Better Ways to Work™

It seems like a lot of the Better Ways to Work blog posts have been about new and exciting products lately and this weeks blog post, my dear, is no different!  There are just so many new and exciting products coming down the turn pike at us right now, it’s hard to choose just one to write about this week.  But we did and this week I am going to tell you about the new member to our famous Canvas Office Landscape  system and that is a little something like to call Group-Based.

This is Herman Miller staying competitive and meeting clients needs with the here-to-stay trend of collaboration and technology.  The Group-Based gives people choices about how and where they want to work all while maintaining an aesthetic and functional harmony throughout the space.  Technology options with in the Group-Based wall help people stay connected and supports the sharing of ideas and flow of communication.

The Group-Based products includes standing screens, team walls, and a team wall/technology module.  These elements were design specifically for small group settings and provides more choice and variety in ways to work.

The Canvas Group-Based really helps create a successful space where community and technology can come together for the greater good of idea-generation.  Now, lets give credit where credit is due for such an innovative and supportive product.  Canvas is at cumulation of designers work, most recently including Jeffrey Bernett and Nicholas Dodziuk of CDS in New York who both branched off the connected work of Douglas Ball and Joey Ruiter.

Jeffery BernettNicolas DodziukNicholas Dodziuk

 If you are interested in learning more about the Group-Based wall feel free to contact us and we’d be more than happy to help!

We have another new and exciting product that we are introducing to our family line at Intereum…the Luxo Light 360!  Luxo has a way of designing and producing some of the best quality and some of the most iconic task lights in the world, but the 360 is not another Luxo light famed by Pixar..

Pixar's famous animaton of Luxo light..but NOT the 360.

But by an American industrial designer named Stephan Copeland who was inspired by the motion of a flying disc to make the 360 Light. 

Stephen Copeland

And this inspired flying disc light literally has everything you could want in illuminating your work area.  But we’ll start at the beginning of the long list of great characteristics for this new guy…

360 Pivot and Reach

 First, as the name suggests, the Luxo 360 has the ability to adjust and pivot at any degree and the long length of the flexible spring balanced pivoting arm will ensure light in any direction at any place.  This provides an asymmetric and ergonomically correct workstation lighting. 

 Also, the 360 light has a 6.5 Watt LED module is placed in a horizontal lamp head, which gives a broad directional light that is soft on the eyes and strong on the shedding light on the worksurface without any ‘peacocking’ or excessive shadowing.  The Luxo 360 is dimmable and saves energy by automatically shutting itself off after 9 hours! The dimmable LED module has a life span of 50,000 hours…that’s 6,250 business days! Whoa-dang.

360 Movement

 Finally, the task light is made of aluminum and comes in 3 classic colors including black, white, and silver.  This light is definitely worth taking a look at, so c’mon over to Intereum and we’d love to show off another one of our awesome products!

Breathe Living Wall is among the newest and latest innovations to the  modular wall solutions by DIRTT.  The idea behind the Breathe Wall is to incorporate plants and all of their natural benefits into the work environment.  The positive influences surrounding the Breathe wall stems from studies and research done on the effects of plants in spaces, such as their ability to clean the harmful VOC and other toxic elements out of the air by 75%…even better than any HVAC system!  With that in mind, it’s obviously doesn’t give off any other harmful compounds into the air to generate clean air the way a HVAC system would. 

Aside from cleaning the air, plantscapes naturally have a way to create healing and pleasant spaces, creating an even deeper space built on the wellbeing of the occupants.  The options that you can have through DIRTT of plants vary from size, color, and texture are just about endless so the wall can easily become a beautiful one of a kind art installations

Breathe Wall is built on the same ideas of modularity as the rest of the DIRTT systems.  It has box-type plant modulars and a different type of watering system depending on the size of the installation.  The pots are discrete and the watering system is separate unit for ease of maintenance.  The soil used isn’t even purely soil, but is combined with a biofungicide to prevent root diseases.  The compound is airier than dirt and minimizes soil born insects.  All of these components combined create a beautiful, smart, and clean living and Breathing Wall!

Want more information??  Contact our DIRTT bags here at Intereum!

Intereum proudly participated in the 15th year of We Care!  Dozens of people from the design community in Minneapolis came together  in North Minneapolis at the Boys and Girls Club to serve and celebrate the holidays with children frome the neighnborhood.   

We celebrated the eve with several different craft stations making scarfs, ornaments, jewelry boxes, and jelly bean trees!  We also had some artists displaying their wintery wonders at the face painting station.  Not to mention the free mitten and hat station and at the end of the chaos were the gift wrapping elves, busy at getting the freshly made gifts ready to give!  

Did I mention GOLDY AAAAND SANTA was there too?!?!  Talk about two popular guys!

This night was such a success not only for the awesome turn out of kids and volunteers, but for how we all came together to serve and celebrate with the children; we have all been touched in the deepest part of our hearts.  We were honored to be part of such an event and we thank all who made this happen..Boys and Girls Club and the wonderful Volunteers!!  

Oh, and then there was the after party!  Hosted by the crew from Herman Miller at Gustaf’s in NE Minneapolis…what a way to end the night…just take a look for yourself!

Have you heard of DIRTT?? Not the stuff the kids and dog always seem to drag in despite all efforts to ‘TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES!’  DIRTT stands for Do It Right This Time and refers to an overall-one-of-a-kind, creative and sustainable solution to modular walls and access floors. 

No, but seriously it really embodies all of those characteristics because DIRTT never does the same project twice, every day is a different story.  The multi layer solution of structure, aesthetic, technology, and application helps create endless possibilities to fit your needs just right.  The wall system can seamlessly support work surfaces, overheads, displays, and any other mounted object that you need!  And because the walls are pre-engineered, pre-manufactured and has endless possibilities as far as function and aesthetics..your wish really is DIRTT‘s command and they wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Because DIRTT doesn’t abide to the ol’ fashioned way of making walls-using among other things endless amounts of gypsum board, tape, nails, it can pretty much eliminate construction waste, future renovation waste.  There is no demolition, dumping, procuring, or re-building which makes for a beautiful environmental story…not to mention a nice bottom line for you!

These walls create such a valuable and forward thinking solution to interiors that Intereum has our own DIRTT team!  If you’d like to see this system for yourself, swing by our showroom.  And if you want to chat with an expert in this DIRTT field contact us to get a hold of our DIRTT Bag staff at Intereum!

Did you know that the large conference room at Intereum can be rented out for events??!  Jennifer Edwards and Diane Kennington do and they hosted a fine frenzy craft sale last night, just in time for the holidays!  A few months ago Jennifer received an email blast from us about renting out our large conference room and when her and Diane decided they wanted to put on the event themselves Jennifer thought this would be the perfect space!  

And it was, the room was packed of tables displaying all sorts of homemade goodies from bath salts to jewelry and purses to aprons and baby onesies!  Guests were greeted upon entering the space with a little bubbly and h’orderves set up by a couple of our favorite Herman Miller reps, Robin and Jen (Thanks girls!). 

Jennifer and Diane’s goal with the ‘Girls Only Boutique’ was to ‘engage as many designers or those related to the design community to be vendors at the event,’ this brought some amazing creativity to the show!  One of our own here at Intereum had her own booth!  Check out Mandi’s little homemade lovelies!

And Jennifer’s adorable onesie cupcakes!  My co-worker bought one for her expecting little one that used the same fabric as their nursery, too cute!

As the night went on more and more people came and it was a successful and inspiring event! Thanks Jennifer and Diane for all your work, we all thoroughly enjoyed the event! 

Are you interested in hosting an event here?  If so contact us and we’d be more than happy to help!

As I mentioned in last weeks blog post, Herman Miller is refreshing a number of Classics from the Archives and this coming January is the planned launch of these furnishings.  The Classics are pieces from some of Herman Millers most infamous designers including; Ray and Charles Eames, Gilbert Rhode, George Nelson and Alexander Girard. 

The relaunch is focused on the effort to utilize beautiful, classic pieces with timeless design for group and community spaces for the here and now.  With that being said and for now that is all that can be said on the relaunch of the Classics, stay posted as more of the story unfolds!  Until then I will leave you with some hilarious Classic Herman Miller Commercials staring none other than, The Herman Miller Man, The Bandits, and some risque office workers among the many.

Contact us at Intereum for you Herman Miller Classic needs!!

Intereum was really busy at AIA’s 77th Annual Convention and Product Exposition last week at the Minneapolis Convention Center!  AIA named the theme for the event, “Framing our Future.”  Because of the recent economic conditions, architects and designer have had to re-examine how they practice and go to market.  The AIA show was dedicated on putting a positive spin on the future of the industry by focusing on ‘What’s next.’

 We had FOUR spaces  and co-sponsored a CEU event with DIRTT.  Our fab four spaces included: The Retro Lounge, The Futuristic Lounge, The Intereum Booth and The DIRTT Booth.  As per usual–we have some new and exciting things going on around the office and at Herman Miller and these spaces only represented small windows into the future of furniture and design.

But let’s be honest here…a lot of looking into the future is about looking at the past.  And so, the apple never falls too far from the tree and the old is being reflected and revamped in The Retro Lounge.  In this beautifully updated mod space Herman Miller Classics are being brought to life again with new materials…giving these ol’ beauts a little face lift and in some cases allowing pieces to shine in the original design intent.  The ‘Collection’ will be made available January 2012…just in time to refresh the upcoming years Christmas list.  Oh and by the way, AIA loved our Retro Loundge so much that they appointed it Office of the President and Pres. Elect!

The Retro Lounge

Looking forward and using these beautiful classic pieces in collaboration spaces makes an opportunity for the ‘golden nuggets’ of the technology and innovation to bring these group spaces full circle.  In The Futuristic Lounge technology like the Simo IMX is being showcased as an informal meeting and collaboration hub with built-in computer and communication technology.  The space also introduced a few other new products including stools from the new Magis collection and even the Patcraft Carpet Tiles put some eye candy on the floor.

The Futuristic Lounge

The Intereum Booth and The DIRTT Booth were connected and displayed a beautiful creation of flexible interiors and rapid construction.  “The New Rules” by Robert Propst was showcased along with animations of flexible interiors specifically in education and healthcare.  THe DIRTT Breathe Wall and ICE Technology became the boundaries of the space and some show stopping furniture pieces included the Embody Chair and Sayl Chair, the HMI L-Cart, and the Everywhere Table.

We had a great time at this years show and we were so honored to be part of the exhibit!  We received great feedback from everyone on our spaces, so thank you to all!!

On November 4th IIDA celebrated its 11th year of the Fusion fashion show.  Fusion is a fashion show that celebrates both interior design and fashion in the Twin Cities; it’s an event where interior designers come together and strut their fashions using found materials that they use.  This year quickly became the best and most extravagant Fusion yet.  The theme was Masquerade and the Varsity theater showcased a grand total of 33 looks on the run way.

WCCO's Natalie Kane was the MC of the night

But first was the pre party.  We at Intereum hosted a phenomenal pre-party at the ever-so-trendy  and conveniently located Loring Pasta Bar! 

Then the was THE SHOW!!!

Some dress detail..

The celebrety judges at the show..

Project Run Way's Mondo Guerra and Fashion Editor of METRO Magazine Mary O'Regan

And of course our friends and folly of Fusion..

Our ladies in lovely masks..did I mention the orange mask was nominated for Best Mask??!

Congrats and thank you to all for your hard work and dedication for making this years Fusion a memorable one!!

In a world where teamwork and modular environments are defining spaces at work AND school,we need new ways to look at how we use furniture in those places.  The HOKKI Stool by VS is ideal for just these situations and was developed specifically to be used in the classroom. 

The ergonomic stool makes stationary sitting into an activity!  With a convex base that can easily tilt any-which-way, the HOKKI is a fabulous tool to get the blood flowing for brainstorming and collaboration.  The ease of movement on this stool increases simple physical movement while enhancing the well-being and the intellectual maturing process in students.  By allowing students to make these small movements during class, the HOKKI is actually increasing their concentration!  At the work place, HOKKI becomes a comfortable seating alternitive and has replaced the yoga ball as an ergonomic seating solution.

The materials used in the stool makes it ideal to be used in impromptu gatherings at the work place and by children in schools.  HOKKI is made of polypropylene that makes it not only extremely light, but also extremely stable.  This material also is very easy to clean (great for schools where germs are so easily transferred!) and is wear-resistant..child proven!  The soft convex base prevents slipping and the top surface of the stool has a layer of foam that ensures safety while sitting and tilting. 

Come into our showroom and test one of these out for yourself and you will be impressed!  Or to get a quote now click here!