Inspired by Design

The "bucket list"....one hundred things to see/experience/become before you die. Do you have one? Do you need one? Each year, I check a few things off my bucket list, and add a few more. Some things are highly unlikely. For instance: "Become President of the United States".

But what if....what if you wished for something wild and in spite of the odds and obstacles it happened?

I come from a family that loves baseball. As a kid, my parents ignited that passion by taking my brother and I to the Angels games. This was "back in the day" when Bobby Grich, Nolan Ryan, the great Rod Carew and many, many others played for Angels. My grandma, who turns 96 in less than three weeks still watches "her team" play every time they are on TV. (Full disclosure: Grammy now lives in Arizona, so she is a Diamondbacks fan now...but that's a whole other blog.)

At any rate, I grew up loving baseball, and watching certain baseball milestones are on my bucket list.  For instance:

• Angels win World Series - check October 2002...saw it with my own eyes!!Gotta' love a comeback story!

• See World Series Trophy in person - check July 2010 Fanfest...and I've got the photo to prove it.

I checked the most recent items off my list occurred yesterday and here's the adventure:

Attend All-Star Game want (need) tickets. Tickets confirmed July 8...work calendar clear! Oh wait...shortlisted for an office furniture services bid, presentation on July 13 in the afternoon...no problem, I'll bring a change of clothes. Customer running a bit late...no problem! Presentation done, clothes changed, on road...no traffic...this is an epic gift from the traffic gods! Pick up husband, grab tickets, grab snacks, set tickets down and head to game. Yep, I set the tickets down!!!!!!!! When did I realize this? One mile from the stadium! Crap!! Head home in traffic, pick up tickets and head back to stadium. Cannot access parking in stadium, head to off-stadium lot, pay $20...no spots in lot. My sweet and resourceful husband, spots tailgaters and convinces them to let us park under their awning (meaning they can't leave until we leave.) Walk with crowd to stadium...jaywalk...cops whistle and yell, but a bunch of people follow us, and they can't catch all of us. Make it to seats, with husband, with snacks and with marriage intact. Now surrounded by cool people in 85 degree heat. Watch MLB's greats put aside their normal rivalry and show their stuff. That is enough for me! But wait, there's more....in the 7th inning, Torii Hunter is at bat and FOX cuts away to a crowd shot...and well, my sweet husband and I were on TV (a secret item on my bucket list.) How do we know? We started getting phone calls and text messages from family and friends who knew we were at the game...and the tailgaters who let us park under their awning? As soon as we returned to our car, we were greeted with "Dude...you guys were on TV...we saw you!!!! Seriously!!!"

Two wild and secret things on my bucket list, DONE!!  I've got a new item on my bucket list..."win lottery"...you just never know!!

Cheers!!

Have you ever been in a rut at work…a slave to a routine? Have you been bogged down by gobs of tasks? Have things been “too busy”, “too hard”, or taken “too long”? We all get there…but how long do we stay there? Creating “standards” or a routine kit of parts is in many cases the goal with an office design layout and commercial interior design. Cost effective and what clients request? Yes! Repetitive and possibly rut inducing? YES!

A few years ago, a certain two year old (my niece Emme) responded to questions in the following way; “too busy” (translation: No) “too hard” (translation: NO!) or “too long” (translation: NOOOOOO!!!!!!!) This drove her parents crazy. (It’s funny how her responses even at that age parallel excuses we sometimes make as adults.) Her parents much preferred (and who wouldn’t) when she answered “SURE!”

On one particularly cranky day with no inspiration in sight, too much to do and people wanting much more than I thought I could give, I gave up. I gave up the rut, the routine, the “too busy”, “too hard”, and “too long.” I changed my response and in return, it’s changing me. I decided to roll “Emme-style” and say “SURE!”…to just about everything. “Can you help me with interactive whiteboards?” “SURE!” I replied, even though I knew nothing about them. “Do you have time to review some samples from a commercial flooring vendor?” “SURE!” “Can you speak to this group of students?” “SURE!” I was surprised by what was happening. Giving more was actually taking LESS time, making it possible to break from the routine that was dragging me down! There were also unexpected opportunities: Speaking to first through sixth graders at a school career day. The best question from that day: “Do you know Oprah?” I wish!! (Note to Oprah…PLEASE call me so next time I can answer “SURE!” to that question.) Hosting high school students at our main office for a “job shadow” day and seeing their jaws drop when we picked them up in our company van. Critiquing final projects for a college course, and my favorite, actually having more time to do the parts of my job I love….working with our designers.

Signing off for now…SURE!

This is my favorite time of year! The days are longer, the weather is mild and wedding invitations/graduations announcements make their way to me.

One announcement in particular made me smile….

A few years ago I met Cate when she came to interview for an intern position at Tangram Interiors. She was earnest, enthusiastic, and kooky with a good sense of design…and in the first five minutes she convinced me that we needed her as much as she needed us. During her time in our design department, she fit in well and happily completed every task we requested.

As Cate progressed, she came to realize that commercial interior design and designing office space was not for her. Fortunately, she fell in love with designing custom office furniture, and all that our Tangram Studio team has to offer. One quick change of major at CSULB (is there such a thing?) and she was on her way. She’s been helping Studio design sustainable and locally manufactured office furniture ever since.

Cate’s graduation announcement was on my desk this morning…with a note…text “YES” if I am coming…

Congratulations Cate!!!!

If you need a reason to head to Newport Beach (and breakfast with George isn’t enough)...this year marks the eleventh annual Newport Beach Film Festival. Screenings encompassing a variety of genres run from April 22-29 in various theaters in and around the Fashion Island/Newport Beach area. This year marks the expansion of the Art, Architecture + Design Film Series.

So…how does this relate to commercial interior design or office space design? It all started with a “pop up space,” a vacant space used for a very brief period of time. Pop up spaces are used frequently as art galleries or retail stores…and they happen FAST. One of the most famous pop up spaces was a 220 foot barge tied to a pier in the Hudson River one December by Target. This time the NBFF needed a space for the Variety Hospitality Suite, and the Irvine Company delivered. Now, it was up to Tangram Interiors to develop a quick and easily executable plan for the space. We went from walking the space and picking paints on Thursday, to having a furniture plan finalized on Friday, painting the space on Saturday (thank you Miriam and friends), having IT run cables on Monday and finally having office furnishings picked up from our offices and delivered to the hospitality suite the following Wednesday.

Here's the before, during and after...

Oh…I almost forgot…breakfast with George…I do have a photo…though I must say he is a little quiet until he gets his coffee!!!

Our blogmaster (for lack of a better term) gently reminded me that I’ve been remiss in writing recently and since he is somewhat giddy having just received his new iPad, I decided to humor him with the hope he would get me one too in exchange for this post.

Seriously though…his reminder did cause me to reflect: “What have I been doing?”  A recent and unique experience follows.

In the world of office space design “emergencies” happen with some regularity. In most cases, these are urgent situations where someone is surprised on a Thursday afternoon with a new hire starting the following Monday. While challenging and inconvenient, it is frequently part of the job…and it feels great when we can devise a solution!!

The Monday after Easter, we received a call from a client which could be classified as a real furniture emergency…but…you be the judge. It seems the tenant who occupied the space above our client’s completed some plumbing repairs over the weekend. The lines were clogged and needed to be streamlined. The plumbers went about their business and in clearing the lines, they broke through the pipes causing raw sewage to pour into the plenum space and spill into the suite below…on the furniture. Raw sewage (aside from being “narsty” to the Nth degree) is classified as “black water” in the plumbing biz and anything it touches must be destroyed (even using refurbished office furniture isn't allowed)…because in coming into contact with the raw sewage, the objects it touches are “narsty” too! Eeeeewwwww! So sadly, the office furnishings (and personal contents) all have to be destroyed, the commercial flooring removed and bacterial levels monitored (with what I am calling a “germ-o-meter”).  Now picture this poor person receiving a call on Easter (or one of the last days of Passover) that what amounts to “doodie” has invaded her facility…you’d postpone your blog a few days to help her too…right?

For several days this winter, mine has been cold, dark and rainy.  As we approach Valentine's Day, red and pink abound!  Color sets a mood.  Color influences our emotions.  We respond to color whether in fashion, healthcare environments, personal electronics or office furnishings.  Do these colors chronicle our current time, reflect our recent past or influence our future?  Each year Pantone ® designates a Color of the Year.  Here is a look at the Pantone ® Color of the Year for the past five years:

• 2006: Sand Dollar 13-1106  "Neutral color that expresses concern about the economy"
• 2007: Chili Pepper 19-1557  "Outgoing, confident, connotes design savvy attitude"
• 2008: Blue Iris 18-3043  "Satisfies a need for reassurance in a complex world while adding a hint of mystery and excitement"
• 2009: Mimosa 14-0848  "Embodies hopefulness and reassurance in a climate of change"
• 2010: Turquoise 15-5519  "Inspires thoughts of soothing tropical waters and a comforting escape from everyday troubles"

Concern, confidence, reassurance, hopefulness and a comforting escape...quite a range.  Let's get ready for something different; something that affords the promise of a bright future...like the first day of sunshine after a storm.

The Griswolds...you know, the family from the movie who brought holiday decorations to a whole new level - every neighborhood has them.  Sometimes the "Griswolds" can turn a whole street into enough of a Wonderland that a full legal disclosure is needed when a family purchases a property on that street!
How does this relate to office space design you ask?  Well, considering that we spend many of our waking hours working, it seems only logical that the "Griswolds" would take their creativity inside to the world of office furnishings and turn their office into...well...the North Pole, a Nativity or Santa's Workshop.

Are you a "Griswold"?  Do you work close to one?  If so, get your holiday on, take some pictures of your workplace environment and send those pictures in!  I will publish the top three pictures right here on my blog!

Recently, a design consultant and I were working on a project for a fairly conservative client.  The designer had proposed incorporating a fair amount of lavender into the scheme.  Given the conservative nature of the client, introducing lavender (which elicits a strong and not always favorable response in the realm of office space design) was cause for concern.  While Bottega Veneta and Fendi have splashed lavender across their fall 2009 collections and this has trickled down to H&M, it’s not common in the cubicle filled world of office furniture design…yet. 

On the day of our presentation, the designer arrived carrying a Bergdorf’s bag filled with samples in varying shades of lavender, plum, and mauve…no back up colors.  We refined our selections, made them more conservative and moved our cast-offs and the Bergdorf’s bag (left oddly standing up) to a credenza in the room.  The presentation went well though the CEO was hesitant, but open to incorporating lavender into the office layout.  The designer shared his inspiration for the schemes, which included the advertisements for Botega Veneta and Fendi.  As the designer gestured to the advertisements, the CEO saw the Bergdorf’s bag (also a lovely lavender color) below the advertisements along with our cast-offs for the first time.

“What are these?” the CEO asked.  The designer answered, “Oh, those are some things we thought were a little too wild.”  “Really?  I like these better.” The CEO replied. 

I am not sure if it was the ads or the strategically placed Bergdorf’s bag that validated our scheme, but I did see a flicker of victory cross the designers face!

Do you have any stories about incorporating something wild or unusual into an office design layout?