Office Insider - September 2023

Welcome back to Issue #04 of Office Insider, the newsletter that takes you inside the latest happenings in and around the office interiors industry.

As we step into an enlightening time of year for trends, the world of interior design is buzzing with excitement as leading organisations like Dulux, Pantone, and Graham & Brown unveil their much-anticipated selections for the 2024 Colour of the Year. These colour picks aren't merely shades; they are insights into the spirit of the year ahead. One that caught my eye was Dulux announcing 'Sweet Embrace?' as their COTY 2024. This delicate and optimistic hue draws its inspiration from the gentle caress of feathers and the soothing palette of evening clouds.

Dulux feel Sweet Embrace? is the perfect home office paint. Crafting a workspace that's both inviting and conducive to productivity is made easier with paint colour. Sweet Embrace? not only lends warmth and softness when used on its own but also serves as a versatile foundation for a multitude of home office paint colours.

Dulux say:

"For over 20 years, our colour experts have been translating global trends into a Colour of the Year that captures the mood of the moment. Sweet Embrace? is a kind, delicate tone that brings a feeling of positivity to our lives."

What do you think? Would you use Sweet Embrace in your next project or are there any other 'Colours of the Year' out there catching your eye?

CoLab Beam by Pearson Lloyd for Senator

Introducing CoLab, a creation by Pearson Lloyd, born from meticulous research into the evolving landscape of higher education. CoLab presents an ingenious modular furniture system that redefines learning and collaboration spaces in educational institutions and more.

CoLab is a power-enabled beam system that seamlessly integrates perch seating, side tables, work benches, and a collaborative easel. This dynamic combination caters to the diverse needs of modern education, offering agile solutions for team workshops, interactive presentations, and shared learning experiences. With adaptability at its heart, CoLab empowers institutions to craft versatile and engaging environments that inspire the exchange of ideas and foster a culture of collaborative learning.

Designed to accommodate the needs of younger users and in particular Gen Z, CoLab offers a dynamic range of seats and surfaces that invite the user to sit, lean, perch, or stand as per their preference.

In a recent interview with Dezeen , Tom Lloyd, co-founder of Pearson Lloyd, shed light on the impact of the information age on education. As we navigate the digital-first era, the paradigm of learning has shifted away from the traditional model of knowledge retention. Instead, the emphasis has squarely landed on cultivating critical thinking and honing problem-solving skills. Lloyd told Dezeen:

"A lot of curriculums are moving towards group work and group learning. Rather than being made to learn something and write an essay, it's about interacting. You are set a team brief and the process is peer-to-peer. The furniture being put into learning spaces is completely wrong for this. If you're not in a lecture theatre, you either find hospitality lounge furniture, or cafe furniture where it's four chairs around a little table. None of it is fit for purpose."

Imagine a casual leaning bench seamlessly bridging the gap between a pair of high tables, where you can find the perfect balance between comfort and productivity. Upholstered seating, thoughtfully designed, provides an inviting space overlaid with surfaces, ideal for your laptops, books, or papers – a harmonious blend of form and function.

Welcome to CoLab, where every seat is an invitation to explore, learn, and collaborate.

Zoom asks staff to return to the office

The debate surrounding the return to the office is far from reaching a consensus, and yet, the momentum to bring employees back to physical workplaces is intensifying. The likes of Goldman Sachs are advocating for a full five-day return to the office, while others, like Google, are even incorporating in-office attendance into performance evaluations. Amazon has recently issued a warning to its staff, emphasising the necessity of spending a minimum of three days a week in the office. Following suit, Meta (Facebook) is set to implement a similar policy.

The significance of this shift from remote to in-person work is underscored by Zoom, a company whose revenues skyrocketed by an astonishing 300% during the initial year of the pandemic. Last month, Zoom communicated its expectation that employees will now be required to be present in the office for at least two days each week.

These developments collectively paint a picture of a work environment that is still calibrating itself in response to changing times.

According to a recent report by Resume Builder, 90% of companies have plans to roll out return-to-office policies by the close of 2024. The survey, which engaged with 1,000 company leaders, also revealed that nearly 30% of these organisations are considering the possibility of terminating employees who resist in-office requirements.

Intriguingly, a mere 2% of business leaders reported that their companies had no intention of ever mandating in-person work. This renewed emphasis on ending WFH coincides with a growing chorus of CEOs expressing their reservations about this model. They argue that productivity, collaboration, and employee engagement can all be compromised in the absence of a physical office environment.

What do you think? Is a near-full RTO on the cards by the end of 2024? However you feel about it, you would have to agree that it's ironic that Zoom wants people to return to the office, at least a couple of days per week! We recently wrote a blog about the benefits of in-person work, you can check it out here.

New Product - Batan by Allermuir

Batan is range of tables combining elements of soft?aluminium extrusions with fully rounded?solid top surfaces, contrasting concrete bases with soft?finish glass tops and elegant tables of pure geometry constructed?with cut and formed steel. Lots of creative and innovative ways to use these tables together or on their own. Suitable for a wide variety of environments, these are sure to be a hit among our R&D clients.

Toys4Engineers Expo 2023

Now in its sixth year, this is a must-attend national event for anyone in Engineering, Tech, Pharma, Biomed, Agri-Food, Manufacturing, Construction & Renewable Energy industries or anyone with an interest in new and emerging technologies.

Toys4Egineers takes place Thursday 5th October from 9am to 3pm at SETU Arena, Waterford.

The Expo will feature over 100 stands, from cutting edge start-ups to multi-nationals, giving you the opportunity to exchange information, generate sales leads and expand contact bases. There will also be an outdoor expo, which will present the very latest in plant machinery, heavy equipment and electric vehicles.

The team at OfficeMaster will be attending again this year, following a successful exhibition last year. We hope to see you there!