Avoiding Social Media Mistakes

I have to admit that I have never felt very compelled to network with other people in the design industry via social media. However, a few months back, my supervisor was featured on the Woodworking Network blog discussing the vital role that social media plays in making new business contacts and increasing sales figures (you can read the post in its entirety here).

After reading the article I could see where his arguments were coming from; social media is everywhere. Unless you don't have access to the internet or have an enormous amount of willpower to resist its pull, you too are most likely linked to it in some way or another.

I recently came across an article on Entrepreneur.com that gave several great tips that businesses who are just getting into the social media game would to wise to follow. Below is a quick run-down of what they had to say, but I would suggest that you check the article out here, it is a very informative read!

Mistakes to avoid when using social media for your business...

1. Starting without a plan

•  Resist the temptation to skip creating a strategic plan that outlines your goals and any resources that you will need to reach those goals.
• Sit down with your staff and develop a well laid out plan that includes who is responsible for what.

2. Poorly timing social media posts

• Know your customer and how they behave on social networks. 
• Be sure to time your posts so that they are seen by the largest audience. Research has shown that the majority of people using social media live in Eastern and Central Time Zones. Therefore if you live live in the Pacific Time Zone and are posting the majority of your information near the end of the work day, you have missed the boat on the largest possible audience seeing what you have to say.

3. Breaking social media rules of etiquette

• Before you start, be sure to familiarize yourself with some of the basic "rules" of social media.
  
  1. Start conversations by asking thought-provoking conversations.
  2. Don't follow someone on twitter, then unfollow them when they begin following you.
  3. Promote other people as well as your own brand.
  4. Don't spread yourself too thin.

4. Failing to measure social media success

• Employ services that will help you measure the effectiveness of your social media campaign.

5. Ignoring your competitors

• Know who your competitors are and what they are up to. 
• Keep a careful eye on their social media campaigns and use their followers praises and complaints to shape your own online presence.

Does your company have a strong social media campaign? What do you think makes it successful? 

Sources: one

Building Information Modeling

In June, Advanced Cabinet Systems announced the release of their Revit Families Catalog. This was a significant step for the company in providing resources that meet the ever-changing demands of technology in the architectural community, while also allowing ACS products to be integrated into their drawings. In light of this release, I wanted to take a look at Building Information Modeling (BIM) and how it is helping to change the face of building construction.

The National Building Information Modeling Standard Project Committee (try saying that three times fast), defines BIM as "a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception to demolition." Now, after reading that definition I was still a little in the dark about what BIM actually was, so in case you are too, hopefully the rest of this post will clear it up a little better...

Building Information Modeling goes beyond the standard 2D drawings often used in construction, and renders the entire space in 3D--while also allowing the user to see the time and cost associated with each phase of the process. This allows for quick extraction of different views of the building, saving time and resources that would otherwise be spent on the drafting table, and allowing the project to proceed without delay. If problems are detected within the drawing, elements can be easily changed while also maintaining an updated schedule of materials for ordering and tracking purposes.



Another major benefit of BIM is the ease of which a job can be handed off from one person to the next. Gone are the days of having to keep track of page after page of changes and revisions, with BIM each worker adds to a single drawing file and hands it down to the next--lowering the potential that information will be lost in the process and reducing the chance that costly mistakes will be made as a result.

With tight schedules and budget constraints, Building Information Modeling helps architects, builders, and designers work quickly and efficiently by allowing them to visualize the space from start to finish. This allows them to work out any potential problems before construction even begins; saving valuable time and resources, and often leading to projects that finish ahead of schedule and under-budget.

sources: one . two . three . four

The Classroom

 By: Anna, ACS Intern

The learning environment is defined by several factors that must be considered when designing a classroom space. Throughout my research for this project I have narrowed these down to the five most important things to consider when designing an educational setting.


Layout/Furniture
In the past, classrooms have been restricted to fairly simple layouts. Options for arranging standard desks and tables, while still maintaining functionality, are limited--often resulting in spaces that are monotonous and expected. Companies such as Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Hon have done extensive research and developed innovative furniture systems specifically for educational use. These systems can be used in a variety of ways to create spaces for group learning, collaboration, and lecture. 

 

Color
Color is an important factor in the physical learning environment that has an impact on student achievement, as well as teachers' effectiveness and staff efficiency. Specific colors and patterns have a direct influence on the health, morale, emotions, behavior, and performance of learners. Color increases students' capability to think, create, and invent, while also enhancing their ability to express themselves, work together, and organize. When selecting a color for a learning environment it is important to research and consider the effects it will have on students and educators. 

 

Illumination
Illumination within the classroom is often achieved through the easy and economical solution of fluorescent lights on a dimmer. However, designers are now rethinking the effectiveness of this solution as current studies are showing the degree to which lighting affects a student's classroom performance. Illumination encompasses aspects much broader than the standard overhead electric lighting system--illumination also refers to direct natural light, indirect natural light, indirect artificial light, reflected light, and the control of all sources. Poor lighting controls have a negative impact on occupants; glare, eye strain, fatigue, decreased attention span, increased body temperature and poor student/teacher performance. The proper use of illumination can have very positive outcomes resulting in improved test scores, reduction of poor behavior, and higher student achievement. Natural daylight should be the primary source of lighting in schools, supplemented by electric light when daylight fades.

 

Distractions
Within seconds, a student's attention can quickly move from the teacher or activity at hand to being distracted by what is outside of the window, over hearing a class next door, or watching a pupil within their own classroom. There are numerous distractions within a learning environment and the physical layout of the space can greatly affect active learning, while helping to minimize well-known attention-stealers. The ability for a student to hear and understand what is being said in the classroom is necessary for effective learning and high academic performance. An environment with poor acoustics builds a communication barrier which often leads to distant and distracted students. A few easy ways for designers and educators to reduce classroom distractions would be to use noise reduction panels to absorb excess sound, be conscience of door and window placement, and make sure that the physical layout of the space lends itself to keeping students focused on the task at hand.

 

Air Quality
Providing clean air is beneficial to students and educators. Due to the small amount of square footage available per child in an educational environment, it is no shock that schools have a major concern for indoor air quality. A lack of clean air can result in an increase in allergies and asthma, with these ailments accounting for nearly 12.8 million days of school missed by students in the U.S. Ironically, the students themselves are the main source of contamination; bacteria is created by the acts of body respiration and increased metabolism. Other items contributing to poor air quality include books, writing materials, clothing, and at times computer equipment. 

There are three major things to consider when evaluating the air quality within the classroom, the first being source control. Any source of air pollution, such as standing buses, glues, paints, and markers must be removed or stored separately from the classroom. Secondly, the ventilation must be checked. Ventilation is needed because it prevents stale air from building up as a result of increased levels of carbon dioxide and VOC's. The HVAC system must then properly circulate the fresh air at a comfortable temperature and humidity level. The final thing to consider is filtration. Filters are highly recommended as the best technology to remove airborne particles, and it is vital to take precautionary measures to ensure that clean air is being provided to the students and educators.

 

These five factors help to create a successful learning environment. Focusing on at least one of these categories could entirely change a classrooms aesthetic, but when all five are considered during the design process, what results is the ability to change the face of the classroom setting.

sources: one . two . three . four . five

Flexible Learning Environments

As a follow up to last week's blog, "Environmental Effects on Learning", I've compile a few examples of well designed classrooms from across the web. These spaces show a creative use of color, materials, and furnishings while maintaining a high level of flexibility that allows them to be used for a wide range of activities.

As a student, I know I would have loved learning in these environments!

Desks and chairs on casters keep this space flexible and allow for quick and easy reconfiguring.

Brightly colored and ultra-portable, these desks can turn any space into a fun learning area.

Moveable glass walls and multipurpose furniture make this space perfect for both teacher led discussions and group collaboration.

A desk/chair combo on wheels allows for an unlimited number of seating configurations.

Brightly colored furniture makes this classroom a fun and inviting learning environment.

A large room with moveable furniture allows for multiple learning activities to take place simultaneously.

In many climates, a covered outdoor area can be utilized by students nearly year round, giving them access to fresh air and sunshine.

A large room with walls that tuck neatly away provides just the right amount of classroom space, while still allowing the space to be utilized by larger groups.

Moveable window-walls help bring in the outdoors in this learning environment.

A compact stage/bleacher area saves spaces and makes this corridor functional.

sources: one . two . three . four . five . six . seven . eight . nine . ten

Environmental Effects on Learning

By: Anna, ACS Intern

Over the last two months I have had the opportunity to team up with Advanced Cabinet Systems to conduct a study examining the effects that environment has on learning. Throughout my time spent researching and designing the ideal classroom setting, my eyes have been opened to the inefficient practices used within the majority of classrooms in today's school systems, as well as the great need for designers to create learning environments that will have a positive, lasting effect on the next generation. The following is an excerpt of my research that will be released in its entirety later this month. 

No two individuals think exactly alike, therefore, there is no easy way to know what is best for every person in a specific scenario. What if the environment of a classroom could be manipulated by architects and designers to create a space that is more conducive to learning? The face of education has changed immensely over the past century--so why hasn’t the classroom? 

Numerous studies have shown that classrooms found in today's schools are typically designed to meet the needs of the educator, while often disregarding the needs of the student. A classroom set up around the needs of the educator is usually only beneficial to one person--the educator. This can present a serious stumbling block for a student's success in school. When the only choice is to listen, watch, and learn in a space that is rarely comfortable and highly constrictive, educators are left with lasting results that are less than impressive. As a future designer, this leaves me to question why the current design of classrooms largely favors the educator, when education at large was established to target the children? 

By understanding the different styles of learning from one student to the next, we can better understand how to effectively tailor our designs to reach the needs of all people in an educational environment. When each style of learning is uniquely analyzed and incorporated into the classroom design, a space can be created to meet the needs of all students and assist them in furthering their education. The idea of teachers researching each child and tailoring their teaching methods to fit their specific style of learning is a relatively new approach to education. Traditionally, schools have used linguistic and logical teaching methods to assess students, but this approach is becoming outdated and irrelevant to the modern learner. Much like the traditional approach to teaching is being reassessed, so should the spaces where education is taking place.

The intergration of technology in the classroom is quickly changing education and learning environments. Most students in school today have a cell phone, an iPod, and commonly their own personal laptop. Though these items are great tools for research, communication, and innovation, students are often found using them within their learning environment as tools of distraction, leaving educators to wonder if they truly deserve a regular place within the classroom. When used correctly technology has the ability to decrease student distraction and increase engagement. Educators have a variety of options for creatively intergrating technology into their lesson plans, from using cell phones as clickers for answer questions, to using laptops for immediate research and collaboration. If done correctly technology can be an effective tool that engages students in their work.

If designers and educators come together to make these changes the classrooms of the future will have very little in common with those of today, allowing young minds to develop in an environment that is conducive to their learning style and encouraging them to be more than they could ever imagine. 

Be sure to check back during the week of July 23rd for another excerpt from my research on how designers can combat the decline of the classroom and create spaces that are tailored to give all students an equal opportunity at finding educational success.

sources: one . two . three . four

Chicago NeoCon 2012

By: Anna, ACS Intern


Located at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, NeoCon is North America's largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors. This year's event was my first chance to attend this incredible expo as a student designer. I was able to see thousands of innovative products and resources for all areas of commercial design. With more than seven hundred showrooms it was overwhelming, but there was so much to discover and learn. 

Arriving at NeoCon, the show room I was most interested in seeing was that of Herman Miller--I had a feeling their products would be presented in a beautiful and grand way and they did not disappoint. Along with the presentation of their newest concepts and designs, there was an excellent exhibit depicting the work of Alexander Girard. Girard was the Director of Design in the textile division at Herman Miller and held this position from the early fifties to the late seventies. His timeless designs were featured throughout the show room on artwork and upholstery displaying his ever modern work. 

The vast number of showrooms and products presented at NeoCon is far too much information to process in two days, and though much what I saw remains a blur, there were some specific trends that stood out to me: 

The first trend was felt. I have never seen this material incorporated into any commercial interiors, but at NeoCon felt was applied to flooring, furniture, acoustical panels, and numerous other products. Its use seemed limited only by the designer's imagination. FilzFelt is a distributer of wool design felt, and was the featured provider in several of the show rooms utilizing the material. The FilzFelt company has a large focus on custom fabrications in both the commercial and residential markets. 

Another trend that stood out was the repeated use of white boards within work spaces. While this is not a foreign idea to most collaborative work environments, I saw it used in several unique and innovative ways. Idea Paint was featured in several show rooms for their white board wall covering. They provide a finish that can be applied over any paint color, turning the space into a collaborative one. This is a creative way to encourage your employees to work together that is low cost and has little impact on the environment.  

A concept that was prevalent throughout the show was "more talk, less technology". This is the idea that technology has taken over social interaction and we need more face to face discussion and collaboration within the office in order to grow more complex, innovative ideas. This theme was largely reflected in the product design throughout several of the showrooms, and products such as Buzzy Booth’s, as well as collaborative work stations by Herman Miller and Hon all supported this movement back to literal collaboration.

NeoCon not only had great things to observe, but excellent hands on activities as well. At the ASID (American Society of Interior Design) booth there was an opportunity to design a pair of TOMS shoes that would later be distributed to children in need within the Chicago area. After hearing about this activity I could not pass up the opportunity and was able to design a small pair of shoes for a young boy. It was touching to see so many skilled designers coming together around a common cause and doing something to help those in the city around us. 

My experience at NeoCon was a great one. As I learned and observed throughout my two days there, I gained knowledge about products, companies, and materials that I will be able to apply in my future designs. My experience left me wanting to come back for more and I will surely be there next summer to do it all again at NeoCon 2013.