Office Furniture & Design Magazine video featuring 20-20 Technologies
Posted: 12.15.09
By Kimball Office Social Media Team

20-20 Technologies is the world’s leading provider of computer-aided design, business, and manufacturing software solutions. This program is tailored to the interior design and furniture industries and allows dealers and retailers to see the possibilities from high level ideas like office configurations and styles, all the way down to the details of fabrics and finishes.

Trends: Government Workplace Design
Posted: 10.08.09
By Kimball Office Social Media Team

Government workplaces are traditionally thought of as…well, traditional. To find out if that’s really the case, I talked to Reggie Staples, Government Sales Manager for the Midwest and National IPA Program Manager at Kimball Office.

Reggie Staples, Government Sales Manager for the Midwest and National IPA Program Manager at Kimball Office

KO: How are federal government offices different from commercial offices?

RS: Federal government officials have a tough job. Budgets are tight, every decision is scrutinized and zero profit is required. And still, they have to make tremendous returns on their investments. Government procurement officers are responsible for purchasing everything for an office using taxpayer money, so they have to put every sizable project out to bid through an RFP process to prove they’ve made the best decision.

KO: Does the RFP process slow down projects?

RS: Sure. The sales process takes a long time in the government sector. There are a lot of things to consider. First and foremost, you need to prove you can meet all of the requested product specifications. Product value needs to be outstanding – a significant quantity of the product needs to come from the United States, end-users need to give input and approve designs, products have to have to meet stringent testing from outside agencies to confirm lifetime value – how long will it last? There are very specific requirements in most government RFPs. A lot of details need to be considered to ensure taxpayer dollars are wisely spent.

KO: How does that process affect design?

RS: Well, most government procurement officers are usually receptive to a lot of new designs, but it takes more time to go through the Read more…

Mockups: Making Your Vision a Reality
Posted: 09.15.09
By Kimball Office Social Media Team

If you’re planning and office space, one planning step that often makes your vision ‘real’ is the mockup process. It’s where you start seeing what your space will look like. And because it’s not a step that’s often heavily promoted, I sat down with Lisa Witte, Mockup Account Manager, to find out more about it.

Lisa Witte, Mockup Account Manager

KO: What is the mockup process?

LW: It’s the initial step in the buying process. It’s where clients get to see a mockup of work stations or executive offices – a sample of what their office will look like when it’s complete.

Sometimes the mockup process is mistaken for design. We don’t actually design during the mockup process. We figure out how an order needs to come to life.

KO: What is a mockup, exactly?

LW: It varies. Sometimes we produce a 3-D drawing, sometimes it’s a spec, sometimes it’s just a chair. Those are easy  – we can just ship the chair to the client to test. Desks and systems are a whole different story. There’s a lot more customization involved in those.

KO: How do you start the mockup process?

LW: A request for a mockup usually comes from Read more…

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…