10.26.09 | In the years I have been writing about interior design, I have been continually amazed by the intelligence, talent, breadth of experience and depth of knowledge of interior design professionals. And, almost to a person, these professionals are highly attuned to the notion of completing their projects in accordance with the wishes of their clients.
A&D Firms >>
10.24.09 | Career path’s are not always linear, but often have interesting angles and peculiar trajectories. Michael Winstanley, AIA, AICP, is one such case, and, as of October 1, he is the Managing Principal of Mancini•Duffy/Winstanley, the D.C./Virginia regional offices of NY-headquartered Mancini Duffy. Just last week, Mancini Duffy announced that Mr. Winstanley and his team of seven and Doug Svitchan and George Eisenberger of Still and Svitchan have become part of the the 35 member force in the D.C. region for Mancini•Duffy.
10.26.09 | Of course you will recall George Frideric Handel, the German who
was composing in England in the Italianate manner. Hence, The
Messiah. This may make it easier for you to remember another
multi-cultural icon, Richard Sapper, the German industrial
designer, working in Italy in the . . . well, the American manner,
creating such successful objects as the Knoll Sapper chair, the
ThinkPad laptop for IBM, the Tizio Lamp for Artemide and
the Melodic Teakettle for Alessi. O.K., the last two are very
Italian, but have been well received in the American market.
Product >>
10.26.09 | Chicago's Agati is something to go out of your way for at this year's NeoCon East. Agati is a relatively small niche player in the contract furniture arena, but it is making some interesting moves.
Events >>, Manufacturing >>
10.26.09| With the introduction of the Arissa Collection at the 2008 Healthcare Design Conference, KI set out to change the way interior designers and facility managers think about bariatric seating. Arissa creates an entirely new category of furniture; one that is universal and serves the various needs of patients, family and staff members. The collection supports individuals up to 750 pounds, yet can accommodate a vast spectrum of users without appearing oversized or too delicate.
Product >>
10.19.09 | On Monday October 12, 2009, Tuohy Furniture Corporation and Haworth Inc. signed an agreement pursuant to which Haworth acquired part ownership of the Minnesota-based manufacturer of executive casegoods, conference tables, seating and lounge furniture. “This partnership will strategically strengthen product mix and distribution networks,” said the press release issued the following Wednesday.
10.19.09 | NeoCon East, the regional NeoCon that took hold in a big way in the U.S. because of its focus on the federal government, returns October 28-29 for the seventh year to the Baltimore Convention Center. Thousands of innovative products and resources for Corporate, Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail, Government, Institutional and Residential interiors from more than 250 exhibitors will be part of the show.
Events >>
10.19.09 | Those involved in office interiors projects should start paying very close attention to the discussion revolving around “green leasing.” The Model Green Lease that was written by a national task force is showing signs of becoming the game changer originally envisioned.
10.19.09| Sustainability has to go far beyond racking up LEED points if thing are going to change enough to put a dent in environmental problems. Moreover, if any of your prospective new hires is adamant about sustainability in their employment but they can only talk about LEED, you will know they aren't serious.
10.19.09| As I walked down the driveway from fetching the paper this autumn morn the sky was iron gray and seeping its chill into the air and me. The grand maple in our front yard has gone from green to gold to bare-branched …in what seems like the blink of a barnswallow’s eye. The leaves lay strewn and still on the leaning-into-sleep grass.
Ira Joe >>
10.12.09 | Play is misunderstood and definitely underrated. Sure, it can and should be fun, but it is also a vital human activity for reasons we are only beginning to understand. Take away school recess because of budget cuts or an emphasis on academic success, and we wonder why we have an obesity problem or our kids have trouble concentrating and distorted values.
People >>, Technology >>
10.12.09| Convia, the Herman Miller company that’s helping designers help their clients save money through energy savings, has just announced that its new Energy Track Reporting Tool is now commercially available. The tool, which was introduced at Neocon WTF09, displays a space’s actual energy usage on a simple and intuitive dashboard interface, provides accurate reporting of energy consumption at a zone or circuit level.
Product >>, Technology >>
10.12.09 | What's not to celebrate with a 50 year anniversary? On the evening of September 25th, the ASID Washington Metro Chapter rounded out its half century of existence with the final event of the 2008-09 year: Celebrate Design! Held in the Rotunda of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, guests entered the top floor space by climbing the curved staircase, there to be greeted by an exceptional view of Washington DC.
Events >>, Prof. Associations >>
10.12.09| I’ve had time on my hands recently. And I’ve noticed things that need to be accomplished. My desk is cluttered. There are dirt smudges on the garage door opener-button on the wall beside the entrance to the house. (Sorry about all those prepositional phrases.) My e-mail name ought to be changed; it seemed so cute ten years ago. But now I think it’s dippy and looks like something a gum-snapping sophomore would come up with …sitting in study hall. Or detention.
Ira Joe >>
0.05.2009 | Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? It’s not just an
advertising slogan, it’s a 21st century mantra reaching beyond
the cell phone into the workplace. Can anything be done …beyond giving a
shout and getting a shout in reply? Michael Polan, Director of
Sales for Lencore Acoustics, says, “Of course.” And he says so at
a reasonable volume. The how is “sound masking.”
Product >>, Interviews >>
10.05.2009 | IIDEX/NeoCon Canada in Toronto – Canada’s largest trade show for the built environment, held Sept. 24 and 25 at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place – drew 15,743 registered attendees and 375 exhibitors, versus last year’s 16,230 attendees and 400 exhibitors. It was an impressively strong showing during the middle of a recession.
Events >>
10.05.2009 |The IIDEX/NeoCon Canada Innovation Awards are intended to celebrate the industry's leading manufacturers and suppliers within the fields of design and architecture, and recognize outstanding achievements in new product design.
10.05.2009| ARIDO (The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario) announced the winners of its annual ARIDO Awards Program, during a gala dinner at the Liberty Grand in Toronto during IIDEX/NeoCon Canada.
