showing if you spend lots of time seated you are generally more subject to health problems, will live a shorter life and are less productive than those who spend their days on their feet or moving about.
For most of us there’s no real alternative to being at our desks all day long, so there’s no surprise that more and more us are becoming victims of the ‘butts in seats epidemic’. Luckily, It’s not that hard to combat this epidemic. Doing desk stretches, choosing ergonomic chairs, changing positions throughout the day by using height adjustable desks, making use of more informal type meeting areas and working at counter height tables are great ways to combat the negative affects of sitting.
Height adjustable desks are fantastic as they give users the freedom to easily alternate their position from sitting to standing throughout the day. Alternating to a standing position during the day ensures the electrical activity in your muscles remains active, protecting against metabolic affects that can result in a whole host of dire consequences.
Check out our Lift height adjustable desk it’s available with electronic, wider or technician height adjustment controls meaning you’ll be up and out of your seat in no time.
Trak was released earlier this year with our 2013 Catalogue and has quickly become a popular choice for many recent fitouts.
Apart from its contemporary aesthetic, it’s popularity has much to do with it’s remarkable versatility. Trak’s unique extrusion runs between two desktops and allows for accessories and screens to be positioned anywhere along it.
The Trak accessories have been specifically developed to allow for flexibility in styling and functionality. Options include screens of all different finishes, planters, monitor arms and different sized storage boxes.
Trak is on display in our showroom. Drop by and check it out!”
Armrests are a great way to help prevent muscular tension and pain. They provide support to your upper body, keeping you feeling comfortable for longer.
Armrests guide your arms into a relaxed position, placing less stress on your shoulders and neck. This position also promotes correct postural alignment and is particularly suited to occupations that involve lots of reading and typing.
There’s been advice in recent years that armrests aren’t beneficial and may in fact be detrimental to your health. Each person’s body is different and everyone has different job requirements, so this may be the case in some occupations, however, this advice should not be taken to mean that you should’t choose a chair with armrests. As an overall rule, armrests will make your chair more comfortable.
When choosing chairs you should look for armrests that don’t interfere with free movement between you and your desk. Armrests should also be positioned at a height and width that allows you to comfortably rest your elbows without any effort. Adjustable arms are great too as they can be tailored to suit your individual preferences.
The laminate we use in our office furniture dates back to 1913, where the Formica Corporation set out to find a replacement for Mica, a commonly used electrical insulate.
Almost accidentally, Formica’s electrical engineers, Herbert A Faber and Daniel J O’Conor discovered that several sheets of brown paper soaked in phenolic resin formed a highly durable surface. After more experimentation they saw that when bathed in a melamine resin, colours could be added to the surface. By then pressing the sheets of paper together under up to 700Kgs of pressure per square inch and heat, a highly decorative and durable panel is created – laminate.
By the 1930’s Formica had mastered the process and had begun a kitchen and bathroom revolution. Many people realised the advantages of Formica laminate over conventional timber and plastics and all wanted the look and feel of laminate in their own homes.
With increasing demand a whole new range of colours were introduced in 1950, making it an even more popular choice. At the time there were few alternatives that could match quality and aesthetics of Formica laminate and the Formica laminate epidemic was spreading globally. It was around this time that laminate began to be used in the manufacturing of office furniture.
Today, virtually every household and office has laminate furniture, whether it be desktops, kitchen bench tops or storage units. It’s not hard to see why the product is still so popular.
Choosing the right fabric is a tough decision. It determines how your furniture will look, perform and wear over time. With so many different fabrics on the market, it’s good to know what to look for. Here are a few pointers to help you in the right direction:
‘DESK‘ is a stunning iPad application and website which showcases a collection of desks owned by designers, developers and illustrators from around the world. It is a project that aims to show where people find inspiration, no matter their occupation.
“You can learn everything about a person by his desk”
It’s remarkable how much a person’s desk reveals about them. Their personal items, level of organisation and choice of styling reflect their character and creativity. The desk is a place where ‘creativity is born’
– where you bring ideas to life.
We love this app. It gives a great insight into individuality and what inspires different people. We highly recommend browsing through it for a dose of inspiration and also uploading your own desk to share where your inspiration comes from.
Are you following our company page on Linkedin? If not, if you follow us now you’ll go into the draw to win a fabulous meal for two at the Spice Temple restaurant.
Followers of our Linkedin page are kept up to date with our latest products, most recent blog posts and any other information related to our company.
All you need to do to enter is follow us before the 3rd of June 2013. The lucky winner will be announced on the 4th of June. Good luck!
Choosing the right tunes for your workplace can create a more relaxed atmosphere and boost employee productivity. Music can relax the mind, block out distractions and get you powering through your to do list.
Recent studies have shown that offices that play light background music are 10% more productive than offices that don’t. Playing music in your reception areas is great too, it often makes wait times seem shorter and the office feel more welcoming.
The best type of music to get your productivity pumping is dependent upon your workplace. Keep in mind the music should not be distracting or have any overbearing lyrics or beats, which may have an adverse affect on productivity. Some employees peak with music without lyrics such as classical or jazz music whilst others work best with easy listening commercial type, indie or rock.
Once you’ve decided on the type of music that suits your workplace, you can make a personalised playlist on online radio sites such as Spotify or Pandora. These sites allow you to enter an artist and they will automatically build a playlist of similar music around that style and will play them at random throughout the week. Best thing is you can update your list all the time, so no more listening to the same CD on repeat!
Some of the artists we’ve been basing our playlists on lately are: