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!]
No one wants to sit at a desk all day. This is no surprise, but did you know “sitting is the new smoking”? You may have heard this catchphrase on the 24 hour news-cycle or at the latest furniture tradeshow. A tad over-dramatic, but things have to be to catch our attention nowadays. The research is piling up to show us all of the ways it negatively impacts our bodies (just Google it!). As office workers look for new ways to expand their minds and not their backsides, it is the job of good work place design to give them multiple options of how they can work.
A recent client of FORM wanted to address this head on in their open work environment. The design embraced the sit to stand concept with adjustable height work surfaces and even went so far as to provide a balance ball as a more “active” way to sit during a break from standing (pictured below).
That said, not every budget can allow for height adjustable desks. Another simple and affordable solution is to provide a standing height table or millwork island to allow employees to move away from their desk and work standing at their laptop. This also provides coworkers with an easy gathering spot to discuss a project without having to reserve a seated conference room. In another FORM project, this was achieved through furniture in the design of the work stations (see below).
To fully embrace the concept of being active during the day, without sacrificing productivity, Steelcase pioneered the idea of integrating movement into our technology use (see Steelcase photo below). Simply put, the Walkstation is a slow speed treadmill with integrated desk. To back up the benefits with research they have written Whitepapers on the subject, which can be found here: https://www.steelcase.com/resources/documents/?tax[doctype]=whitepaper
Others have begun to provide their own versions of Steelcase’s proprietary Walkstation at varying price points with various accessories. We recently provided one for a client willing to invest in employee health. Besides a staff only fitness center they provided a walking station in one of their phone rooms to allow people to have conference calls or heads down work while working towards their fitness goals.
There are many ways to easily integrate the idea of empowering employees to stand up for their health. It simply takes buy-in by the decision makers, planning by the design team and the support of office culture to make use of the tools provided. Happy standing!
Recently, FORM had the pleasure of welcoming Project Designer, Kara Dirling to our team! We’re thrilled to have her join us and knew she was the perfect person to feature in the first installment of our new recurring post, 20 Questions, meant to reveal a different side to our team members.
Title – Project Designer
Years in the industry – 4 years
Been loving life at FORM since – I joined FORM this Spring, but it was love at first sight.
Favorite destination – Italy
Hometown – Pittsburgh, PA aka Steeler Nation
Currently living in – Arlington, VA
Alma mater – University of Memphis Grad, Go Tigers Go!
Couldn’t live without: My iPhone. I am long distance from my family so it allows me to communicate with them daily. I also use it for literally everything.
If you were a drink, you’d be – A Tequila Sunrise. Vibrant, sweet and strong!
Hidden talent – I’m an artist/painter
If you were a song, you’d be – Pharrell Williams “Happy”. I’m optimistic and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Last meal: Thanksgiving Dinner
If you weren’t a designer, you’d be – A life coach. I’m constantly encouraging others around me to go for the things in life that they’re passionate about and to see their own strengths.
Favorite aspect of design – Interacting with people and being able to use my creativity to make a positive impact on someone’s day-to-day life through design.
First thing you’d buy after winning the lottery – A plane ticket to travel around the world.
Best spot in DC/VA that only the locals know – New to the area and am still figuring this one out. On the weekends you can find me checking out a new restaurant. Bob & Edith’s Diner is one of my favorites for breakfast.
Salty or sweet – Chocoholic
Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter – Summer…bring on the warm weather, suntan lotion and cold drinks!
The one piece of advice you’d share with someone getting into the industry – Hard work and a positive attitude can take you places you never imagined.
The first thing you do when you get to work – Check my e-mail with a mug of Chai tea and make a to-do list for the day.
CULTURE: “a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization, such as a business.” So says Merriam-Webster. The best companies define it, and usually early in the game. It becomes synonymous with their name and their brand. Think Zappos, Google, Nordstrom or Netflix and you know them by who they are as much as what they are. And if you know us at FORM, you know that our culture is what sets us apart. You feel it when you walk in the door and see it in the way we interact as a team.
If you own or lead a company, the culture you define becomes the guiding star for your employees. It picks up where the corporate policies leave off. It doesn’t just sustain employee enthusiasm (clearly important in itself), but it teaches them how to react and behave in any given situation on behalf of the company. Culture is also an extension of your brand. Remember the old saying that “perception is reality?” Think of this: you meet someone who tells you that they work at XYZ. Your perception of XYZ is instantly altered based on your opinion of that person. And if you’ve never heard of XYZ? Now that experience has defined your perception of it completely.
The best companies are really just the strongest teams. Teams that work and compete well together do so because they’re well coached. Sometimes it takes a whole coaching staff, but what they teach by word and example becomes the culture of that team. The best part is that it becomes self-sustaining. Teamwork is an integral part of strong office culture and strong office culture is an integral part of a company’s success as a whole.
My first exposure to workplace strategy involved implementing a plan determined prior to my involvement. It was for a large, well established consulting firm that took a lot of pride in its people. After a year of research and a pilot program, they set out on an endeavor that would forever change the organization, but unfortunately not in a positive way. Being on the forefront of this undertaking made me understand how workplace strategies can go wrong and how important change management really is.
I don’t believe you have to physically change your space significantly in order to implement a workplace strategy, although it does help. Providing more transparency, access to natural light, and allowing people to choose the type of space they want to work in greatly impacts people’s desire to come to work every day. Ensuring that people have the technology tools to stay connected and be productive is an important part of a strategy, but communication is the key factor and something that needs to be an integral part of the workplace strategy from the start. It is important to educate your people and establish advocacy among all levels of employees. By providing transparency of the goals for the change, the importance of your organization’s culture (establishing, changing, or keeping it intact), setting expectations, and providing management tools that support the strategy, holistic change can be very successful, increase productivity, and better the company’s culture as a whole. It can also help better position the organization’s flexibility for change in the future.
No matter what size your organization is, positive change can happen. Employees at all levels need to be reached and heard. In the case of the firm I worked with, there was very little communication or education directed at middle management and the buy-in at that level didn’t really occur. They were the ones who communicated directly to the levels below them, and many staff were left to their own devices when it came to understanding this enormous change. Having no real context or education of the company’s mission and goals, there was a large disconnect. The negative cultural shift that occurred afterwards took its toll and many of its prideful employees were lost.
Every organization has the power to implement change, but how you go about it is the key for success. When exploring any type of change, especially if it impacts culture, put change management at the top of your agenda.
Recently, we were named as one of the Best Places to Work in the Greater Washington, DC area by the Washington Business Journal. To be recognized among other great businesses in the area is an honor. As a company driven by creativity, we are constantly striving to bring a unique perspective to the industry landscape in both our design services and business culture. Commonly seen as two separate entities; our goal is to provide seamless connections between the two worlds for the benefit of our team and our clients. As if this year wasn’t off to a great start already, this acknowledgement has really provided a new sense of excitement and inspiration within our team. From philanthropy, to projects, to events, we genuinely enjoy being together and when you’re in good company, you’re always having fun!
There is a common saying, “the devil is in the details” which implies that details are where interest and mystery lie therefore emphasizing their importance. When talking design details it can mean many things, from how something is constructed to little intricacies that make up the greater whole. Below are a few examples, great and small, for how the DIVINE can be found in the details.
Bernhardt Design – Laine StoolLaine Stool
These wood seats are elegantly suspended in a jewelry-like setting.
Hill Country Apothecary by Matt Fajkus Architecture
Large scale architectural details provide support, signage and create a dynamic street presence.
interiordesigngiants.com
The uniqueness of the copper pipe for the railing and floating fireplace add details to this space that emphasize the comfortable industrial aesthetic.
Darran Grove Live Edge
A live edge to a piece of wood provides unending character to a space and easily transcends modern to rustic to industrial design, and beyond.
ideas4homes.com
The alignment of the wall panels with the windows and the shelving were thoroughly thought through and detailed in this modern space.
interiordesigngiants
Being mindful of lighting and using it to highlight the floating bench detail provides function and ambiance to this outdoor setting.
Tunto LED Desk Lamp
Some details find themselves in the immense thought and engineering of a simple product such as this LED light, like this one by Tunto.
Recently, FORM had the pleasure of hosting Allison Hoffman, an interior design student from the University of Kentucky. She spent the week shadowing our staff to gain a better understanding of the field that she was most interested in pursuing post graduation. In the article below, she shares her best practices and advice for other students looking for a similar experience. [Thank you, Allison!]
Top [Left to Right]: Jessie Swain, Matt Gannon, Ariel Suares, Cassidy Stoughton Bottom [Left to Right]: Allison Hoffman, Carrie Riggins, Ronza Youssef
By: Allison Hoffman
I had the opportunity to shadow FORM Architects during my spring break from the University of Kentucky, where I am a third year interior design student. Each year, my university reaches out to firms across the country in order to pair design students with a firm that shares their interests and goals. After being paired with a firm, we contact them to plan our spring break shadowing there. I was paired with FORM Architects because of my focus on workplace design and my interest in experiencing Washington, D.C.
Without the help of a shadowing program, I would suggest reaching out to a firm you are interested in on your own, as I am sure most companies would be happy to host a student at their firm for a few days. If you are already planning on visiting a new city, it would be a great idea to contact a firm there to ask if you could spend time with them to see how they work. FORM had the characteristics of a firm I would love to be a part of in the future, which was a wonderful, eye-opening experience. But, even if you spend time with a firm that ends up not being the best fit for you, it will still be an important learning experience.
When you contact the firm about shadowing, I suggest sending your resume and portfolio to allow them to get to know you better. When the firm can see which skills you have developed in school, they will be better equipped to plan your visit. FORM verified what they had seen on my resume once I arrived at their firm to ensure that they were involving me in the stages of the design process I was familiar and comfortable with. While I was with FORM for the week, I made sure to be flexible and available for whatever they asked me to do and wherever they wanted me to spend time. They had my best interests in mind and had carefully chosen meetings for me to attend with them that would be most beneficial for me. It is very important to be honest with the firm about what you know how to do so they don’t assign you a project that you cannot complete well. While shadowing, you want to help them produce good work in a timely manner, and your honesty will earn their trust and respect.
During your time at the firm, take advantage of each experience you have by asking questions about what you are observing and staying engaged. Firms have a variety of different cultures, so it is necessary to take time to understand the way your firm works. This will allow you to see which characteristics of the company fit your interests and personality, which can aid you in your future job search. Observing the culture will answer questions about how you should dress and act in their environment, and what the firm values. At appropriate times, you should spark up conversations regarding how the firm operates and design ideas you are particularly passionate about. This will show the firm your personality and they will most likely offer new insights and suggest future opportunities to gain experience in those areas.
My last piece of advice is to continue the shadowing experience by taking notes and documenting your time at the firm with photos and sketches. In order to expand upon your experience, it is important to keep in touch with the contacts you made at the firm. A good first step to growing your relationship is to send a simple thank you email. This kind gesture can open opportunities with the firm in the future. I wrote down the advice I received and any new information I learned throughout the week with FORM so I could reflect on those things in the future. Gaining professional experience is so valuable and I would recommend shadowing a few firms (including FORM Architects) to better understand the design process and to get a taste of your future career.
Where to begin? When working with FORM Architects, our starting point is getting to know the culture, the essence, the vision of the client. We use this knowledge to guide our recommendations throughout the design process. And this ensures that our designs are rooted in purpose.
Here is an example project to show you how our client’s vision was infused in to their space:
This Arlington based financial company was looking to create an interactive, transparent environment that exudes mature technology.
The largely open office boasts incredible views of Washington landmarks while the limited interior glass-fronted offices are conveniently located for managers to have access easy to their teams. In order for this highly engaged group of employees to maximize opportunities for innovation, conference rooms of varying sizes are scattered around the dual floor space. Texture and volume aid in delineating sub-environments while lively lighting sparks creativity. Vibrant colors were sparsely but carefully used to reinforce the slick brand.
With the first few months of 2016 under our belt and spring in the air, we have decided to breathe some new life into our firm with the introduction of our very own blog, inFORM. We have assembled a great, internal team of bloggers that represent every facet of our brand. Each contributor delivers a unique perspective and voice that will dial in and provide interesting insight into, who FORM is.
We’ve given free rein to our blog team to share their expertise and discuss any topics that they consider to be interesting or inspiring. We’re passionate about design but are collectively so much more than that and hope to convey this through inFORM.
In addition to design and architecture related content, you’ll also get a behind the scenes look into our office culture [something we’re very proud of]. As any architect/designer knows, hours can be long and sleep can be scarce but after we work hard, we play hard.
We’re so excited to share this new part of FORM and provide a unique platform for our team to share what they’re most passionate about.
In addition to design and architecture related content, you’ll also get a behind the scenes look into our office culture [something we’re very proud of]. As any architect/designer knows, hours can be long and sleep can be scarce but after we work hard, we play hard.
formarchitects.wordpress.com 