Breaking Down the What and Why of Workplace Design

I can’t think of a time when I’ve used data to inform literally every decision I make in quite the same way as I have in the past year. Our personal wellbeing, that of our friends and family, and even our community has depended on our analysis of information to make smart decisions even when the path forward was unclear. In addition, there is the individual in each of us that interprets that information somewhat differently, through our own lens, as we navigate these new situations on a constant basis. Analysis paralysis has taken on a whole new personal meaning for me. But now as we look toward the horizon and imagine a new future of working together, how will we take our personal and shared experiences to create something even better?

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ArticlesCraig Hawker
ideas Volume 10, Spring 2021

This issue of ideas is brought to you by one of our youngest and brightest designers, McKenna Barnum! When putting together her thoughts on this issue, she decided to focus on some of the minor changes that offices can make in the future to keep people feeling safe with minimal effort.

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LookbookCraig Hawker
Season to Taste: Level Up your Return to the Office

We have been living in a year of uncertainty, but we actually (finally) (might) (maybe) have some answers on when we will be back to the office, so now it’s a matter of how, who, and what…

I’ve heard a lot of people in the last year, and even in the last month express an interest in figuring out the “what’s next”, but how do we start planning a reentry to the office when we don’t know when it will happen, who will be able to get back, and what the office will need? These questions have left people guessing, theorizing, and ultimately doing very little other than letting leases lapse or leaving their space as-is hoping it will work whenever people can use it again.

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ArticlesCraig Hawker
Engagement. What is it good for? Absolutely everything!

We all understand the importance of staying engaged and connected in the workplace. Remember this convo, circa late February, 2020? Employee engagement and satisfaction is directly proportional to our wellbeing and happiness. If we have a sense of purpose in the workplace, and we relate to and believe in our organization’s visions and goals, we are able to channel our energy into outstanding results for the benefit of not only the organization, but more importantly of ourselves, through the pride and fulfilment that comes hand-in-hand with self-actualization and improvement. Turnover is minimized, shareholder returns are inflated, and we go on with our bad selves where every day blends into the next in our workplace paradise.

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ArticlesCraig Hawker
ideas Volume 9, Fall 2020

The latest research from our industry partners like Gensler and Steelcase agree that the office is not dead, but most of us are still working from home for the foreseeable future. At Hyphn, we are still designing spaces that require people to come together. Education and Healthcare industries are essential, so our focus has shifted to not just the functionality and beauty of the space, but also the safety.

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LookbookCraig Hawker
Making your Home Office work for you

In the past, many of us had an office to go to everyday with a personalized workstation, a chair that was perfectly adjusted to the way we sit, or perhaps a height adjustable desk that was the perfect height. Some people had personal items to remind them of fun vacations with loved ones, pictures of their kids or pets. Additionally, we were able to choose when we got up for a cup of coffee or go to someone's desk to ask a quick question about a task that you needed to complete. In other words, a perfect place to focus, connect, and collaborate. This is in stark contrast to being stuck at the dining room table hunched over a laptop while the kids are complaining, the dog needs to go outside, and your loved one is asking you to do them a favor “real quick.”

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ArticlesCraig Hawker
ideas Volume 8, Summer 2020

Alright, let’s be honest, things have been a little weird lately. That being said we hope our quarterly lookbook brings some normalcy to the constant change that we are all going through. This issue is brought to you by one of our newest designers, Lisa Hewitt, and she has some ideas for riding out the storm in style.

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LookbookCraig Hawker
We’re All Remote, What Now? 4 Ways to Connect with and Support your People During the Coronavirus

We’ve lost the luxury of shared space. And in the same fell swoop, many of us—worldwide—are having feelings of trauma and grief. The need for human connection is more evident now than it possibly ever has been. So as employers, how can we implement tools, etiquette, and structures of support? As colleagues, how can we better our communication and have each other’s backs? As humans, how do we emerge on the other side of this unconscionable disruption of daily life into a world that’s better for all?

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ArticlesCraig Hawker
ideas Volume 6, Fall 2019

The hills around Portland are emblazoned in dreamy hues of gold and amber, and we are⁠—as per usual⁠—invigorated and inspired by the changing of the season and the bountiful fountain of creative ingenuity all around us.

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LookbookCraig Hawker
Move Planning and Execution

When it comes to move planning and execution, there’s no secret sauce. Far too often, leadership looks to office managers, facilities managers, or their front desk people to lead the charge on a major move, operating on the conviction that there’s a ready-made checklist out there for the taking. Oftentimes, the true level of effort and distraction is grossly underestimated and managing chaos is delegated to a first timer.

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ArticlesCraig Hawker
Change Management: How to Prioritize People

Moving sucks. For everyone. The process is riddled with logistics, fraught with impending deadlines, and downright disruptive. But instead of searching for ways to expedite a move and situate more desks in less space, research shows that working through a deliberate and expertly-guided change management program has the power to impart positive change.

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ArticlesCraig Hawker