Work vs. Life

By: Judy Shaffer, Principal

 Last year, while on vacation, I was staked out on the beach at the crack of dawn for the dual purposes of a hopeful dolphin sighting and to feed the seagulls a carefully hoarded pile of French fries from last night’s crab dinner. I had the perfect “office” setup with my beach chair, towels and SPF. With my phone in hand, as I waited, I quickly scrolled through the previous day’s email to see what might require a speedy response. I glanced up, only to realize that the dolphins that I had so longed to see were already passing by in the distance. I then looked to my right to see if my boyfriend had seen them only to witness him attempting to feed the gathering seagulls by carefully positioning French fries between his toes and thrusting his leg up in the air to see who was brave enough to take the bait. At that moment I was struck by an “aha!” moment that I had almost missed two remarkable events because I was answering email.

I’m certainly not alone. Was I really doing work? Well, no. Was I really enjoying my vacation? Well, no. I wasn’t actually present in either moment. I read the other day that Gen-X’ers seek work-life balance, but that Millennials seek work-life integration. The common thread is that we’re all trying to make them both work in tandem with some degree of success.
I’m fortunate to work for a company that offers the tools and flexibility so that both the Gen-X and Millennial crowds can find what they’re looking for. Candidly, even with that level of generosity, it’s still hard to maintain balance. An email from your boss or your neediest client after hours is still an email from your boss or your neediest client. Regardless of the tools that are offered, they aren’t much good if you can’t train yourself to utilize them. We’ve been programmed to think that working the hardest makes for the most success and that working the hardest means working the longest but that theory is turned on its head in reality. Working the smartest makes for the most success. Sometimes it means turning off the email after hours or shifting the work hours around to take your favorite afternoon yoga class. On my next vacation I’m determined to unplug. Will I be fired? I doubt it. Will it change my life? I hope so!

Award-Winning Photography

By: Koren Stauffer, Associate Director of Marketing

Nothing tells FORM’s story like great photographs. They capture innovative concepts, and showcase our forward-thinking design approach to corporate interiors. They speak across all industries and cultures and we use them often as references throughout each client’s design journey.

Good photography depends on the selected photographer, equipment, site constraints, weather, and a lot of communication. Planning ahead makes the most of each of these components to capture our best images.

Whether you are an A/E/C professional considering your first shoot or a client that is interested in learning more about the process, we have outlined our steps to achieving award-winning shots below:

1. PHOTO SCOUTING
FORM accompanies a professional photographer to the space for an informal 20-30 minute walk-through This process has minimal disruptions (no cleaning, moving, or equipment required) and is typically done during standard business hours. An escort is not required but is more than welcome to join if needed for security purposes.

2. IMAGE SELECTION
FORM reviews the images taken during the walk-through and narrows down the shot selection to four to eight images that best represent the space and design concept. We then share our selection with the client and photographer so everyone can best prepare for the shoot.

3. FINAL SHOOT COORDINATION
We work with the client and photographer on determining the best date(s) and time frame(s) for the final shoot. Some clients prefer weekend shoots to prevent disruptions to the office; others prefer shoots during the work day to best capture the culture of the space.

Information that is typically requested of the client:

• Best way to bring photography equipment into the space (e.g., loading dock, freight elevator)
• Recommended parking options
• Security desk or badges requirements
• Full access to the windows and lights in the selected images (e.g., access to locked offices in the shot)
• Photo release form signature (this form explains how FORM plans to use the photos for our marketing purposes)
• Room reservations (if needed)

4. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
FORM accompanies the photographer and photographer’s assistant on the final shoot. We’re there to troubleshoot any unexpected issues and provide input as needed. We also help expedite the process by assisting in the cleaning and staging.

The photographer typically brings two (2) carts of equipment which includes everything from lighting equipment to cleaning supplies. We typically store and stage this equipment in one central location that is out of the way (e.g., an unused conference room that is not in any of the shots) throughout the shoot.

Each shot takes about 1.5 hours to shoot. Most of this time goes into the cleaning and set-up. It is not uncommon that we will move or adjust objects that are in the way (e.g., plants, chairs, desk accessories) however we always do our best to return everything to its original position.

If employees are used in any of the images, we request they sign a photo authorization form.

5. THAT’S A WRAP!
FORM will share the final shots with the client to validate that no confidential information is shown in any of the images. Once approved, the images are finalized and used for various marketing purposes including award submissions, website portfolio, and presentations.

It is not uncommon that partners and consultants who were part of the project show interest in purchasing rights to the images as well. If this is the case, FORM or the photographer will notify the client of the interested parties.

In summary, thoughtful planning and communication are critical to an effective photography program and award winning shots. At FORM we approach each shoot the same, letting the photography speak for our firm and using our photography resources wisely to show our firm’s capabilities and tell our story.

To view a selection of FORM’s recent project photos, please visit our online portfolio: http://www.form-architects.com/projects/

Collaboration: A Space for Everyone

By: Katie Gomolak, Project Designer

With the rise of social media and smartphones, younger generations are constantly connected and aware of what is going on around them; whether it be with friends and family, in their communities, or throughout the world.  This always-on mentality has greatly influenced how younger generations work and thrive within their companies and jobs.  This has led to an increase in companies, and their employees, seeking out collaborative work spaces in their offices as the way people communicate evolves.

Areas for group discussions and collaboration are becoming increasingly popular requirements among a lot of the clients we see.  Whether it’s a space for the seasoned veteran to sit down and discuss something with a colleague, or an area for the younger, more tech-savvy group who thrives on constant communication among their peers, it’s important to create spaces that are flexible enough to appeal to the range of employees and work styles a company may have.  People work and are productive in a lot of different ways, and including a multitude of spaces that can serve multiple purposes helps to ensure people throughout the office are able to effectively use the spaces you create.  It is essential to understand a company’s culture and what these spaces will be used for in order to provide the best solutions for their needs.

Collaborative spaces can really be anything, but there are 5 areas that seem to be popular.  Small areas of tables and chairs offer a spot for 2-3 employees to sit down and collaborate on something away from their desks.  This is still a more formal setting that is usually located within or near workstations, allowing it to be a space that keeps productivity moving but allows for a slight change of pace or scenery from the standard desk environment.  Another option is to create areas made up of soft seating and more furniture pieces, which creates a more relaxed area for employees to take a break or have personal conversations.  It can also become a place for longer meetings between colleagues.  Below is an example of a project that has soft seating which can be used flexibly for a variety of group meetings and discussions.

While not included in the above photo, these areas often benefit from having some sort of writable surface as well, whether it be seating with tablet arms or marker boards mounted to the walls.  This allows for some flexibility in how people choose, and are able, to use the space.

Having spaces that are more tucked away can also be great for companies with larger groups that need to work together on something for an extended period of time.  These spaces give them an area to work and store things without fear of it being disrupted.  They can almost become dedicated working spaces for certain groups within a company.  Fully enclosed spaces and small conference rooms can also serve as collaboration space as well as a space that can be used by a single person who may want to step away from their desk and go to a quiet place where they can focus on a certain task.

Lastly, a main focal point of many offices involves a pantry area that has various seating types.  This space can be used for large, informal meetings and gatherings, or as another meeting space for smaller and larger groups within a company.  The image below highlights a few of the seating options that are popular within pantry spaces – tables and chairs and bar-height central islands.

Ultimately, the type of collaborative spaces that may work for one company may not work for another, but it is important to understand how a client plans to work within their space in order to provide a design that allows them to complete their work effectively.  So, whether it’s the younger generation using these spaces to bounce ideas off of one another and come to the best solution to their problem, or their more senior colleagues who like the idea of having spaces outside of a conference room to meet, collaborative spaces can be utilized by everyone and help to bring a company together.

FORM Loves Rosslyn

Since moving to Rosslyn late last year, the FORM team has seamlessly transitioned into our new neighborhood. The area has all of the obvious comforts of our old home across the river but with a little less retail temptation and a much easier commute. We’ve discovered an endless supply of resources right at our fingertips and are looking forward to exploring even more as the area continues to grow.

Here are our top 5, favorite things about Rosslyn [at least, so far!]

1. Freedom Park
2. Rooftop drinks at Amuse
3. Food Trucks
4. Our office + private patio
5. Outdoor Lunchtime Bootcamps