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We are sometimes considered a small company for the punch we pack, so when we were asked to host a work experience student for a week we thought quite carefully about it. How much of our time would this take up?  Who would mentor them? What exactly would we give them to do? How do we make sure they gain something meaningful from it? All these questions before we even looked at the safeguarding responsibility. The negatives seemed to outweigh the positives, however we decided to try it once and 'do our bit.' That was five years ago and we have hosted a work-experience student every year since. For us as a team it was like employing a management consultant to assess the business. Explaining the business function and everyones job roles to a complete outsider, one with little or no knowledge of the corporate world, highlighted so many observations and questions it was enlightening for us and has changed some of the business practice. One simple example, we asked the student to answer the phones for an afternoon, a skill we take for granted but if you have never done it before it can be intimidating.  After managing to cut a few people off and transfer several to the wrong place, they got the hang of it! At the end of the day one team member said, "it’s been great not to have to answer the phone, I have been really productive this afternoon." We all looked a bit quizzically at him,  “ I always answer the phone, no one else does.” he said. We reflected on this, he was right, no other team member answered the phone, we had slipped into this routine where the role fell to him alone and as a result he was being constantly disturbed. It prompted a swift change in our business practice which was identified because we had a work-experience student. If you are considering hosting a work-experience student we would whole heartily recommend it. It does take up some time and effort but in our experience you gain more than you give.

Often the function of the furniture we design and manufacture is so specific to the client it is unlikely that we will use on other projects. What we can reuse is all the learning. We worked along side our client to develop 27 rise/ fall lecterns with plug and play facility. Housing two screens, computer terminals, power, data, Crestron units, mics and the all important retractable cup holder, they were over 80kg each and easily moved to be used in over 40 locations throughout the building. Whilst it is unlikely we will be asked to recreate anything similar, our expanded knowledge of actuators, finishing, heat build up, plug & play, screen reflection, cable retraction, ventilation and metal deflection are all deposited in the knowledge bank for next time! Designed by us tailored by you.

Over the last few weeks we have been working with a client to develop a table range for a meeting suite that embraces the current influences of industrial style furnitur, whilst making the work surface unique and practical. As with most design briefs we try to begin with the most basic ideas around the key words used by the client, in this case 'industrial.' Cranes immediately sprung to mind and so we started there. And here is where we have ended up. BOOM!. Simple, cost effective and unique details for each client. Designed by us, tailored by you.

The designing of a product does not stop at the signed off drawing. If you want to be truly innovative it is about designing all the way through production. The importance of clients seeing product through the manufacturing process cannot be underestimated. It gives us as designers and clients as users the opportunity to consider and improve the design detail so what ends up on site is as considered as possible. Flexible manufacturing and an open minded workshop provide the keys! @JCLWorkbench @tpbennet

We are seeing a rising trend for eating spaces in the office footprint even if your office doesn't provide the actual food. Unsurprisingly eating spaces create relaxed environments for team members to socialise without any pressure. The benefits to well being far out weigh any argument about the square ft lost. Employees to get to know each other better, improving general communication, which in turn benefits the companies that provide them. We’ve come a long way from hanging out at the water cooler for a quick chat!

Back in February we discussed honest materials being a trend for 2018. The use of timber in its solid form seems to have exploded onto the interiors market once more and is changing the materiality choice when it comes to specifying furniture. Timber, with knots and all, is on mood boards and tender documents, which makes for a unique interior, without pointing out the obvious, every tree is different and the more of the natural material exposed the more individual the interior. Solid timber is not biased to the type of business it embraces and enhances any workspace what ever the scheme.

A couple of months ago we mentioned a trend for honest materials and this week we have finalised the design of a new range of furniture that embraces this. This range has been developed in answer to three different client briefs which highlighted to us that the corporate market has been aching for this design detail. So here it is, our Geo range, embracing the honest material trend and delivering both form and function. Full specifications will be on the website in the next few weeks but if you would like more details in the meantime please get in touch.

Our Loop Flex was designed with simplicity in mind with focus of the users and movers. Telescopic rails and hidden castors in the base allow the table to roll in and out to accommodate various sizes. Using our Loop table base meant no awkward distances between the legs in either position In less than three minutes Loop Flex can be changed from a 26 seat to 18 seat, (9800mm down to 7000mm.) by just two people. It can also be detailed to separate into two functional tables. A few general points to consider when specifying flexible tables listed below. 1. Make sure the reality reflects the promise. See one demonstrated if possible. 2. Keep table leaf sizes or table tops (if a flip table) to a manageable size . Using 30-40 mm thick tops can make leaves very heavy, try to stick to 25mm. The leaves being moved in the clip are 1400x1600mmx25mm and we think this is a reasonable size to consider. 3. Consider the top material, laminate / veneer /lino are all good options. Glass, Corian and stone are all possible but not a good idea due to weight and chipping issues. 4. Consider your cable management. The table in clip accommodates cable trays and they move with the tables but planning was required for floor boxes. 5. Consider the flooring. The Loop Flex table is shown on a deep pile carpet and this did make it harder to roll in and out. Standard carpet tile and solid flooring are ideal for tables with castors. 6. If a trolley is required make sure there is storage space. 7. Where are tables being stored, how easy are they to maneuver and how far do they have to travel? 8. Specify good linking, ideally with no tools required. It is a real bug bear for facilities teams if they have to hunt around for tools to be able to move tables. 9. H&S guidelines suggest that 25KG is the max weight one person should lift.

Third Space Furniture There is no doubt that flexible working spaces are increasing in the office environment. Companies are reducing floor space by offering flexible working and hot desking. The focus on this agile approach has meant a greater demand for third space furniture. In the past third space furniture included coffee tables, side tables and may be the odd display case. Third space furniture in 2018 is something very different. Today it needs to facilitate meetings, hot desking, socializing, quiet working, town halls, dining, presenting and even broadcasting. So there are lots of exciting, new designs to be realized. Here are a few observations and considerations we have noted over the last few months when designing furniture for third spaces. 1. Third spaces often get moved around, the space is likely to change so keep the furniture flexible. 2. Whatever the intended function of the third space, it is likely to be used differently. A modular furniture design can help with this, third spaces often end up having a table or chair pulled up to allow for more people, designing this requirement to the furniture can be helpful. 4. Size matters, the idea of third space is to save on the square foot required, bear this in mind when looking at the size of the furniture specified. 5. Power, people using these spaces will need access to power. 6. Office flow, don’t forget to consider the space around these areas so users aren’t tripping over that low coffee table just out of their eye line, we know that sounds obvious but… 7 Acoustics, consider the noise generated in these spaces and the impact on rest of the office area. 8. Confidentiality, some third space furniture will need to offer the ability to work confidentially. 9. Food, many of these spaces are used for dining, bear this in mind when looking at materials and colour of material, tomato soup and cream fabrics don’t mix. 10. Fresh air verses a draft. There is great emphasis on office air quality, no one wants to sit is stuffy, cramped third space but equally no one will use it if it’s in a drafty corridor. The furniture specified can help combat both these issues. 11. Finally, maintenance, lots of third spaces have alternative furniture in them but do consider the maintenance of what you specify, no one likes a grubby bean bag.

Honest materials. Materials in their natural state, including man made materials, rather than trying to hide the limits of the material, product is being designed to incorporate it. The use of plywood, reclaimed timber, waney edge board, man made stone and mild steel lacquered rather than powder coated, will all be making their way on to the mood boards for 2018. Being Reflective, it is note worthy that many clients are putting emphasis on their company’s history by including a nod to it in the interior design. Several media company’s we worked with achieved this by re using old printing blocks to create the art work, rather lovely we think you will agree. In terms of the other reflective, the copper colours which have been a favorite for the last few years are now turning to gold, polished brass and gloss gold lacquers will be finding their way to the colour palettes in 2018. We love a bit of bling! Red Oak, this timber has dominated the interior of Bloombergs new European HQ, and it continues to be specified on interior projects. Soft touch laminate, it's going to be even more massive in 2018. Oh and the Pantone colour of the year is Ref 18 38383 Ultra Violet ( that’s Purple to you and me !)

We have been detailing up credenza designs over the last few weeks , so we thought we would share a few tips. Does the back need to be finished? If up against a glazed wall then yes, if against a solid wall then consider a lower cost, none decorative material for the back . We also try to keep costs down by using a high quality veneer to the external faces but a lower grade veneer to the internals which are largely unseen .Ifthe credenza it is being used for drinks then consider a durable top material that is less porous, laminate and glass are often good options. Consider the height and size the unit needs to be. If the credenza needs AV equipment the usual dimensions are at least 650mm deep and 750mm high, this allows for an average AV rack. Double check if there are any ventilation requirements around equipment/fridges etc. If equipment is going to kick off a lot of heat you may need to consider the material itself. Solid surface materials are often sensitive to temperature and can warp with heat build up. (Rather annoyingly this was a lesson we learned through experience with a Corian credenza door.) Cable management , it’s often a good idea to allow a cable way/grommet through the base of the unit to allow access to a floor box. Kick plates, if the credenza is not raised on legs, a kick plate can really help this vulnerable area getting damaged by vacuum cleaners, drinks trolleys, etc. Finally, if budget is an issue consider using a console table as credenzas do have a habit of becoming a glorified bin in a meeting room.

A quick recap on the do’s and don’ts of a chalkboard finish. We recently completed a five meter table with a chalkboard finish to the top. We supplied a sample of the finish for sign off before production and all was approved. The table was installed and looked amazing…… day one…… however once chalked several times the top behaved as a normal chalkboard does. A permanent chalk residue was left on the top , even more noticeable when a wet chalk was used. This was not what the client anticipated. If this ‘scruffy’ look is what is desired then great…. but if the expectation is to be able to wipe it down and return it to the clean, matt, even finish that was first supplied then expectations need to be managed. Chalkboard finishes behave like the old chalkboards some of us remember from school. What we should have done . Supplied the client with a bigger sample of the finish, (we supplied A4,) and got them to use as they intended to and then clean it so they knew what to expect. How we solved the issue . Supplied a new removable top that could be used for the more formal meetings and removed for the creative ones to reveal the chalkboard top. Quick tips. Chalkboard is a painted finish and porous, not as water resistant as lacquer. It’s not as durable as laminate/ veneer / lacquered surfaces and will scratch more easily. Chalkboard finish will always have a residue left on the top, even when cleaned. Think about users clothes , sleeves and cuffs, when using the table top . It’s better for a vertical surface than a horizontal one. Always supply a sample of the finish for sign off.