What's News at HON - May
WHAT’S “NEWS” IN THE WORKPLACE
HON’s perspective on the latest news and trends within the workplace
(MUSCATINE, IOWA – May 20, 2015) – As a leading designer and manufacturer of workplace furniture, The HON Company continues to keep an eye on the latest news and developments within the industry to ensure they are creating product solutions that meet the needs of customers.
“At HON, we are in the business of long-term solutions,” says Aaron Finn, HON vice president, marketing. “We believe delivering value will always win the race and we forecast true needs, not trends. But, we also understand the importance of knowing what changes are taking place within our industry and how they can impact our business. What’s “News” was created to communicate the latest news and trends along with how we’re applying them to better serve our customers.”
“At HON, we are in the business of long-term solutions,” says Aaron Finn, HON vice president, marketing. “We believe delivering value will always win the race and we forecast true needs, not trends. But, we also understand the importance of knowing what changes are taking place within our industry and how they can impact our business. What’s “News” was created to communicate the latest news and trends along with how we’re applying them to better serve our customers.”
WORKPLACE “NEWS”
NEVER PAINT YOUR OFFICE WALLS WHITE
White walls in a room might feel crisp and clean, like a blank slate, but if they’re in your workplace, it’s time to repaint. That’s according to Fast Company who recently cited a study from the University of Texas that tested the impact of color on productivity.
“White doesn’t help us be productive, and most work environments are white, off-white, or gray,” said Nancy Kwallek, University of Texas researcher.
Some color recommendations include:
The piece suggests avoiding yellow in conference rooms and gray all together, which can be suppressive.
“The HON 2015 color catalog includes several color palettes to take the guesswork out of specifying finishes and complement any workplace color scheme,” says Carlee Hawkins, HON associate product business manager. “We have been working hard to make HON easier to do business with by adding meaningful and relevant fabric selections that work well together.”
Take a look at HON’s 2015 Color Inspiration board for some office inspiration.
“White doesn’t help us be productive, and most work environments are white, off-white, or gray,” said Nancy Kwallek, University of Texas researcher.
Some color recommendations include:
- Red for detail-oriented workers
- Blue for creative types
- Green for inspiring innovation
The piece suggests avoiding yellow in conference rooms and gray all together, which can be suppressive.
“The HON 2015 color catalog includes several color palettes to take the guesswork out of specifying finishes and complement any workplace color scheme,” says Carlee Hawkins, HON associate product business manager. “We have been working hard to make HON easier to do business with by adding meaningful and relevant fabric selections that work well together.”
Take a look at HON’s 2015 Color Inspiration board for some office inspiration.
A TOUCH OF MADNESS
We said goodbye to “Mad Men” this past Sunday and we’re not the only ones who are going to miss the fashion and style throughout the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Elle Décor pays tribute in their Still Mad about “Mad Men” photo gallery and illustrates how agency décor can be found in home furnishings. The same is true for office furniture. Touches of mid-century design can be found throughout HON collections.
“The 1960s was an era where modernism flourished,” says Troy Williams, HON director of seating, tables, & education. “Clean lines and sleek designs were emphasized, with an overall minimalistic approach. At The HON Company, we can relate to many of these design concepts. Endorse™ and Flock® are two lounge/collaborative lines that have strong parallels to the 60s’ affinity for simple lines within a lounge-style collection.”
“The 1960s was an era where modernism flourished,” says Troy Williams, HON director of seating, tables, & education. “Clean lines and sleek designs were emphasized, with an overall minimalistic approach. At The HON Company, we can relate to many of these design concepts. Endorse™ and Flock® are two lounge/collaborative lines that have strong parallels to the 60s’ affinity for simple lines within a lounge-style collection.”
NATIONAL HEALTHY VISION MONTH
May is National Healthy Vision Month. According to the American Optometric Association, prolonged computer use can have a major effect on eye health and result in a condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Common symptoms include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain. It has been reported that up to 90 percent of computer users will experience eyestrain at some point during their careers. Here are a few tips from Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, HNI human factors and ergonomics manager, to reduce the risk of CVS.
Consider the position of your monitor: Monitors should allow for neutral postures of the neck (head facing straight forward with no turn or tilt of the neck) and a slight downward gaze of the eyes. A good rule of thumb is to start with your monitor about an arm’s length away and at a height where the top of the monitor aligns with your eyes. You may need to adjust this position, however, based on your visual acuity. For example, if you wear multi-focal lenses, you may benefit from lowering your monitors to allow for comfortable viewing out of the bottom of your lenses without tilting your neck. Additionally, you may need to bring your monitors closer if you have difficulty viewing comfortably.
Consider your lighting scheme: Improper lighting may lead to glare on your monitor and contribute to eyestrain. Overhead or natural lighting may not provide sufficient or constant illumination. Consider adding task lighting to individualize your lighting schemes to accommodate your visual acuity and your work.
Appropriate compensation for visual acuity: As we age, our visual acuity changes. We may need to compensate for these changes with changes to our lens prescription or other methods. Make sure you schedule regular appointments to have your vision checked.
Read more ergonomic tips in this post from the HON Moving Forward Together blog.
To learn more about about The HON Company, visit hon.com.
Consider the position of your monitor: Monitors should allow for neutral postures of the neck (head facing straight forward with no turn or tilt of the neck) and a slight downward gaze of the eyes. A good rule of thumb is to start with your monitor about an arm’s length away and at a height where the top of the monitor aligns with your eyes. You may need to adjust this position, however, based on your visual acuity. For example, if you wear multi-focal lenses, you may benefit from lowering your monitors to allow for comfortable viewing out of the bottom of your lenses without tilting your neck. Additionally, you may need to bring your monitors closer if you have difficulty viewing comfortably.
Consider your lighting scheme: Improper lighting may lead to glare on your monitor and contribute to eyestrain. Overhead or natural lighting may not provide sufficient or constant illumination. Consider adding task lighting to individualize your lighting schemes to accommodate your visual acuity and your work.
Appropriate compensation for visual acuity: As we age, our visual acuity changes. We may need to compensate for these changes with changes to our lens prescription or other methods. Make sure you schedule regular appointments to have your vision checked.
Read more ergonomic tips in this post from the HON Moving Forward Together blog.
To learn more about about The HON Company, visit hon.com.
About The HON Company
Inspired by practicality and invested in understanding the needs of its customers, The HON Company strives to establish meaningful connections resulting in product solutions and customer support that exceed market demands. As a leading designer and manufacturer of workplace furniture including seating, desks, workstations, storage and tables, HON’s commitment to serving its customers is rooted in reliable performance and a member culture that is approachable, confident, smart, and ready to serve. Headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, The HON Company has numerous manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the United States, and markets its products through a nationwide network of loyal distribution partners. The HON Company is the largest operating company of HNI Corporation, a leading global office furniture manufacturer (NYSE: HNI). For more information, visit hon.com.