Insights
Timing is Everything
Barry Jenkins
Among the many interesting people we met at ORGATEC22 was Barry Jenkins, of Hotbox design legends BroomeJenkins. We caught up with him about all things hybrid, and he very kindly shared these insights.
Hybrid vs Hoteling: what's the difference?
Rachel Forster
We talk a lot about hybrid working here at Hotbox - hardly surprising for a company specialising in making products designed to power a hybrid workforce - and we know a fair bit about helping companies cross different cultural divides.
The Real-Estate Question - are you ready to go back to the office?
Rachel Forster
The pandemic shook up the way we work like few things ever have before. Even though the phrase 'the new normal' popped up swiftly, things are still anything but - especially when it comes to office space.
Sit? Stand? Both?
Rachel Forster
Wherever you find yourself setting up to work, you want a workspace that's not just functional, but that promotes good ergonomics, too, and utilising a stand-up desk is something many workers find beneficial. But, before you order one for your office, it's important that you understand what kinds of standing desks are out there — and which ones might be best for your needs. Fixed stand-up desks, for example, remain in a standing position and may not be adjustable at all, so you need to make sure the height is right for you. Adjustable sit-to-stand desks make it easy for you to move from sitting to standing throughout the day, which experts agree is idea. A standing desk converter can be placed on your existing desk and may be fixed or adjustable, and a swing arm adapter is another way to work while standing at a desk or table you already have. And that's just the beginning! Learn more about the types of standing desks from Quill in this handy infographic.
Shrugging off the myth of the average worker
Rachel Forster
Analysing and forecasting work behaviours relies on a lot of generalisation and reliance on 'averages'. But the idea of an 'average worker' is a myth. Who is this mysterious person who always takes exactly 5.8 sick days a year?
Q & A with Barry Jenkins from BroomeJenkins
Rachel Forster
We are very excited to be launching our brand new product, Hotbox 4, at this year's Clerkenwell Design week (24-26th May) Hotbox 4 is the product of a fruitful relationship with BroomeJenkins that began in 2019 with the design of our backpack Shuttle.
Welcome to the 15 minute city
Rachel Forster
If you haven't heard the term 15-minute city before, the chances are you will do soon. We think it could well be one of the most exciting, transformative and simple ideas to emerge in urban planning over the last few years.
Welcome to the third space
Rachel Forster
As restrictions lift and the office opens, many of us are finding ourselves with a hybrid working dilemma. Your office involves a long commute, and you find working from home difficult. Both can be unproductive for you and your employer.
Wellbeing in the workplace - Five top tips
Rachel Forster
Valuing people and helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle is essential for every business. Whether you have a handful or hundreds of staff, there are many ways to improve their wellbeing. We found a few ideas for providing a good working environment for both mental and physical health.
Helping you find co-working spaces with a sense of community
Rachel Forster
There are lots of co-working spaces out there, but the market is getting crowded. Well-known workspace providers like Regus and WeWork are facing competition from smaller providers and hotels and pub desks. In future, you may even be able to pick up a latte and work at a hub at Starbucks.
6 space saving desk designs for home workers
Rachel Forster
A survey by AlphaWise, Morgan Stanley Research, says workers in the UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany hope to work from home for two days a week post-pandemic. But if WFH will be permanent, how will it work for people living in small spaces?
Visual and sensory cues for wellness and restoration
Rachel Forster
In the third and last of my interviews with Oliver Heath of Oliver Heath Design, we discuss the use of colour. A subject close to every designer's heart!
Using shuttle to streamline your work
Rachel Forster
Hotbox was one of the first brands to see the potential of personal, portable storage, making it the perfect company to solve some of the issues agile workers or digital nomads face, particularly after Covid.
How can co-working work for you?
Rachel Forster
Gone are the days when co-working meant grabbing a coffee and hoping you wouldn't get too many dirty looks from the staff when you plugged your laptop in to their 'secret' socket.
How businesses can benefit from biophilic design - an interview with Oliver Heath
Rachel Forster
Why should businesses care about biophilic design? In my second interview with biophilic design adviser Oliver Heath of Oliver Health Design, we discuss the evidence that biophilic design works and the benefits for businesses when they introduce it into workspaces.
Celebrating Organisations That Empower Women
Rachel Forster
How do you find businesses or organisations that invest in, empower, and support women? To celebrate International Women's Day 2021 (IWD) and its theme #ChoosetoChallenge, we've done some digging for you. Here are five resourceful organisations and five supportive businesses that help women to prosper.
What Is Biophilia - And Why Is It Trending? - an interview with Oliver Heath
Rachel Forster
Biophilic design has become a talking point for anyone interested in the future of the workplace. But what is it and why all the interest? I asked biophilic design expert Oliver Heath, founder of sustainable architecture and interior design practice Oliver Health Design, to explain.
How a creative collaboration launches a new product
Rachel Forster
The world of work is changing as the world begins to adapt to life post-pandemic and whether we work in an office full-time or part-time, or from home full-time, or rent a corner of a shared office, we need to be more organised.