Entry is Open for Design Guild Mark Awards 2024

Entry is Open for Design Guild Mark Awards 2024

Design Guild Mark has opened the 2024 awards, inviting designers entries in three categories: Furniture; Lighting; Interior Design ElementsThe Design Guild Mark has opened their entries for the 2024 awards, inviting designers and companies to submit entries for three categories: Furniture; Lighting; Interior Design Elements. Entry is open to British designers working in the UK or abroad, and designers with UK based design practices. Submissions can be for an individual product or a collection of products that are currently in production, that were designed for, and are manufactured by, an industrial design process. The designs can be intended for domestic, office, hospitality, educational or corporate use, and for both interior and exterior environments, and there is no restriction on when the design was launched. More →

Connection addresses needs of neurodivergent workers with new system

Connection addresses needs of neurodivergent workers with new system

Drift is designed for neurodivergent workers who require a tranquil space to help them escape a hectic office environmentApproximately 20 percent of the population is what is known as neurodivergent, totalling around 13.5 million people in the UK, 150 million in Europe, and 1.6 billion globally. Catering to this large proportion of neurodivergent workers in the population is critical for interior designers and product designers alike, who carry a weight of responsibility when it comes to creating workplaces that not only support and facilitate those living with neurodiverse conditions but empower them to optimise their wellbeing and productivity. More →

Logitech introduces ergonomic wave keys to boost worker comfort and wellbeing

Logitech introduces ergonomic wave keys to boost worker comfort and wellbeing

Logitech has unveiled Wave Keys and Wave Keys for Business, a wireless ergonomic keyboard to address the increased need for wellbeing and comfort at the desk. Wave Keys features a signature wave design in a compact layout for comfier typing that does not require relearning how to type, as well as an integrated cushioned palm rest for day-long support. As individuals of all ages spend more time in front of their computers, ergonomic needs are on the rise with a growth rate of 4.6% over the next seven years, according to the recent published market report by RationalStat.

“We believe that everybody deserves to feel good at the end of a day of work, so we set about designing workspace essentials that are as attractive and approachable as they are ergonomic,” said Art O’Gnimh, general manager of the Core Personal Workspace business at Logitech. “Wave Keys has workspace wellbeing at its heart, thanks to its science-driven design with a stamp of approval from leading ergonomists.”

 Wave Keys’ unique wave shape places hands, wrists and forearms in a natural typing position, and the integrated cushioned palm rest gives more wrist support throughout the day. Its compact layout fits many home or office desks, with three classic colourways to complement your workspace setup – Graphite, Off-White, and Rose (Rose available in 2024 in select markets).

Wave Keys is designed in line with Logitech’s goal to create product experiences that improve people’s lives. This means considering environmental and social impacts as part of every design decision. Wave Keys is certified carbon neutral, just like the rest of Logitech products, and the paper packaging comes from FSC™-certified forests and other controlled sources. The plastic parts in Wave Keys include certified post-consumer recycled plastic to give a second life to end-of-use plastic from old consumer electronics – 61% for Graphite and 46% Off-White.

This multi-OS compatible keyboard connects via Bluetooth, or the included Logi BOLT receiver for enhanced security, to up to three devices at once such as Mac, PC and iPad, and easily switches between them at the tap of a button. For smoother days at the desk, users can personalise their experience with the Logi Options+ App to assign productivity shortcuts, such as “Do not disturb” to remain focused in your work, and create Smart Actions that save time and keep work flowing, including a one-touch morning routine to help you easily start your day and a relax time that provides well-deserved rest throughout the day.

Wave Keys is the latest addition to Logitech’s ERGO Series, alongside Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse and other products for workplace wellbeing, and upholds the company’s human centred and science-driven approach to product design and experiences. The keyboard was carefully crafted with rounds of user testing including at Logitech’s Ergo Lab and has a stamp of approval from US Ergonomics.

 

Ready for Business

For companies that prioritise employee wellbeing, Wave Keys for Business introduces a new ergonomic keyboard, ideal for employees who are ergo-conscious and looking for a keyboard that is comfortable with instantly familiar typing. The keyboard is equipped with Logi Bolt secure wireless technology, allowing IT teams to mass deploy a comfortable, easy-to-use keyboard to their entire global workforce, with global customer support, to Windows,macOS, Chrome OS, and other leading operating systems.

Wave Keys for Business comes with Logi Bolt wireless technology to deliver reliable connections even in congested wireless environments, and is engineered to meet today’s increasingly strict enterprise security standards. IT teams can remotely monitor the keyboards through Logitech Sync to ensure their team’s devices are healthy and up to date. The Logi Options+ App is also available for mass deployment to employees for a customised user experience, including streamlining repetitive tasks with Smart Actions or configuring keyboard shortcuts.

 

Pricing and Availability

Wave Keys will be available in Graphite and Off-White beginning October 13, 2023 on www.logitech.com and at other global retailers for a recommended retail price of $59.99 in North America and €79.99 in Europe. The Rose colour will be available in select markets beginning Spring 2024. Wave Keys for Business in Graphite will be available on www.logitech.com and through authorised resellers beginning November 2023

How digital platforms are revolutionising the outplacement experience

How digital platforms are revolutionising the outplacement experience

For the first time since the 2008/2009 financial crisis, redundancy rates have risen, and this trend looks set to continue throughout 2024. Just over 42 percent of employers (HR Director) are planning to make redundancies in a year that has already seen a string of high-profile companies announce job cuts. Businesses are reorganising, considering ideas such as outplacement, and the market landscape is changing in more ways than one. With a new wave of Gen Zs raising the bar for issues that matter to them, employers are now facing expectations that are different to that of Boomers. More →

Amsterdam gears up for Workspace Design Show next week

Amsterdam gears up for Workspace Design Show next week

The Workspace Design Show, an event dedicated to the future of workspaces, is taking place for the first time in less than a week from Wednesday 11 October to Thursday 12 October 2023, at the RAI Amsterdam. The event already has a successful London show. This two-day event promises to bring together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to explore the latest trends, insights, and strategies in workplace design and management. Here is a deep dive into the agenda that will be explored in detail at the conference stages next week. All of the panel discussions are free-to-attend; register here for a complimentary visitor pass. More →

ORGATEC reinvents itself for the new future of work

ORGATEC reinvents itself for the new future of work

ORGATEC, the leading international trade fair for the future of work will return in 2024 with a new event conceptORGATEC, the leading international trade fair for the future of work will return in 2024 with a new event concept that is designed to meet the evolving requirements of the world of work and is positioned even closer to the cutting edge. With a shorter duration, a new hall layout, highlight topics and digital innovations, ORGATEC will offer exhibitors and visitors a topic-centred, event-oriented and efficient trade fair experience. More →

CIBSE publishes revised maintenance guide

CIBSE publishes revised maintenance guide

A new fully revised edition of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide M: Maintenance, Engineering and Management sets out the latest technological and legislative developments that will impact facilities managers, designers, building owners and operatorsA new fully revised edition of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide M: Maintenance, Engineering and Management sets out the latest technological and legislative developments that will impact facilities managers, designers, building owners and operators, otherwise known as the ‘maintenance bible’. Containing all the information needed for the successful operation of a buildings’ services, while ensuring buildings are safe and optimised for energy performance, this revision has been published to provide guidance on the many areas of change since Guide M was last amended in 2014, including publication of the Building Safety Act and amendments to the Building Regulations. More →

Innovative ideas and artistic expression converge at the Workspace Design Show Amsterdam

Innovative ideas and artistic expression converge at the Workspace Design Show Amsterdam

Discover a unique event experience that transcends the boundaries of artistic inspiration at the upcoming Workspace Design Show, taking place from 11 - 12 October at RAI, AmsterdamDiscover a unique event experience that transcends the boundaries of artistic inspiration at the upcoming Workspace Design Show, taking place from 11 – 12 October at RAI, Amsterdam. This event will bring together the Benelux workplace interiors community in a dynamic exploration of the future of experiential workspaces. The Workspace Design Talks will host 13 panel discussions and over 50 leading speakers. Renowned firms such as UNStudio, D/DOCK, Booking.com, EDGE, MVRDV, Turner & Townsend, KAAN Architecten, CBRE Design Collective, Miro, Cushman & Wakefield, and many others will be there to share their insights. More →

The workation is taking off – but it needs the right tech to make it effective

The workation is taking off – but it needs the right tech to make it effective

The trend for semi-nomadic working has grown in the past few months, and with it the ‘workation’, as people have looked for last minute sunny getawaysThe trend for semi-nomadic working has grown in the past few months, and with it the ‘workation’, as people have looked for last minute sunny getaways after a somewhat disappointing UK summer. For the unfamiliar, a ‘workation’ is essentially taking advantage of remote working to blend work and a holiday. This could involve taking a summer holiday, and then working from the destination for a further week or two. Some may plan a visit to stay with friends or family, building some days of work into the trip, so they still get the enjoy the evenings with their loved ones. Or they may simply plan a normal working week undertaken remotely from a different location for a change of scene – anywhere from a mountain lodge to city break. More →

Workspace Design Show returns for third UK edition next February

Workspace Design Show returns for third UK edition next February

Workspace Design Show, the leading trade show bringing together the UK workplace design community, returns to London’s Business Design Centre for its eagerly awaited third UK edition from 27-28 February 2024. At the 2023 event, visitor number increased by an impressive 75 percent year on year with exhibitors from over 20 countries showcasing innovative and transformational workplace interiors products over the two days. Building on this success, over three quarters of stand space is already booked for 2024. More →

HLW launches brand experience team – brandx

HLW launches brand experience team – brandx

brandx, a global team shaping the standard for innovative wayfinding strategies, signage systems, and brand experiences, is pleased to announce its official launch as a specialty partner of international architecture and design firm HLW.brandx, a global team shaping the standard for innovative wayfinding strategies, signage systems, and brand experiences, is pleased to announce its official launch as a specialty partner of international architecture and design firm HLW. In a world where individuals are exposed to thousands of visual messages every day, brandx cuts through the clutter by creating intuitive connections that redefine how users safely and efficiently interact with brands, as well as their physical surroundings. More →

How to rebuild social connection for high-performance hybrid work: a deep-dive for workplace innovators

How to rebuild social connection for high-performance hybrid work: a deep-dive for workplace innovators

How to Rebuild Social Connection for High-Performance Hybrid Work: A Deep-Dive for Workplace InnovatorsSocial connection is often cited as a justification for return-to-office mandates, many of which are not well received by employees. This suggests that merely spending time in the office isn’t enough to spark the connection that gets ideas flowing, ramps up performance and creates a cohesive culture. So, if physical presence alone isn’t enough to rebuild connection, what is? Workplace innovators exploring the issues around hybrid work now have the opportunity to dig deep and find out.

Tune into HubStar’s upcoming webinar on Thursday September 19th at 4 PM BST for an exploration of the approaches, strategies and tools necessary to rebuild social connection in complex hybrid workplaces.

Workplace innovators are facing the greatest opportunity of our generation to positively disrupt the way we work, but as Einstein said, we can’t solve problems with the same kind of thinking we used to create them.

So what kind of thinking is required to ignite the magic of meaningful connection at work? How do we stop hybrid work strategies from stalling? And, which tools and approaches can help us manage the complexity inherent in new ways of working?

In this 30 minute webinar, you’ll discover:

  • Key trends impacting people, hybrid workplaces and organisational performance in 2023 and beyond
  • A step-by-step framework for overcoming remote working inertia and rebuilding social connection in the office
  • Dynamic Workplace Management: a new framework for positive change across 3 dimensions: people, profit and planet

The webinar will include a live Q&A with the speaker, Jane Young and the VP Product at HubStar, Chris L’Hommedieu.

HubStar is a global company with operations in the US, UK, Europe and APAC. The company provides a next-generation dynamic workplace management platform to drive productivity, collaboration and workplace experience while reducing real estate costs. HubStar helps thousands of teams in over 60 countries create dynamic workplaces. For more information visit hubstar.com