GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

Cactus Design – Connected Architecture, Experiential Design

Cactus, a new form of hybrid design studio, was founded three years ago by branding consultant Noah Waxman, digital innovator Lucas Werthein, and architect Marcelo Pontes. The studio is a manifestation of the three founders’ belief that physical space and digital space are converging and that the convergence will continue to grow over the coming decades. officeinsight publisher Bob Beck interviews Cactus co-founder Noah Waxman.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 3…

HOK Researches Designing for a Neurodiverse Workforce

HOK recently published a thought leadership report titled, “Designing a Neurodiverse Workplace”. What is Neurodiversity? The new report provides a fascinating deep dive into the topic of neurodiversity, how companies are beginning to embrace a more neurodiverse workforce, and how designers can create more neurodiverse workplaces.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 10…

Concurrents – Environmental Psychology: Residential Design, At Work

NeoCon showrooms this year, more than ever, were packed with home-style furniture for workplace use. Couches, armchairs, coffee tables, and more that would make any residential furniture vendor proud were displayed beside typical office chairs and work surfaces. officeinsight columnist Sally Augustin discusses the psychological reasons why this increase in the use of residential-esque furniture at work makes sense.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 17…

CITED:“IF A CLUTTERED DESK IS A SIGN OF A CLUTTERED MIND, OF WHAT, THEN, IS AN EMPTY DESK A SIGN?” —LAURENCE J. PETER

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I was recently introduced to Cactus, a new form of hybrid design studio. The studio was conceived from the get-go to capitalize on the varied backgrounds of its three founding partners. Branding consultant Noah Waxman, digital innova-tor Lucas Werthein, and architect Marcelo Pontes came together just over three years ago because they believe physical space and digital space are converging and that the convergence will continue to grow over the coming decades. So they organized the studio with equal parts architects and designers for the built environment, digital designers – back-end and front-end developers and coders who create things in digital space and marketing/branding strategists.

In its literature Cactus describes itself as, “an expe-riential design studio that creates work at the intersec-tion of physical architecture and digital technology. The studio works for visionary clients across a range of industries including media, fitness, medicine, entertain-ment, automotive and financial services. All client work is united by one objective – to imagine, design, and build what is next.”

“Part architecture studio, part software engineering firm, part innovation consultancy, Cactus is a first-of-its-kind hybrid. We design and build new experiences, products and services. We take pride in our ability to work with visionary clients in uncharted territories. And unlike a typical agency or consultancy, our work process extends from pre-concept strategy, through design, production and all the way to successful launch in the real world.” 

In a recent interview, Mr. Waxman said, “We believe that digital space and physical space are converging already and will continue to converge over the next few decades to the point where the rooms, buildings and cities we inhabit will be transformed and informed by the content and data that the digital devices in our lives collect. We believe the spaces we live in will be able to collect information about our preferences and interests and pass that off to digital experiences we’re having on our devices and on screens and in our rooms.”

The Museum of Me is a product Cactus developed that illustrates this thinking. A modular and scalable structure, the Museum of Me can be deployed as a tem-porary exhibit or permanent installation. A user gives the Museum of Me access to his or her Instagram handle and an AI algorithm develops the digital contents of the Instagram account into a two-minute kaleidoscopic col-lage displayed on myriad screens that surround the user.

Cactus Design – Connected Architecture, Experiential Designby Bob Beck

Cactus co-founder, Noah Waxman. Photography courtesy of Cactus.

Cactus co-founder, Lucas Werthein

Cactus co-founder, Marcelo Pontes

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a&dHere’s a link to the Museum of Me concept video.

From Cactus’ website: “Physical and digital spaces are converging. More and more, rooms will be able to react to us and digital experiences will happen at architectural scale. We founded Cactus because we are excited about that convergence.”

Cactus’ work units usually include user experience design, software development, hardware develop-ment, brand strategy, architectural design, furniture and object design, business design, video and animation.

Lab 100, a recently completed project at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City illustrates how these

A Museum of Me installation.

Data from testing equipment is gathered.At Mount Sinai’s Lab 100. the patient provides background health information. (A model acting as a patient),

The doctor uses interactive digital media to discuss findings. Data from the usual medical tests is added.

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a&delements can be brought together to enhance and greatly improve the ex-perience we all have on occasion – a trip to the doctor. When one checks in at Lab100 the usual medical his-tory and “paperwork” are collected digitally. The results of tests are saved digitally and then during the consultation phase of the visit all the data gathered is displayed digitally and interactively, providing a much more satisfying, holistic approach to a visit to the doctor. Here’s a link to an excellent video in which the To-day Show’s Savannah Guthrie visits Lab100 (sorry about the commercial, but the video is worth it).

Another example of Cactus’ design and implement approach can be found at La Concha Renaissance Resort in the heart of Puerto Rico’s hottest locale, Condado, San Juan. Hired to enhance the experience at Fifty Eight, a club in the resort, Cactus built a “Cubic Sky” consist-

ing of 300 separate ceiling panels designed and built specifically for the project. Software designed by Cactus generates changing light pat-terns, colors and intensities across

the custom frames, lights and cov-ers. The software visualizes the data in meaningful ways using a combi-nation of graphic design, computer algorithms and animation.

Cubic Sky is transformed when the club, Fifty Eight is in full club-mode.

Cubic Sky at La Concha Renaissance Resort in San Juan, PR.

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The experience provided by Cubic Sky evolves throughout the day. While the sun is in the sky above San Juan, the light panels cycle through a natural palette of colors and visual designs that mimic the clouds pass-ing by – evoking the natural beauty of San Juan. In the early evening, the colors of the sunset from that day are reflected by the light colors and patterns on the ceiling. At night, the ceiling reacts to the music playing below, using inputs from the audio system. DJs, artists and hosts are able to control the light patterns and

create unique, ephemeral experi-ences for the hotel guests.

“Cubic Sky was a demonstration of the possibilities that are available when custom design is paired with deep architectural and technological capabilities,” said Cactus’ co-found-er, Lucas Werthein. “Hotel guests now can access a dynamic experi-ence that is deeply rooted in the geographical aspects of San Juan that they came to enjoy, enhancing an already beautiful experience.”

When Beyoncé was asked to per-form at the United Nations Humani-

tarian Day, Cactus was hired by RSA Films to be part of a collaborative effort to create the visual backdrop for her performance. As you might expect, the result was spectacular. Here is a link to the Cactus website and a video that features a quick peek into how the project was built and then on to the performance (the video is a short scroll down from where the page opens).

In the design of workplaces there is an undeniable trend away from “my father’s office” and toward workplaces that are fun, interest-ing, branded, more relaxed – places where employees and company visi-tors “experience” the personality and culture of the company. Increasingly design firms are being asked by their corporate clients to create experien-tial workplaces that will help them attract and retain top talent and hopefully inspire innovative thinking among their employees.

The opportunity to enhance the “experiential design” of offices, corporate headquarters and manu-facturers’ showrooms using the vast possibilities offered by digital tech seems obvious. But for many firms the growing demand for such expe-riential design is a source of angst. Even some interior design firms with

Cubic Sky in sunset mode. Cubic Sky in mid-day mode.

The General Assembly hall at the UN, prior to the Beyoncé performance.

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a&damazing talent and experience in de-signing efficient and effective work-places don’t feel confident about the technical challenges of creating exciting branded experiences that bring physical features together with state-of-the-art digital components.

Whether you’re a manufacturer looking for a bold new experiential showroom or a design firm with a forward-thinking client, a col-laboration with Cactus could be the answer if you need a partner with tremendous capability in digital-tech married to a background in brand-ing strategy and architecture. In our interview Mr. Waxman said, “Our cli-ents should hire us when they have big new ideas but they’re not sure how to bring them to life. Or when they have questions they’re trying to

ask about what experiences in their physical spaces should be like. Then we work with them to advance those questions and advance that thinking

while providing the technical ex-pertise in architecture and software development from the beginning to come up with what’s possible.” n

A project in development, Southern Lights.

A project currently in development, Digital Mist is a virtual feature installation for a retail environment.

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research

If you’re not already woke to the term neurodiversity, welcome to the new-est segment in the broader diversity movement that is happening across the country. HOK recently published a thought leadership report titled “De-signing a Neurodiverse Workplace”, and the report provides a fascinating deep dive into an important theme impacting workplace environments everywhere.

In addition to studying up on the re-port, we spoke to Christine Vandover, principal and senior project interior designer, who co-authored the report, to learn more about the topic.

What is neurodiversity? The report defines it clearly:

“’Neurodiversity’ refers to the natural range of variation in human neurocog-nition. It’s an umbrella term for people who aren’t neurotypical, and includes such conditions as autism spectrum

disorder (ASD), attention deficit hy-peractivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia (a neurologically based physi-cal disorder) and Tourette syndrome, among others. Approximately 15-20 percent of people are ‘neurodivergent.’”

“Neurodiversity also includes neurological challenges resulting from brain injury or other environmental causes. Even among those considered neurotypical, one in four will experi-

ence a mental health challenge, such as depression or stress, at some point in life. Because of widespread under-diagnosis, more than half of those on what are considered neurodiverse areas of the continuum don’t even know it.”

More companies are beginning to embrace neurodiversity in their workforce, to the benefit of all parties involved:

HOK Researches Designing for a Neurodiverse Workforceby Mallory Budy

“The crisp white furniture, dropped ceiling, soft materials, and dramatic but calming colors make this area of Convene’s coworking space in Los Angeles an oasis from the workspace – a place where people can go to refresh.”

“Use of color at Convene’s Los Angeles coworking space creates visual interest while highlight-ing and defining seating areas as individual pods. The graphic element along the stairs ties together the spaces while assisting with wayfinding.”

Photography & Images: courtesy of HOK

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“Strong imagery supports branding and reinforces the culture and core messaging while aiding in wayfinding and the creation of brain maps.”

“Strong wood elements in the ceiling and on the floor help tie together the space and scale it to the people inside. The pattern on the glass pro-vides shielding for those within the space, subtly reinforces the brand and creates interest without being overwhelming.”

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research“Instead of seeing natural variations

in the brain as pathologies, the new neurodiversity paradigm welcomes and facilitates the diverse talents of those of us who think differently. Neurodiverse thinkers often possess exceptional talents when it comes to innovation, creative storytelling, empathy, design thinking, pattern recognition, coding and problem solving.”

“Journalist Harvey Blume, who along with autism advocate Judy Singer first used the term ‘neurodiverse’ in the late 1990s, pointed out that neurotypical was simply one kind of brain wiring that could even be inferior when it comes to working with technology. ‘Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiver-sity is for life in general,’ writes Blume. ‘Who can say what form of wiring will prove best at any given moment? Cybernetics and computer culture,

for example, may favor a somewhat autistic cast of mind.’”

“JPMorgan Chase reports that after three to six months of working in its Mortgage Banking Technology group, autistic employees were doing the work of people who typically required three years to train – and were 50 percent more productive. At SAP, neurodiverse team members helped develop an innovation that led to a technical solu-tion worth an estimated $40 million in savings.”

Said Ms. Vandover, “A lot of compa-nies are really starting to be proactive about this. It’s another layer on top of the diversity movement happening, similar to the Me Too, women in the workplace movement. A lot of tech and coding companies are open to working in new ways and new types of spaces. Media and other creative companies are also a leading sector – they really

want to harness their talent. They often have a younger C-suite and a younger workforce that is open to trying new things. These industries also have a lot of individual focus work, and so they want to offer their staff the right things.”

The neurodiverse among us face certain obstacles and challenges:

“The challenge is that neurodiverse workers may not always be able to thrive within existing workplace norms and practices. Along with their upside talents, people with certain kinds of neurodivergence may be challenged to concentrate, manage distractions, regulate emotions, recall information, process details quickly or communi-cate effectively. Despite the sought-af-ter advantages and specialist skill sets that neurodiverse thinkers bring, they frequently face obstacles in getting and staying hired.”

“Strong contrast coupled with natural materials in Stryker’s office in Brampton, Ontario, ground people in a sophisticated yet calming environment that feels secure. The styling and use of residential elements help employees feel welcome.”

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research“Actions that forward-thinking

employers are taking to make it easier for neurodiverse staff to contribute in-clude modifying the interview process, matching neurodiverse employees with in-house mentors and conducting awareness training for existing staff. On-the-job accommodations can be as simple as permitting the use of noise cancelling headphones, reducing lighting or screen brightness, provid-ing access to supportive software, and allowing breaks for activity or a change of scene. Employers surveyed by the U.S. Job Accommodation Network (JAN) reported that more than half of the adjustments cost nothing to imple-ment and the rest came at a typical cost of $500.”

“The premise of inclusive design is that instead of trying to choose or change people to fit their environ-ment, an organization can get the right people for its needs – and simultane-ously help them live more fulfilling lives – by changing the environment to welcome all those people who offer unique talents.”

HOK notes that the most common workplace challenges center on the issue of sensitivity:

“Neurodiverse thinkers often can be over- or under-stimulated by factors in their environment such as lighting, sound, texture, smells, temperature, air quality or overall sense of secu-rity. Any comprehensive approach to designing for neurodiversity should carefully consider these experiential aspects of the work environment.”

That said, different neurological con-ditions manifest in different ways, and even people who share the same con-dition may experience it to varying de-grees and express it in different forms. ‘If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,’ Dr. Stephen Shore, an advocate for people with that condition, has said, and his statement applies to other conditions just as well. That is why one of the most effective ways to design for diversity is to provide choices.”

“Choice enables people – neuro-divergent and neurotypical alike – to more effectively manage their own needs with dignity and autonomy. Ver-

satile environments that provide for a range of preferences make differences less apparent, fostering equality and integration. These environments also allow for individual and operational changes, helping to make an organiza-tion more adaptable.”

Inclusive design can begin simply. Ms. Vandover notes that it’s important to pause and consider, “What would make anyone function better?”

“When we ask this question, we be-gin to think about a sense of order. The planning at the beginning is the most critical part of the design process, be-cause that’s when you’re really thinking about how to lay these spaces out.”

“In the Town Pavilion garage in Kansas City, strong graphics with a common theme but varied colors help with wayfinding and orientation.”

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“Strong lines, contrast, texture and varied light levels emphasize this feature element and create intuitive navigation in WPP’s Chicago office.”

DESIGN STRATEGIES FROM HOK:“A workplace assessment can provide HR and corporate

real estate teams with valuable information for creating more effective work environments for the neurodivergent. In planning a new space or overhauling an existing one, incorporating these design features will help create an in-clusive culture and physical environment that works better for everyone.”

>Provide a wide variety of spaces – some for socializing and others for semi-private or private concentration.

>Create active zones and space that encourage move-ment.

>Place work points in low-traffic areas.>Offer dedicated quiet rooms to accommodate intense

concentration.>Consider using dividers in appropriate areas to block

and reduce noise.>Design acoustically sensitive environments that gener-

ate white noise. >Use acoustic dampening materials around loud equip-

ment or noisy areas to alleviate crossover sounds. >Provide work spaces that are not over-lit and that

have adjustable lighting levels or areas with varied lighting levels.

>Avoid fluorescent lighting and poor-quality LED to reduce flickering.

>Ensure access to daylight. >Incorporate natural elements into spaces to create a

calming effect.>Provide work spaces that are well-ventilated.>Create non-stimulating color schemes intermixed with

areas of high stimulation.>Mitigate stress by avoiding chaotic patterns in work areas.>Prevent sensory overload by creating an ecosystem

with different settings and microenvironments that enable people to find the right level of stimulation, be it visual, auditory or physical. For those who are under-stim-ulated, provide spaces that have hands-on tactile elements and sensations that can assist with focusing.

>Design space that is intuitive to navigate and has a sense of order.

>Use color strategically to help with orientation and wayfinding.

>Emphasize wayfinding cues through repetition of sig-nage as well as consistency and clarity of message.

>Create spaces that enable visual connections.>Include distinct, memorable spaces. >Consider providing nourishment stations to help all

staff maintain healthy blood sugar and hydration levels.>Consider providing areas for doodling/drawing in col-

laborative areas.

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research“Recently we’ve seen a small move

toward clients providing ‘tech-free’ zones to their staff in the workplace. I don’t think a lot of people are doing that yet, but a really minimal, clean space like that helps to remove imme-diate stressors.”

“We explored the idea of focus rooms can become a tranquility room, using a preset system that can toggle from one to the other. If a person can identify that they need to focus or relax at a certain time, it’s important that they have a room like that available.”

“We also developed the idea of having group work rooms become ‘art rooms’. My Pilates instructor was telling me about her work with adults

with autism. She leads them through movement similar to Pilates, but she also has them do things like origami and other forms of art as a way to re-center – things that move the mind to focus on something different, to disengage from something the brain is worried about.”

In its report, HOK notes that the most impactful solution to sensitivity is providing choice, and the report outlines five types of choice that are the most important to consider when designing a neuro-inclusive workplace: spatial character, acoustic quality, thermal comfort, light, and degree of stimulation. The report also includes intriguing interviews with experts in

neurodiversity, and we encourage our readers to head to HOK’s website to read through the full report at leisure.

In addition to a set of Design Strategies for creating neurodiverse workplaces (printed here), HOK details equally important “Opera-tional Changes” that organizations can make to help facilitate a more neuro-inclusive work environment – such as encourage intermittent breaks between focus periods, promoting a clean desk policy, and providing assistive software and technology such as speech-to-text software, time management programs and organizational tools.

And on a granular, more personal level, the HOK report also identifies “Individual Adjustments” to work styles and habits that organizations can educate and encourage their people to make – such as setting an alarm to fo-cus for defined periods of time followed by a break and choosing a low-traffic area if working in an open space.

This new “neurodiverse lens” through which we’re beginning to view our workplaces can help us design more effective spaces for both the neurodiverse and neurotypical.

“It’s really about wellness for everybody, not just the neurodiverse – people struggling with anxiety, depres-sion. And our needs change from day-to-day.,” said Ms. Vandover. “Life is stressful, and we change. If we stayed the same, it would be boring. When we talk about the stressors that contrib-ute to our day, we see that everyone has them, and everyone has a unique combination of stressors.”

“Neurodivergence brings a lot of creativity to your team. And often these differences between people’s needs in the workplace is simply the result of different personalities – not necessarily neurotypical or neurodiverse, but rather differences in personalities and prefer-ences. This more mindful approach and inclusivity in design can impact every person in the workplace.” n“In WPP’s office at 3 World Trade Center in New York, vibrant pops of color, pattern, playful artistic elements

and varied lighting schemes create a stimulating, energized space in a location occupants can elect to experience or avoid.”

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concurrentsENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGYResidential Design, At Workby Sally Augustin, Ph.D.

NeoCon showrooms this year were packed with home-style furniture for workplace use. Couches, armchairs, coffee tables, and more that would make any residential furniture vendor proud were displayed beside typical office chairs and work surfaces.

This increase in the use of residential-esque furniture at work makes sense.

Much of the residential furniture on view features plenty of curved lines and surfaces, more than the most usual workplace options, even the typical offerings for break areas. We associate straight lines and sharp angles with efficiency and curves with comfort, according to rigorous scien-

tific studies, so relatively more curve-intense furniture is a natural for some workplace areas. No environment or anything else is ever entirely rectilin-ear or curvilinear, both extremes would seem odd, so what’s in play here are the relative number of curved and straight lines. And we’re not just talking curved/straight forms in furniture here – the same mental apparatus that links particular sorts of lines to comfort/efficiency in furniture does the same

with upholstery and floor coverings, for example.

Residential furniture also features plenty of cushions – sometimes

they’re deeper and other times lower profile, but not many resi-dential seats on view lacked un-der-butt padding. Just as research

links curves with perceptions of com-fort, it has tied sitting on a cushioned surface, even if that padding is just an inch or so deep, with more relaxed interactions between people.

“We associate straight lines and sharp angles with efficiency and curves with comfort, according to rigorous scien-tific studies, so relatively more curve-intense furniture is a natural for some workplace areas.”

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concurrentsResidential design brings home to

mind, and we generally have posi-tive feelings about our homes. We’re attached to them and can decom-press, mentally refresh, and express who we are at home, which makes us feel great – and experience the sorts of positive moods that lead to outstanding cognitive performance, for example. To the extent that at-work residential design gets us into a feel-good mindset, it has the potential to generate great returns on the money invested in it.

Thinking of home while at work has the potential, however, not to put people in a positive, relaxed mental state but to get them thinking about the fact that they’re not home. That can build tension if people aren’t reap-ing rewards that they value from the time they’re spending at work.

The “personality” that an organiza-tion expresses through its residential environments needs to closely align with employer culture. Non-residential

workplace design elements that are successful nonverbally transmit mes-sages about how organizations “live.” At-home type spaces at work are another channel that an organization can use to express who they are; one that can transmit information about values, etc., that can be challenging to convey in other workplace zones. Residential-type spaces that send sig-nals that the employees who add the most value treasure can be valuable recruiting tools.

Residential design at work can help workers unwind and smooth socializ-ing between them. At-home type areas need to “speak” an organization’s culture to make their greatest possible contribution to its bottom line. n

Sally Augustin, PhD, is the editor of Research Design Connections (www.researchdesignconnections.com). Research Design Connections reports on research conducted by social and physical scientists that designers can apply in practice. Insights derived

from recent studies are integrated with classic, still relevant findings in con-cise, powerful articles. Topics covered range from the cognitive, emotional, and physiological implications of sen-sory and other physical experiences to the alignment of culture, personality, and design, among others. Informa-tion, in everyday language, is shared in a monthly subscription newsletter, an archive of thousands of published articles, and a free daily blog. Read-ers learn about the latest research findings immediately, before they’re available elsewhere. Sally, who is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, is also the author of Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for In-terior Architecture (Wiley, 2009) and, with Cindy Coleman, The Designer’s Guide to Doing Research: Applying Knowledge to Inform Design (Wiley, 2012). She is a principal at Design With Science (www.designwithscience.com) and can be reached at sallyau-gustin@designwithscience.com.

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 19 OF 31

r-d connectionRESEARCH-DESIGN CONNECTIONPerchingby Sally Augustin, Ph.D.

Noguchi and colleagues studied the experience of “perching.” As the researchers explain, “Potential alternatives for conventional sitting and standing postures are hybrid sit-stand postures (i.e. perching)…participants completed 19 1-min static trials, from sitting (90°) to standing (180°), sequentially in 5° trunk–thigh angle

increments. The perching phase was determined to be 145–175° for males and 160–175° for females…Chair designs aimed at reducing the lower limb demands within 115–170° trunk–thigh angle may improve the feasibility of sustaining the perched posture…Perching can improve lumbar posture at a cost of increased lower limb de-mands, suggesting potential avenues for chair design improvement.” n

Mamiko Noguchi, Michel Glinka, Graham Mayberry, Kimihiro Nogu-chi, and Jack Callaghan. 2019. “Are Hybrid Sit-Stand Postures a Good Compromise Between Sitting and Standing.” Ergonomics, vol. 62, no. 6, pp. 811-822, https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2019.1577496

Sally Augustin, PhD, a cognitive sci-entist, is the editor of Research Design

Connections (www.researchdesigncon-nections.com), a monthly subscription newsletter and free daily blog, where recent and classic research in the social, design, and physical sciences that can inform designers’ work are presented in straightforward language. Readers learn about the latest re-search findings immediately, before they’re available elsewhere. Sally, who is a Fellow of the American Psycho-logical Association, is also the author of Place Advantage: Applied Psychol-ogy for Interior Architecture (Wiley, 2009) and, with Cindy Coleman, The Designer’s Guide to Doing Research: Applying Knowledge to Inform Design (Wiley, 2012). She is a principal at Design With Science (www.designwith-science.com) and can be reached at sallyaugustin@designwithscience.com.

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officenewswireFor complete releases, visit www.officeinsight.com/officenewswire.

PRODUCT INTROS>Concertex has included two new Sunbrella Contract tex-tiles, Marble and Granite, in its fall 2019 Topo collection. Starting the creative process with a pencil and paper, Design Director Aaron Mensik brought his hand drawn sketches to life with the launch of the new collection. Marble transforms the exqui-site textures revealed beneath rock formations into a scenic and serene textile. It offers a large-scale repeat (28” horizontal x 49.5” vertical) in eight sophisticated colorways, constructed with Sunbrella solution dyed acrylic and polyester yarns to allow for extreme lightfastness and du-rability. It has a stain resistant finishing, is bleach cleanable, and is eco-friendly with an ACT Facts Silver certification. Granite was designed as a complementing coordinate to Marble. It combines yarns with multiple fiber colors to create a soft, fluctuation in color that is reminiscent of wool. Offered in 12 colorways, it is constructed with Sun-brella yarns with a water- and stain-repellent finishing, and boasting over 100,000 double rubs is created to withstand the rigorous demands of high traffic areas. Read More

>Haworth’s new Cabana Lounge™ and Pip™ Col-laborative Table are now available to order. Cabana Lounge, created in collabora-tion with Patricia Urquiola, is billed as “the first sofa system designed to deliver optimal user performance, comfort, and design to create unique destination spaces in the office environment, enabling effective individual and col-laborative work.” Its simple, modular statement of line in-cludes thoughtfully integrated worksurfaces, embedded power options, visual privacy, and application flexibility. The Pip Collaborative Table was created to provide a flexible worksurface that’s just the right height for groups to work in the comfort of lounge or booth settings. Like the per-sonal laptop table that shares its name, the Pip collab-orative table has an elegant,

freestanding design that can be easily moved to provide a worksurface whenever and wherever it’s needed. Read More

>Uniboard launched Studio, a collection of 20 digital designs. Offered in the Vel-lum finish on a particleboard or MDF core, these compos-ite wood panels are mainly aimed at the architectural, commercial, and institu-

tional segments. Explains Don Raymond, Vice President, Marketing and U.S. Sales, “We asked ourselves: what could we offer our design-oriented customers? We want to provide them with products that allow them to stand out from the crowd and deliver projects that live up to their inspirations.” According to Uniboard, Studio is they first complete collection of digital designs for TFL panels in North America. The new designs are also available on HPL. Read More

NOTEWORTHY>Samantha McCormack was promoted to Creative Direc-tor at TPG Architecture. The news follows the opening of her latest corporate interiors project for Macmillan Publish-ers, underscoring the firm’s continued commitment to fos-tering and empowering young design talent. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading design teams across the studio, serving as a cham-pion for out-of-the-box design thinking and as a key mentor for TPG’s junior design staff. Ms. McCormack joined TPG

Concertex: Marble and Granite Uniboard: Barcelona, Metal Wood, and Fern from Studio Collection of digital designs

Haworth: Cabana Lounge

Haworth: Pip Collaborative Table

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 21 OF 31

officenewswireArchitecture in 2013 and has dedicated the past six years to promoting design excel-lence through her work with the firm. She has a passion for sustainability and well-ness, encouraging her teams to consider the environment first in each of their projects. During her time at TPG, she has had a hand in countless projects, including Condé Nast Entertainment, Wiley, and Macmillan. Additionally, she has completed a number of community focused proj-ects such as a Police Athletic League facility in Harlem, and a number of LEED projects including Associated Press, VanEck Global, and TPG Architecture’s own offices. Collaborating closely with the firm’s Strategy and Innovation team, she is lauded by clients across a range of market sectors for her data-driven design solutions and keen attention to end users’ needs. “Samantha is a compelling and impactful designer, and we are thrilled to watch her continue to grow alongside our firm,” said Jim Phillips, Founder. Read More

>Jeffrey Olsen was ap-pointed joint committee chair of the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. As chair, Mr. Olsen will manage the joint commit-tee, act as liaison between the committee and the NSF In-ternational Council for Public Health Consultants, adjudi-cate issues in the balloting and public review processes, and participate in appeals. He replaces Norman Christo-pher, who served as chair for five years and stepped down following the successful completion and publication of the ANSI/BIFMA e3- 2019 version of the standard. Developed in 2008, the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustain-ability Standard establishes performance criteria ad-dressing environmental and social impacts throughout the supply chain. NSF Interna-tional facilitated development of the standard according to the ANSI process for develop-ing and maintaining voluntary consensus standards. Mr. Ol-sen recently retired from state employment after 38 years of service to the Common-wealth of Pennsylvania, where he most recently served as Director of the Office of

Sustainability for Government Operations. He also worked for the Department of Envi-ronmental Protection’s Office of Waste Management where he focused on the develop-ment of beneficial uses for organic waste, and prior to that served as Director of the Office of Environmental Op-erations for the Pennsylvania National Guard. He currently is Director of Emergency Medical Services Training at the local community college in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Read More

>DIFFA’s Picnic By Design at the Midtown Loft and Terrace in NYC last week brought the design com-munity together for a night of fun philanthropy. Curated picnic baskets in the silent auction fundraiser featured clever and creative takes on this year’s “Global Experi-ence” theme. Several designs were inspired by colorful getaways such as a Grecian escape, a Nordic midsom-mar, and an affair with the Mediterranean Sea. Other baskets celebrated the rich

design heritage of countries like Denmark, Morrocco, and Japan. DIFFA Plus, the next generation of New Yorkers supporting the DIFFA mis-sion, hosted a picnic-themed lounge space designed by Dylan Kruse of Rockwell Group with playful cloud-like lights by Focus Lighting. Proceeds from the event will go to organizations across the country working directly with those affected by HIV/AIDS. Read More

>Forward Space, LLC on Aug. 26 was approved to expand its operations to become the authorized Steelcase dealer in Milwau-kee, WI. Forward Space is a large Steelcase dealer in the Chicagoland area that has committed its full resources and capabilities to serve the Milwaukee office interiors marketplace. “We are thrilled to move forward in Milwau-kee,” said Jenny Niemann, principal owner and CEO of

Jeff Olsen

DIFFA Picnic By Design baskets (clockwise from top left): Gensler + MENU – Danish Inspiration; Knoll with HOK – Escape to Greece; TPG Architecture – Global Sustainability; Studio TK – Wine & Genes

Samantha McCormack

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 22 OF 31

officenewswireForward Space. “We plan to leverage the strength and stability of our Chicago enterprise to provide the best service available, while also hiring approximately 20 Milwaukee team members to be led by local industry expert Elizabeth Lewis. Ms. Lewis, VP of Sales for Forward Space, added that “We’re looking to open our own new office in the 3rd Ward district. From there, our goal is to col-laborate with clients and the architecture and design com-munity to create great spaces while making the complex process of furniture selection, procurement and logistics simple.” Read More

>The fall term of Solomon Coyle’s Project Management Training for Dealers begins this month. Classes endorsed by the respective manufactur-ers are offered for Allsteel, Haworth, Herman Miller, Knoll, and Steelcase deal-ers. Equipping dealer staff to deliver the full profit potential of every project they execute is the focus of this instructor-led online program. Beyond margin protection, the course addresses dealer goals for professional development, revenue growth, and cus-tomer satisfaction. Solomon Coyle delivers the training through 10 instructional webinars plus support materi-

als and proven work tools. The course instructor, Scott Jamison, offers an immersive, insider perspective on how to coordinate efforts throughout the dealership to limit and eliminate margin erosion. Brief online orientations will be held this week, and the instructional webinars next week. Read More

RE-SITED>Lisa Belesky joined Global Furniture Group as a Terri-tory Manager, Government Sales for the West Coast. Ms. Belesky has more than 20 years of experience in the furniture industry. Prior to joining Global, she worked as a Government Business Development Manager for The Hon Company. In this role, she identified new sales opportunities, grew her territory using her extensive dealer network and trained other Business Development Managers along with dealers on initiating best practices to

maximize their sales growth. Her past experience also includes a position as a GSA Furniture Sales Represen-tative at Stephens Office Supply. During this time, she managed and coordinated hundreds of military and federal projects from concept to completion. Read More

>Julia Belkin joined HLW in NYC as Principal. With more than two decades of industry experience, Ms. Belkin has a strong background in creative visioning, planning, and proj-ect execution. She is an inno-vative, accomplished interior architect with a proven track record of success driving organizational growth. In her previous role, she grew a part-nership of seven designers to a firm of over 60, cultivated through strong relationships in the architecture and design community and an acute attention to client service and corporate excellence. In her new role, she will be respon-sible for overseeing projects as a Principal in Charge, as well as expanding and main-taining a network of profes-sional connections in the New York real estate community. “Julia’s dynamic skill set and extensive expertise in the real

estate industry is vital in our ever-changing, progressive field of architecture and de-sign,” said Ed Shim, Principal and Managing Director of HLW NY. Read More

>Paul Cantatore joined Global Furniture Group as Regional Vice President of Sales for Metro New York. Prior to joining Global, Mr. Cantatore was the Vice President of Sales for the East Coast at Friant. In this role, he was responsible for setting and executing regional business strategies for its sales representatives to drive growth initiatives. His past leadership roles include Vice President of National Accounts and Northeast Regional Vice President of Sales for The HON Company, Sales Director-Mid-Atlantic for Humanscale, Regional Vice President of Sales for AIS, along with many other leader-ship positions. In his regional role at Global, he will lead the company’s Metro New York sales and showroom team to leverage dealer partners, design firms and end-user re-lationships to ensure Global’s market growth in and around New York City. Read More

Lisa Belesky

Julia Belkin Paul Cantatore

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 23 OF 31

officenewswire>Deb Evans of Deb Evans & Associates, Inc. joined Global Furniture Group as the A+D independent representative for MA, CT, RI, ME, NH, and VT. Ms. Evans has more than 30 years of successful experi-ence partnering with the A+D market in New England. Deb Evans & Associates, Inc. will work in alignment with the ex-isting Global Sales Team. “As our business is ever chang-ing, our primary focus in this alliance is determining how to best serve the New England A+D market,” said Regional Manager Roger Moses. “We are thrilled to have Deb bring her vast market knowledge, relationships and business acumen to Global.” Read More

>Pat Forte joined Clar-idge Products as Western Regional Sales Manager. An industry expert in contract furniture sales, Mr.Forte has developed significant business within the Fortune 1000, key school districts and higher education verticals—all important target markets for Claridge. Most recently he was VP of Sales, contract furniture division at The God-frey Group; and previously he was a principal at Vanguard

Sales Group. “Pat brings a consultative approach ap-preciated by designers, end-users and dealer sales reps,” said Claridge National Sales Manager Gregg Steliga.. “His commercial interiors industry experience and track record will be key factors in driving Claridge’s plans for growth.” Read More

>Kimberly Richter re-joined Perkins and Will to oversee the Southwest region’s burgeoning Branded Environments practice. Ms. Richter, who worked in the firm’s Chicago studio from 2010 to 2013, is a familiar face and known leader in the Branded Environments design discipline. In her new role, she will begin building a multi-disciplinary team that, through brand strategy, user experience, and research, will create customized design solutions for clients that reflect their organizations’ unique cultures and goals. “The power of designing a branded environment, whether it’s for a corporate client, a higher education client, or any other type of client, is that the story that distinguishes each is never the same,” she said. “It’s very

exciting to offer these services throughout the Southwest, right from our Austin home base.” In addition to being an award-winning designer, Ms. Richter has a background in the film and TV industry—an experience that gave her a clear understanding and ap-preciation of good storytelling through visual communica-tion. Read More

>Alison Sosne joined Nemo Tile + Stone as A&D Repre-sentative, overseeing product sales throughout upstate New York and Massachu-setts. Equipped with nearly 15 years in the stone and tile world, including experience as a resource librarian for ICRAVE, Ms. Sosne embraces all aspects of the industry through her work in interior design, material sourcing, and construction manage-

ment. Because of this, she has a complete understand-ing of each element of the tile business, from sales to design. She will be based out of the recently opened Boston showroom. Read More

>Jennifer Warawa is the new Chief Commercial Officer of DIRTT, effective Sep. 16. As a member of the company’s executive leadership team in this newly created position, she will focus on evolving DIRTT’s sales and market-ing efforts into a model that can achieve sustained and aggressive revenue growth. She will report to DIRTT CEO Kevin O’Meara. Ms. Warawa has more than 20 years’ ex-perience creating innovative business-to-business sales and marketing programs that achieve dramatic sales growth, including more than 10 years propelling growth through partner channels. Prior to joining DIRTT, she was the executive vice presi-dent of partners, accountants and alliances at Sage, a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded global software company. She joined Sage in 2008 and held a number of other executive leadership positions during her tenure, including global

Pat Forte

Kimberly Richter

Alison Sosne Jennifer Warawa

Deb Evans

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 24 OF 31

officenewswirevice president of product marketing and several vice president and director posi-tions. She began her career by starting a firm dedicated to serving the finance and ac-counting needs of small and medium-sized businesses, growing it over a span of 12 years. Known as a thought leader within the industry, she has been recognized numer-ous times for her industry achievements by CRN, a leading source for technology channel news, analysis, and insight. She has also been recognized as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by CPA Practice Advisor and the AICPA, and has appeared on Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influ-ential People list for the past nine years. Read More

ENVIRONMENT>Carnegie, a Certified B Corp, was named a Best For The World honoree in recogni-tion of their environmental performance and sustainable business practices. Ranking in the top 10% of all B Corps for their environmental respon-sibility, Carnegie earned this honor because of initiatives such as the development of its Xorel fabrics, which provide a

durable alternative to PVC ma-terials, Biobased Xorel, the first plant-based, high-performance textile in the world, and its overall commitment to sustain-ability. Best For The World recognition is administered by B Lab, the global nonprofit that certifies and supports Certified B Corporations, which are for-profit companies dedicated to using business as a force for good. Today there are 3,000 Certified B Corporations across 64 countries and 150 industries, unified by one com-mon goal: to redefine success in business. B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental per-formance, public transparen-cy, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corp Certification doesn’t just evaluate a product or service, it assesses the overall positive impact of the company that stands behind it. Using the B Impact Assessment, B Lab evaluates how a company’s operations and business model impact its workers, community, environment, and customers. Read More

>Coalesse shared a transcript of a thought-provoking round-table discussion on “Bio-philia in Workplace Design – Through Implicit and Explicit Applications” held during NeoCon 2019. The conversa-tion – featuring Lew Epstein, General Manager for Coalesse + Turnstone + Steelcase Brands, John Hamilton, Direc-tor of Global Design, Coalesse + Turnstone + Steelcase CMF and Bill Browning, Partner at Terrapin Bright Green – delved into how biophilic design

helps create environments that people truly want to work in. It explored how to balance both the physical and symbolic approach to biophilic design — from incorporating plants and natural elements to light patterns that mimic the out-doors. (Full transcript posted on officenewswire). Read More

>Coalesse also shared multiple examples of how inspiration from the natural world plays a key role in the Coalesse product design process. “People love pat-terns,” the company noted in its press release. “Our brains recognize and resonate with geometric designs in the world around us. Our eyes look for naturally repeat-ing patterns, called fractals, without even realizing we’re

doing it. We find visual pat-terns everywhere: in flowers, trees, snowflakes, coastlines, spider webs, mountain ranges — wherever we look. Whether they’re in the form of spots, stripes, spirals, or countless other patterns, nature’s de-signs appeal to our sense of beauty, order, and wholeness. In fact, researchers have found that exposure to frac-tals can reduce stress levels.” Examples of these insights applied to Coalesse products include geometric shapes in fabrics and surface materi-als, color palettes drawn from nature, and geometric pat-terns in product silhouettes. Pictured: Hexa fabric with its honeycomb motif designed by Patricia Urquiola for Hosu Lounge Seating. Read More

Carnegie: Biobased Xorel materials

Coalesse.Hosu Lounge Seating upholstered in Hexa Yellow

Coalesse and Steelcase WorkCafe at NeoCon 2019

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 25 OF 31

businessRAYMOND JAMES BRIEF 9.4.19 BIFMA July N.A. Orders +12.3%; Sales +11.7%; Small Business Optimism Up But CEO Confidence Wavered

Analysts: Budd Bugatch, Bobby Griffin

>This month’s BIFMA orders and sales statistics were derived from 51 companies, similar to June’s report.

>As shown below, the y/y July incoming order and sales growth rates soared this month to 12.3% and 11.7%, respectively. Additionally, the 2-year stack sales growth rate of 22% was a 7-year high; and the 2-year stack incoming order growth rate was near record 7-year high 21%. This was welcome news versus the -1.9% y/y order growth in June that disrupted 14 consecutive positive y/y monthly comparisons. Moreover, we aver that July’s results and the TTM monthly average y/y growth rate of ~7.1%, support our positive invest-ment thesis on the office furniture industry. The competition for workers continues to be apparent and although the spend per employee has declined as customers shift towards accepting lower value tiers, the refresh rate has accelerated as firms rein-vent their workspaces. The increased refresh rate has enabled a continued engagement with office furniture producers as employers aim to optimize space and align with employees’ continuously adjusting preferences.

>As we have previously mentioned, although the industry and macro-economic data continue to remain relatively supportive of investment in the office furniture issues, these stocks have historically not gotten as much respect as they deserve. Al-

though MLHR and SCS have outperformed the market over the past year and MLHR and KNL have outperformed the market on a 2-year basis, none of the office furniture issues have out-performed the market on a 5-year basis. We are constructively rated on three of the four issues we follow: KNL, SCS, and MLHR and believe our view is appropriate due the current industry backdrop for growth in office furniture and our continued belief that these stocks deserve continued respect, more than they have been historically awarded.

>According to the BIFMA report, July net North America orders booked increased 12.3%, up from the 1.9% decrease in June. The 2-year stack order growth rate was +21%, versus +4.3% in June. The monthly order growth in North America averaged ~7.1% (median ~6.5%) over the past 12-months, significantly higher than the ~2.9% (median ~4%) monthly average over the 12- months of the year earlier.

>North America orders for companies with more than $150 million in annual sales (the larger companies) increased 14% y/y in July, well above the flat y/y change in June. Orders for companies with $25 million to $50 million in sales (the smaller companies) increased +15% y/y in July, above the +6% y/y increase in June. North America orders for companies with $50 million to $150 million in annual sales decreased 7%, above the 22% decrease in June.

>July net North America sales (formerly called shipments) increased +11.7% y/y, up from +5.8% y/y in June. The 2-year stack growth rate for net sales was +22% y/y, versus +9.2% y/y in June. Average monthly sales growth over the past 12-months

9.6.19 6.28.19 3.29.19 12.28.18 9.28.18 6.29.18 %frYrHi%fr50-DayMA

HMiller 43.9 44.7 35.2 29.9 38.4 33.9 -5.3% 1.4%

HNI 31.7 35.4 36.3 35.2 44.2 37.2 -29.3% -1.0%

Inscape 1.0 1.7 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.8 -49.2% -12.1%

Interface 11.4 15.3 15.3 14.2 23.4 23.0 -52.5% -6.1%

Kimball 17.9 17.4 14.1 14.2 16.8 16.2 -2.5% 3.2%

Knoll 23.4 23.0 18.9 16.4 23.5 20.8 -9.8% 0.6%

Leggett 39.0 38.4 42.2 35.8 43.8 44.6 -16.3% 1.3%

Mohawk 118.8 147.5 126.2 117.2 175.4 214.3 -38.0% -2.8%

Steelcase 15.9 17.1 14.6 14.7 18.5 13.5 -18.1% -1.1%

Virco 4.5 4.7 4.3 4.1 4.9 4.4 -11.0% 1.5%

SUM 307.3 345.1 308.8 283.2 390.3 409.6

DJIndust 26,797 26,600 25,929 23,062 26,458 24,271 -2.2% 1.5%

Industry Stock Prices

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 26 OF 31

businesswas ~6.9% (median ~6.3%), significantly higher than the ~2.6% (median ~2.5%) monthly average over the 12-months of the year earlier.

>Net North America sales for companies with more than $150 million in annual sales increased +11% y/y, above the 7% increase in June. Net North America sales for companies with $25 million to $50 million in sales increased +14% y/y, above the +6% increase in June. North America sales for companies with $50 million to $150 million in annual sales increased 18% y/y, versus the 9% decrease in June.

>Below, we detail the industry and macro-economic data that remain relatively supportive of investment in the office furniture issues. While CEO Confidence in current business conditions wavered due to the ongoing trade war and political uncertainty, CEOs that expect growth in revenues, capex and to add to their workforce increased month-over-month; there-fore if the strong economic fundamentals remain in place, we should see an increase in CEO Confidence if/when the trade war is settled. Furthermore, small business optimism upticked in July. Small businesses continue to add to their workforce and 63% of small businesses reported hiring or trying to hire, while 89% of those reported finding few or no qualified appli-cants. Moreover, although confidence in the current business environment has wavered, both CEOs and small businesses continue to add to their workforce, although not at the peak levels. Therefore, with a lack of qualified workers and U.S. job openings exceeding unemployment, we continue to see a supportive environment for office furniture producers.

Industry Data

>CEO Confidence: Chief Executive Magazine’s CEO index declined to the lowest level since October 2016, at 6.18 in Au-gust from 6.55 in July. CEO confidence about current busi-ness conditions decreased from 6.9 in July to 6.8 in Au-gust. The decrease in CEO current business confidence was primarily due to concerns surrounding the ongoing trade war, with 62% of CEOs noting that the trade war is becoming high-ly detrimental to their outlook and strategy. Moreover, 72% of CEOs are doubtful that the Fed’s rate policy change will succeed in sustaining the longevity of the current economic cycle. While CEOs continue to find strength in basic economic indicators, tariffs and economic worries are overshadowing the continued relative strength in the consumer. Due to the de-creased confidence in current business conditions, CEOs that expect growth in profits declined. CEOs that expect growth in profits declined to 61% from 64% in July. However, CEOs that expect to add to their workforce increased to ~45%, from ~39% in July, CEOs that expect to increase capex increased

to 48%, from 42% in July, and CEOs that expect growth in revenues were 69% from 68% in July.

>Small Business Optimism: NFIB Small Business Optimism rose to 104.7 in July, from 103.3 in June. Small businesses gained optimism primarily due to improved expectations for business conditions, real sales and expansion. In July, 21% (+3% month-over-month) of small businesses are planning to increase employment; 27% (+1% month-over-month) plan to make capital outlays; 22% (+5% month-over-month) expect higher real sales; 20% (+4% month-over-month) expect the economy to improve; and 39% (+3% month-over-month) have current job openings. In June, 28% (-6% month-over-month) reported higher compensation and 21% (down from 24%) are planning to increase compensation in the next few months. NFIB’s Jobs Reported noted a slight slow down with job creation of 0.12 net additional workers per firm, from 0.21 in June. However, a record 26% of small businesses noted the single most important business problem was finding qualified workers. Moreover, 63% (+5% month-over-month)of small businesses reported hiring or trying to hire, while 89% reported few or no qualified applicants. Therefore, as job creation expands and employers have difficultly finding qualified applicants, small businesses will search for ad-ditional ways to attract and retain talent, such as refreshing their workplace.

>Employment Trends: Nonfarm payrolls increased by 164,000 in July, following a 193,000 gain in June. The economy added ~1.2 million jobs year-to-date and ~2.7 mil-lion jobs in 2018 (vs. 2.2 million in 2017, 2.3 million in 2016, 2.7 million in 2015, and 3.0 million in 2014). As the employ-ment population ratio nears the 2007 pre-recession peak (79.5 vs. 80.3), the number of qualified individuals searching for an open position decreases. Moreover, U.S. job openings have exceeded U.S. unemployment consistently over the past year and by ~1.4 million in June. Therefore, we believe of-fice furniture producers will benefit as compensation levels increase and employers implement additional initiatives to attract employees, such as refreshing the workplace.

>Steel: After peaking in June of 2018, U.S. cold-rolled steel prices declined ~25% y/y to current levels. August steel prices are down ~21% y/y, but up ~4% month-over-month. As previ-ously mentioned by Knoll’s management team, Knoll should experience raw material benefits in the back half of 2019, due to the six month contract price lag. This trend should continue to be seen through all office furniture producers if steel prices continue to trend down year-over-year.

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 27 OF 31

businessBUSINESS AFFAIRS>DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd. on Sep. 3 announced an update to the fiscal 2019 revenue guidance provided in its management discussion and analysis on Jul. 30. It is now anticipated that the company’s full-year 2019 revenue will be comparable to its 2018 total revenue. In previous guid-ance, management anticipated fiscal 2019 revenue growth at the lower end of 5% to 10% as compared to fiscal 2018.

Several factors have impacted revenue outlook for the second half of 2019, including revised timing of various projects from 2019 into 2020 and the loss of certain expected projects. These factors reinforce management’s belief that sales in 2019 have been affected more than previously thought by an immature go-to-market approach and an inadequately sup-ported sales force working on a long sales cycle.

With revenue expected to be comparable to 2018, the com-pany anticipates that Adjusted EBITDA for 2019 will be lower than in 2018. This decrease reflects the impact of expected one-time costs, lower Gross Profit % and foreign exchange losses in 2019 versus foreign exchange gains in 2018. These reductions will be partially offset by the adoption of a new ac-counting standard for operating leases.

The expected one-time costs — anticipated to be completed by the end of the third quarter —consist of approximately $2.6 million relating to third-party sales and marketing con-sulting fees, approximately $2.0 million of costs associated with the intended listing of DIRTT’s common shares on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and other operational consultant costs. Of these costs, $1.7 million, $1.4 million and $1.4 mil-lion, respectively, had been incurred as at June 30, 2019.

Adjusted Gross Profit % is expected to be lower than 2018 Adjusted Gross Profit % as a combined result of costs as-sociated with the now resolved tile warping issue and labour additions made in the second half of 2018.

“We view 2019 as a transition year while we make the neces-sary changes to develop and strengthen DIRTT’s commercial function, which is core to our strategic plan,” commented Kevin O’Meara, CEO. “We created the chief commercial of-ficer role and hired an executive for that position, established a national accounts function, and we’re implementing an appropriate sales organization with key processes, systems and metrics. These initiatives are integral to improving how we operate from a commercial perspective and we expect to real-ize incremental benefits as they take hold. I remain confident in the long-term growth potential of DIRTT.”

DIRTT’s strategic plan will be discussed in greater detail at the company’s investor day this November. https://www.dirtt.net/investors

>Interface, Inc. announced the election of Dwight Gibson and Joseph Keough to its Board of Directors. Mr. Gibson has deep roots in manufacturing and sustainability, while Mr. Keough has spent the greater part of his career in commercial real estate.

Dwight Gibson serves as President, Food & Beverage and In-dustrial Segments for SPX FLOW, a leading global provider of process solutions and components across a variety of sanitary and industrial market applications. Prior to joining SPX FLOW, Mr. Gibson spent 11 years at HVAC manufacturer Ingersoll Rand, most recently leading significant growth initiatives as President of Strategic Initiatives for the company’s climate segment.

Joseph Keough serves as Chairman and CEO of Wood Part-ners, one of the nation’s largest multi-family real estate com-panies. Prior to becoming CEO of Wood in 2014, he served as both CFO and then President. Before joining Wood Partners, he worked as Chief Operating Officer at Fuqua Capital, the vertically integrated family office of the Fuqua family. Keough also previously served as a Principal of The Boston Consult-ing Group, an international strategic consulting firm.

“The qualifications and experience of both Dwight and Joe align perfectly with Interface’s current business needs,” said Jay Gould, Interface CEO. “Dwight is an established global business leader with a passion for the environment, and Joe is a seasoned real estate professional. Each brings a unique set of skills and experience that will serve Interface well as we continue to execute on our value creation strategy.”

Interface’s board now includes the following 11 directors: John Burke, CEO, Trek Bicycle Corporation; Andrew Cogan, Chairman and CEO, Knoll, Inc.; Dwight Gibson, President, Food & Beverage and Industrial Segments, SPX FLOW; Jay Gould, President and CEO, Interface; Daniel Hendrix, Board Chairman and former CEO, Interface; Christopher Kennedy, Chairman, Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc.; Joseph Ke-ough, Chairman and CEO, Wood Partners; Catherine Kilbane, former SVP, General Counsel and Secretary, The Sherwin Williams Company; David Kohler, President and CEO, Kohler Co.; James Miller, Chairman, Ameris Bancorp; and Sheryl Palmer, Chairman and CEO, Taylor Morrison Home Corpora-tion. https://investors.interface.com

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 28 OF 31

JOB SITETo place ads or to get a price quote contact Bob Beck bob@officeinsight.comT 972 293 9186

Find all our ads all the time at www.officeinsight.com/careers.

Account Manager at Mode - SLC, Utah

Furniture/Walls Designer at Mode - SLC, Utah

The Account Manager is responsible for actively engaging in new business opportunities while maintaining the growth of existing clients.

Responsibilities

> Manage clients and main-tain friendly and productive lines of communication at all times.

> Communicate and follow up with clients and internal departments regarding all

projects to address any concerns.

> Serve as the primary point person in client commu-nication on new, pending, and completed projects.

> Develop, coordinate and oversee project tasks including but not lim-ited to: project timelines, quotes, sample requests, project status updates, vendor coordination, labor quote, installation, punch items and maintenance of

installed furniture. > Work with internal team to develop, maintain, and adhere to schedules and plans as outlined by client.

> Analyzes manufacturing costs and agreements to maximize company profit-ability.

> Plan and develop client fac-ing presentations/pitches.

Send resumes to HR@qfactorsolutions.com

General Responsibilities

> Provide design services including programming, space planning, typical development, finish selec-tion, working/installation drawings and specifications for furniture and demount-able walls.

> Work closely with the team to ensure accurate plans and specifications

> Creatively solve design problems and provide design consultation with both the project team and the client.

Design Process Responsibilities

> Participate in client meet-ings and internal team meetings throughout the life of the project.

> Develop finished working drawings for specifications and installation; validate plans against construction, electrical engineering, and

A+D drawings; validate compliance to building and ADA codes.

> Create 3D drawings, eleva-tion, and renderings that illustrate the potential of the design to help sell the proposed product to the client.

> Create finish sheets to provide a visual representa-tion to the project team and client to confirm design development.

> Develop product speci-fications in drawing and worksheet; plan check specifications against plans; prepare specifica-tions order-entry ready.

> Prepare client ready design documentation and orga-nizes deliverables in a clear and presentable manner.

> Manage changes and revi-sions and organize drawing files accordingly.

> Conduct field measures and punch-list review with field project managers or

project managers when applicable.

Desired Skills & Experience

> 2-5 years of working inte-rior design and/or contract furniture dealership experi-ence.

> Proficient in CET Configura, Revit, AutoCAD, CAP 20-20, and Sketch-Up.

> Contract furniture/industry knowledge with experience in the specification and lay-out of demountable walls.

> Understanding of contract furniture/demountable wall processes, facility needs, including order prepara-tion, project management, order management, and delivery/installation.

Send resumes to HR@qfactorsolutions.com

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 29 OF 31

JOB SITETo place ads or to get a price quote contact Bob Beck bob@officeinsight.comT 972 293 9186

Find all our ads all the time at www.officeinsight.com/careers.

Sales Representative at Momentum Group - Washington, DC

Momentum Group, a leading supplier of contract textiles and wallcovering, is grow-ing and seeking a new Sales Representative in Washing-ton, DC.

If you have the drive and related experience to excel in contract textiles and wallcov-ering sales, we encourage you to apply!

Qualifications:

> Bachelor’s Degree. > 2-3 years of industry experience in a contract/ commercial market.

> Experience selling contract textiles/wallcovering or dealer sales persons highly desired.

> IIDA and/or NEWH membership or affiliation desired.

> Excellent presentation skills required.

> Must be computer profi-cient.

> Must live in DC area.

Please apply online here

Project Manager at Mode - SLC, Utah

The primary responsibility of the Project Manager is to plan, organize, lead, and control the project efficiently and effectively from beginning to end. Effectiveness of coordination with Project Management teams, Construction team, and other outside consultants. Track and report order status from development through procurement, shipping, delivery, and installation.

Responsibilities

> Must be able to work in a fast-paced atmosphere

> Must understand design components and think outside the box

> Strong analytical approach to solve problems

> Excellent organizational and time management skills required

> Ensure that all punch-list items have been resolved and orders closed out for invoicing in a timely fashion

> Solid interpersonal skills and effective relation build-ing with internal teams

> Excellent oral and written communication skills

Send resumes to HR@qfactorsolutions.com

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 30 OF 31

JOB SITETo place ads or to get a price quote contact Bob Beck bob@officeinsight.comT 972 293 9186

Find all our ads all the time at www.officeinsight.com/careers.

Regional Sales Manager - West

Opportunity for a sales leader-ship role with Bernhardt Design

Bernhardt Design is currently seeking a dynamic regional sales manager with an ap-preciation for design to lead our sales teams throughout the Western US. Territories include Dallas, Houston, Austin/San Antonio, Los An-geles, San Francisco, Seattle/Portland, Orange County, and Phoenix. Bernhardt Design markets to the architectural and design communities and is known for its excellence in design.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of leadership experience within the design industry and work-ing product knowledge from both a technical and posi-tioning standpoint. A proven demonstrated ability to lead a team and work with indepen-dent sales representatives is key. Written and verbal communication skills must be of the highest caliber, and teamwork is imperative for overall success. This role will involve travel to work directly with sales representatives in their territory with travel requirements 50%.

Interested candidates may apply in confidence by submitting resume and cover letter to: careers@bernhardtdesign.com

09.09.19 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 31 OF 31

JOB SITETo place ads or to get a price quote contact Bob Beck bob@officeinsight.comT 972 293 9186

Find all our ads all the time at www.officeinsight.com/careers.

PO Box 967Cedar Hill, TX 75106

Robert Beckbob@officeinsight.comT 972 293 9186

Mallory Jindramallory@officeinsight.comT 219 263 9006

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