Workspace Design Magazine: Jan.2012

The Technology Behind Relationships

By Jamie Krywicki | January 1, 2012 at 1:25 am | One comment | jan 2012, Technology | Tags: future, workplace

Close your eyes and rewind back to when you were six years old and your imagination was working overtime. When you considered the future, perhaps you thought, “People will have jetpacks, cars will be able to fly, maybe even teleportation!”

Brilliant ideas. How easy life would be if they were true.

Now with some wisdom, we still ask ourselves what the future will be like. And for those of us in A&D, “What will the future workplace look like?” is an all-too-common question.

Some people may answer, “I don’t care, I better be retired by then.” Others may say, “The idea of a headquarters may become extinct, because people will be working from home to save money.” Or for those of us that keep up with new work environments you may say, “It’s already happened, it’s called Google.”

Maybe I’m still trapped at six, but my answer has only two words: The Jetson’s.

The Jetsons

An animated sitcom originally airing in the 60s and again in the 80s, The Jetsons was the image of the future. Robotic contraptions, holograms, whimsical inventions, and supersonic tubes depicted the year 2062.

It’s with visions planted by this program that I now imagine a future workplace as an amusement park for adults. The typical cubical will be for the history books, replaced with coffee shops that can transform into personal offices or meeting rooms simply by pressing a button on a iPhone or iPad.

Instantly the quaint round coffee tables and lounge chairs will transform into executive desks and task chairs. Coffee bars will flip over to reveal copy machines, computers, and various paper supplies. Making copies, running errands and grabbing coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts will be done by robots called interns.

Telephone conversations and meetings in-person won’t be necessary. Since teleconferencing and email have become so popular, the future will bring advanced videoconferencing and interactive boardrooms. Holograms will include all of our colleagues. Automatic doors that open from floor-to-ceiling will be the entrance to every space possible, if there are physical office buildings, that is.

A small-headquartered future.

The way trends are happening now with working from home, ruling out the extinction of headquarters isn’t impossible. The saying goes, history repeats itself, and when the first computer was invented, it was the size of an entire room and now it can fit in the palm of your hand.

Much like the reduction in the size of the computer, the concept of a company’s headquarters is bound to be minimized as well. Rather than the advancements in technology being directed to suit companies as a whole, I imagine they will be focused to suit each individual at their own respective homes.

Small Headquarters

Although the future of the workplace is exciting to imagine, not every aspect of the future is foreseen as positive. While email, videoconferencing and working from home may be convenient and less expensive, there is an aspect of the social workplace that is becoming extinct. This aspect is one we long for since we were children.

Personal interaction, much like making friends on the playground when you were younger, parallels discovering potential employees in face-to-face interviews rather than solely on paper. This individual’s potential is displayed through walking the job site, collaborating with colleagues and solving problems. The interview is crucial. How you present yourself as in individual, your background, upbringing, the weakness you’ve overcome and the strengths you’ve developed aren’t portrayed in an 8.5” x 11” space.

Much like on your resume, the social skills, ethics and values parents have instilled in their children are almost invisible in an email today. Anyone can be trained to use correct grammar, punctuation, and flattery.

Open Office

While we dream up the workplace of the future, why don’t we dream up how to keep personal experience for the employee as well? Dream up how to form new, and strengthen existing networks and how to form loyal relationships with clients. Imagine how the futuristic workplace will be with both the latest and greatest technology and the best people out there.

Technology advances each and every day. Personal interactions are dwindling by the minute.

The future workplace we all dream of should not exist of holograms or hovercrafts, but rather the perfect balance between real technology and real relationships.

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vacation

I'm almost a week into my winter break from Auburn, but I'm still in Auburn and not really taking a break. I have to admit there isn't a part of me that can do absolutely nothing. I have to be on the go, doing something with my time. I'm trying to get in some extra hours at work this week for Christmas shopping money, research firms in Atlanta and tweak my portfolio and resume for my upcoming job search in January (which makes me scared/anxious/excited/nervous all at the same time).
I'm dedicating most of my break to reading, an activity I've recently taking up. I wasn't ever much of a reader, probably because any free time I've had in the past few years I've spent with my family and friends never with the desire to pick up a book, but I really do love it!
In a way it has become a competition (like most things in my life) with my fiancé to see who can read more books. Reading is one of those things to keep your mind working even if it's reading a fiction series about vampires written for 13 year olds...guilty.  I'm currently reading, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It really makes you think and has you on the edge of your seat the entire time ( I recommend it to everyone). The rest of my break involves a lot of traveling in airplanes and cars so I plan to add to my tally on the chalkboard wall.

Christmas: my favorite time of year

Like most, Christmas has been my favorite time of the year since I was a little girl. Not because of the presents or the long break from school, but because of tradition, family and those hilarious stories told every year around the dinner table that never getting old. Christmas to me marks the end of a year that may have had both good and bad times, adventures and unforgettable memories. Christmas marks the end of one chapter in the book of life and the start of a new one. 

For me 2011 had its' ups and downs, but for me the ups are what stay with me. 2011 began with a New 

Year's in Nashville, TN and a January in Auburn preparing for a Spring Semester aboard in Italy. 7 countries later, a million pictures, thousands of frequent flyer miles, an abroad check-list complete, and 19 new friends made up my Spring 2011. The summer was spent making up the classes and a studio I missed during my vacation study abroad semester, visiting family and making many many trips to Atlanta. But the most important thing to happen to both my family and me this summer was the birth of the 3rd grandchild/niece. With this Fall I've stumbled upon many opportunities to build my resume which will hopefully aid with future job opportunities. Auburn football weekends spent with my family and an engagement ring and proposal. As 2011 comes to a close I can say there hasn't been a dull moment. As my Mom says, "there's always something." Whether that something is good or bad it's done. I know 2012 will bring more memories, laughter and tears. A new addition to my family (another puppy Fritz, yes we already picked a name out and we don't get him till February) and a move to Atlanta in May (job or no job). 

Christmas pictures are never easy.  

the Exceptional Presenter

Presenting projects and yourself to a potential employer and/or client can often make people nervous, anxious and uneasy. Sweaty palms, shaky hands and trembling voices are tendencies of nervous or unprepared presenters. 

I made a winter resolution to read more. Read more books that are relevant to my career and future. My very professional and well educated dad gives me and my three older siblings a book every Christmas. I have to admit I tend to throw these books on my bookshelf and that's the last I ever look at them. These books are always on the Wall Street Journal's Best Sellers list and in the past I automatically categorized them under: Boring. I'm not sure what got into me exactly, maybe the realization that I'm about to start marketing myself to architecture and interior design firms for a life career of design?  

I decided to begin my resolution of reading with one of the books my dad gave me. As I turned to the last page, read, highlighted the important information and closed the book my first thought was, "Maybe these books are relevant to me...I should probably go get another."

The Exceptional Presenter was the book by a man named Timothy J. Koegel. He points out common mistakes of presenting and how to correct your presenting faults. 

My suggestion to anyone about to interview or present an idea or project is to read this book. It's an easy read with relevant and important information for anyone trying to get that dream job or making a life changing deal. 

Conceptual Designs

My last Fall semester is just weeks away from completion. Conceptual designs for the Auburn Senior Interior Design Collaborative Hospitality project have been finished, boards have been put together,  and concepts have been presented in front of the 5 person jury. I feel confident that I created five spaces successfully and could be realistically built if need be. I have to admit that I wish we were given a larger hospitality project, such as an entire restaurant or bar, but the five spaces given to us allowed for a wide range of design and knowledge for many different spaces. I was skeptical going into the project whether I'd be happy with all my final designs, but I have to admit I am proud of everyone. Please enjoy the renderings below!

Hotel Suite Living Room Rendering

Hotel Suite Bedroom Rendering

Hotel Deluxe Room Rendering

Employee Dining Room Rendering 

  

Think Tank Rendering 

Fitness Room Rendering

Published

I'm officially a published designer! This month in Workspace Magazine out of Washington, DC has published an article I wrote on Team Work and Collaboration!
Enjoy:

By Jamie Krywicki | November 1, 2011 at 1:05 am | No comments | #2.1: Nov. 2011, Ideas | Tags: collaboration, mobility, Teamwork, Think Tank

Think-Tank Rooms Primed for Innovating

The future of the workplace is evolving into a playground of possibilities. Collaboration of multiple parties was not the norm 20 years ago. The sole purpose in the business world was to get yourself ahead, not bring others along with you.

The trend has shifted with the new century from an individual to a team approach. In order to successfully collaborate, we need to create or be given the “tools” to succeed — and the environment to play in.

Think Tanks, which are collaboration rooms with an intimate relationship between design and technology, may be just that environment we’re increasingly seeing in today’s workplaces.

The purpose of these rooms is to exercise your brain in a stress-free environment.

After all, a mind performs better when your body and brain can release tension, right? And a collaborative work environment can certainly enhance creative thinking and allow for quick idea generation.

Here are a few characteristics of Think Tanks:

• The best physical environments to allow for creativity are light and bright spaces, clutter free, with architectural and natural elements.
• Lower ceilings improve performance in detail-orientated tasks, while higher ceilings encourage abstract creative thought.
• In the right think-tank environment, punches of humor can spark the brain and bring out your creativity.
• Thought-enhancing elements such as specific colors, lighting, games, and surfaces are all extremely important to a successful collaborative space.

As a senior in Auburn University’s Interior Design program, I collaborate with the Hotel at Auburn University and Conference Center. Each year, the hotel gives the senior hospitality studio a real project that will be implemented in the hotel.

One of the projects we are currently working on is a Think Tank for guests, Auburn professors, students, and the community to use to spark ideas, solve problems, and enhance collaborative creativity.

To facilitate the best design, I wanted to give the client something that wasn’t indigenous to the Auburn area. My first thought was the ocean. Auburn is located approximately 250 miles north of the Atlantic. I embraced this idea and coined my theme as a Think-Sub(marine).

Regardless of the direction or theme pursued, designing for these spaces typically requires the following elements:

Fun. Dartboards, puzzles, and board games are often found in these creative spaces to ease tension and stress. Basketball hoops, bean-bags, and foosball tables add an element of childhood and fun to the space. The purpose of this would be to spark the imagination of a child.

Mobility. Furniture must be flexible, comfortable, safe, and secure. Anything wobbly will distract the user and anything permanent will prevent personalization.

Technology embedded in furniture is innovative and saves space in small collaborative rooms.

Visuals. Visually, it is important to incorporate nature and expand the space. Windows are the effortless way to accomplish both, however, if windows are not feasible, painted nature murals or projection screens can be utilized. New surroundings allow for various ideas. Flexible furniture, adjustable lighting, and diverse room décor can create this effect.

Surfaces. Horizontal and vertical writing surfaces are mandatory in these areas. Ample writing space allows users to build on ideas and return to a previous step in the brainstorming process.

Technology. iPads, iPod docks, laptops, smart boards, video walls, and touch screens establish the tech logistics of these rooms. Having the most efficient,  latest-and-greatest instruments assists in the creative process.

Lighting. The most advantageous lighting for a Think Tank is natural sunlight and/or full spectrum fluorescents. This type of lighting will illuminate detail as well as color, enhance productivity, and decrease fatigue. Be certain to incorporate sufficient ambient and task lighting.

Ultimately, Think Tanks facilitate collaboration that can help people stay on track, experience fewer creative blocks, and fill in the missing pieces.  These creative spaces must facilitate communication among teammates, allow for personalization, and be adaptable to change.

And isn’t embracing change what good design is all about?