Branding by Design – How to Customize an Office Without Buying Custom Furniture
Posted: 09.28.09
By Kimball Office Social Media Team

Custom furniture can be complicated. But offices should be unique, personalized…branded for each company, right? What if there was a way to customize an office without having to design and purchase custom furniture? What if you could do more than just select the colors, fabrics and materials? How would that work?

To find out, I talked to Jill Weidenbenner, Product Modifications Team Manager at Kimball Office.

Jill Weidenbenner, Product Modifications Team Manager

KO: What is the product modifications team?

JW: All requests for modifications on our standard products come through our team. We develop quotes on specials, or modified products, then work with our our suppliers and manufacturing facilities to achieve our clients’ requests.

KO: Why is it better to make a modification instead of creating a custom product?

JW: Creating a new design or standard product requires expensive engineering and design work. Our modification team has the flexibility to help clients’ meet their immediate needs without incurring the expense or time associated with developing a completely new design. Our goal isn’t to create a completely custom product; we make modifications that alter standard products, allowing clients to create the vision they see for their office space.

KO: What’s the main difference between custom and modified products?

JW: It’s often difficult to understand the difference between custom and modified (or special) products. We think of ‘custom’ as starting from scratch. Modifications are changes to an existing product that make it unique.

KO: Have you ever had modifications you can’t make?

JW: If, for some reason, we can’t find a resource that will allow us to make a modification, we’ll suggest Read more…

Kimball Office Wins Innovation Silver Award at IIDEX
Posted: 09.24.09
By Andrea Rohleder

We headed north this week, excited to participate in IIDEX Canada. Little did we know we’d be a hit – winning a coveted Innovation Silver award for Fluent! IIDEX Innovation awards honor excellence in product designs that demonstrate problem solving, budget strategy, environmental responsiveness and marketing objectives.

Fluent, our newest product line, was designed to bring flexibility, luxury and sophisticated design to any workplace. Designer David Allan Pesso worked with our team to develop a desking solution that goes from private office to open plan with ease. At our Chicago Showroom Event in June, Fluent was hailed as being “better than European design.” We won’t argue whether it’s better, but we can agree that Fluent is one gorgeous product.

It’s also a sustainable product. You didn’t think we’d design something beautiful without considering its environmental impact, did you? As a Kimball Office product, Fluent is BIFMA level certified, and features our proprietary Pura UV finish. It’s also certified to meet the USGBC LEED indoor air quality requirements and has an available option of FSC certified wood.

We’re thrilled to win this award – thank you IIDEX for sharing the honor!

Kimball Office Furniture Featured in Oklahoma City Downtown Monthly
Posted: 09.17.09
By Kimball Office Social Media Team

We were thrilled to hear that Kimball Office furniture was recently highlighted in the feature story of Oklahoma City Downtown Monthly Magazine. The article, “On a High Note,” featured Mark Parker, Dean of the Oklahoma City University’s Wanda L. Bass School of Music.

Mark’s stately and gorgeous office is outfitted with an Osterley Park desk, storage, tables and side seating. His Stature desk chair is complemented by elegant Carrington side chairs.

In an adjoining conference room, the school chose a stunning Osterley Park-style racetrack Conferencing Solutions table with Stature seating and room for a dozen.

OU has built a sterling reputation for musical education, but the during the last two decades, their size and enrollment have doubled. Congratulations to Dean Mark Parker and the school of music – we wish you all the best, and hope that our funishings will contribute to your creative inspiration!

Osterley Park Conference table with Stature seating

Kimball Office Goes to Canada…Get Ready for IIDEX 2009!
Posted: 09.15.09
By Andrea Rohleder

Canada has produced quite a few greats over the years: Wayne Gretzky, Canadian bacon, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion…but you haven’t seen anything until you visit IIDEX, Canada’s biggest trade fair.

We hope you can make it to Toronto next week, because we’re excited to debut two new product lines in the Canadian market: Fluent and our Kimball Office | Interstuhl chairs.

You can join us at booth #1123 to test the Fit chair, winner of the Innovation – Best of NeoCon 2009 award. Check out Fluent, a desking solution that takes you from private office to open plan with luxury and ease. And don’t forget to have a seat in our very own Hero. Just for You!

If you stop by, you can even meet one of the product designers who helped create Fluent. Our partner, Interstuhl, will join us from Germany – so be sure to ask them how our world-class chairs came to life. We’ve also entered Fit, Hero. Just for You., and Fluent into the IIDEX product competition – so wish us luck!

Facebook fans: keep up with our latest from IIDEX on our fan page. You can also find our pics on Flickr, and if you’re on Twitter, follow us @KimballOffice. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #IIDEX09!

The Executive Suite: Traditional or Modern?
Posted: 09.10.09
By Kimball Office Social Media Team

It’s easy to assume that most of the interior-design-creative-type folks work in interior design or architecture firms. But it’s just not true. To prove the point, I chatted with two of our own employees, Shelly Lehner, Specification Support Team Leader and Lori Fuselier, Product Specifier. Don’t let those complicated-sounding titles fool you. These two can sketch up a storm. And while they have their fingers on the pulse of what’s new and hip, they had some interesting insights about what execs today often choose to outfit their office spaces.

Shelly Lehner, Specification Support Team Leader

KO: I’ll admit, when I think of the executive suite, I think big, heavy, authoritative mahogany furniture and sumptuous leather. Is that still how it is?

SL: It’s not that traditional, but I still see most execs choosing wood desks, usually with a bridge [an extended desk surface], back work surface and overhead storage. I don’t think mahogany though – it’s more often mocha-colored today.

LF: I agree. Chocolate-colored wood is trendier than reddish or cherry wood today. I sometimes see a color in the middle of the two though – kind of a medium cherry. I never really see any lighter woods though, so I guess there is something to be said for that mental picture.

KO: It seems like most offices use newer materials today. Is wood still the material of choice for execs?

SL: Even when I see metal or other materials in open plan offices, most clients still use wood in the executive suites. Some use platinum storage or platinum legs, but they still use wood, and they still have a lot of storage.

Lori Fuselier, Product Specifier

KO: Even in the digital age? Aren’t most offices cutting down on physical storage space?

LF: We do think things are progressing and becoming technology-driven, but what really matters is the individual. Some go paperless, some prefer not to.

SL: For example, I still see a lot of keyboard arms, even though most people use laptops. Everyone has a personal preference. We don’t spec a lot of monitor arms either.

KO: How much do the chief executive offices differ from other executive-level offices? Read more…