Why Resolve

WHY RESOLVE®—the research behind the product research says: The average churn rate for all industries grew 14 percent over the last decade of the 20th century to reach an average annual churn rate of 44 percent. Increasing churn requires

frequently disconnecting and reconnecting networked technology and appliances. Architecture, interior spaces, and even corporate cultures are taking on a higher level of openness and

transparency. Emphasis is shifting to the efficient and appropriate use of materials in design and open, light architecture. rising real estate costs demand efficient use of space, while performance needs require that smaller workspaces safely and comfortably support

workers. Paper is now primarily a display medium; to serve its function, paper must be kept on display—visible and accessible, out in the open. Many companies are moving filing out of workstations and into archival off-site storage facilities or shared on-site storage areas.

As technological tools become more mobile and dispersed, standard “computer support”

furnishings becomes less relevant. Companies require ways to deliver brand messages for differentiation in competitive markets while conveying a sensitive understanding of regional

cultures. Work environments that provide richer, more meaningful contexts may enhance cognitive performance. The amount of sunlight penetrating into the workspace has a significant direct effect on job satisfaction and general well-being. Young adults place a heavy

emphasis on control, both over others’ access to them and over the personalization of the office space. As employees are given greater flexibility to choose where and when they do their work, the role of the workplace becomes increasingly collaborative. Many workers rate “collaboration with coworkers” as more essential to their productivity than either “privacy” or “quiet places.” People learn more quickly in work environments that permit overFor more information about our products and services or to see a list of dealers, please visit us at www.HermanMiller.com or call (800) 851 1196. © 2002 Herman Miller, Inc. Zeeland, Michigan Printed in U.S.A. on recycled paper O.R2905 ® Z, Y, and Resolve are among the registered trademarks of Herman Miller, Inc.

lapping of different specialties or “communities of practice.” A stimulating environment, one that

allows for interaction and visual display, may be an aid to creative problem solving.

Herman Miller and designer Ayse Birsel examined the full range of work trends occurring throughout North America and the world.

They saw the sweeping and ongoing changes in people, the rise of collaborative work, and the expansion of complex technology as a great opportunity to reexamine the work environment and “re-solve” critical issues.

The result of this inquiry is the Resolve system.

In addition to garnering several industry awards for design and innovation, Resolve was chosen by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for its permanent collection. This recognition underscores how effectively Resolve combines unique appearance with practical function.

the results of research-based design

Lightweight, reduced-mass components make handling easy, even for one person

Openness encourages people to connect for resourceful interaction that leads to innovative thinking and increased productivity

AYSE BIRSEL

the designer

Organizations can choose “smart” furniture (with power and data delivery in Resolve’s overhead truss system), or they can choose a raised floor with furniture that does not have power and data distribution built in (Resolve short poles without trusses) so that they never have to pay for two distribution systems

Lean, open structure gives people views to the outside and lets natural light penetrate for increased worker satisfaction

Separating power and data overhead from work areas below allows organizations to reconfigure furniture and data networks without causing employee downtime

Removing and replacing screens occurs without disrupting workers

Archival storage integrates with Resolve and supplements appropriate storage components in individual workstations

Rolling screens, canopies, and translucent screens define space and modulate privacy without using solid walls

Poles compress the function of a panel to its essence for full performance in less space

Screens support various functions—from boundary to display to marker—and allow fast reconfiguration

Unlike traditional systems furniture, cable distribution is external to the structure, eliminating the need to repull or reterminate new cables when reconfiguring

Changing screens costs up to 70 percent less than refurbishing panels for an easy, inexpensive way to keep pace with color trends

Infrastructure and components attach by inserting hooks into slots in the pole for easy installation, most without tools Poles support work areas on 3 sides versus 2 sides on a traditional panel

Overhead truss system allows IT technicians to easily lay in cables for faster installation

Open design gives team members visual and acoustical access so they learn from one another faster, with less formal training

Herman Miller and designer Ayse Birsel examined the full range of work trends occurring throughout North America and the world.

They saw the sweeping and ongoing changes in people, the rise of collaborative work, and the expansion of complex technology as a great opportunity to reexamine the work environment and “re-solve” critical issues.

The result of this inquiry is the Resolve system.

In addition to garnering several industry awards for design and innovation, Resolve was chosen by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for its permanent collection. This recognition underscores how effectively Resolve combines unique appearance with practical function.

the results of research-based design

Lightweight, reduced-mass components make handling easy, even for one person

Openness encourages people to connect for resourceful interaction that leads to innovative thinking and increased productivity

AYSE BIRSEL

the designer

Organizations can choose “smart” furniture (with power and data delivery in Resolve’s overhead truss system), or they can choose a raised floor with furniture that does not have power and data distribution built in (Resolve short poles without trusses) so that they never have to pay for two distribution systems

Lean, open structure gives people views to the outside and lets natural light penetrate for increased worker satisfaction

Separating power and data overhead from work areas below allows organizations to reconfigure furniture and data networks without causing employee downtime

Removing and replacing screens occurs without disrupting workers

Archival storage integrates with Resolve and supplements appropriate storage components in individual workstations

Rolling screens, canopies, and translucent screens define space and modulate privacy without using solid walls

Poles compress the function of a panel to its essence for full performance in less space

Screens support various functions—from boundary to display to marker—and allow fast reconfiguration

Unlike traditional systems furniture, cable distribution is external to the structure, eliminating the need to repull or reterminate new cables when reconfiguring

Changing screens costs up to 70 percent less than refurbishing panels for an easy, inexpensive way to keep pace with color trends

Infrastructure and components attach by inserting hooks into slots in the pole for easy installation, most without tools Poles support work areas on 3 sides versus 2 sides on a traditional panel

Overhead truss system allows IT technicians to easily lay in cables for faster installation

Open design gives team members visual and acoustical access so they learn from one another faster, with less formal training

Intriguing appearance, human scale, and ease of use attract people to Resolve environments and help them stay interested in their work

Installation and reconfiguration occur 6 to 30 percent faster than traditional systems furniture Overhead truss system provides an ideal complement to zone distribution of telecommunications

Truss layout can take the most efficient path through the space, keeping cable usage to a minimum and staying in place when furniture below is reconfigured

120-degree geometry provides more usable space than traditional 90-degree corners 120-degree geometry translates into highly efficient spaces that keep everything within arm’s reach

more with less

Economic use of materials and 120-degree orientation create densities 6 to 37 percent greater than traditional systems furniture without sacrificing openness, communication, or comfort

6-circuit electrical system uses one-third fewer power in-feeds than 4-circuit systems, reducing installation time Display surfaces on screens and tool rails attached to arms keep materials and tools in a vertical position, which supports how people work today

Disassembled workstations occupy one-third the volume and weight of traditional workstations, reducing storage and handling costs

Customer’s Own Image program lets organizations support brand and personal identity

Palette can reflect local cultures and regional preferences within an efficient global standards program Monitor pods and monitor arms for flat panel displays keep the focus on the monitor in the workstation

Velcro-attached work tools give people control over aspects of their workspace that can increase their overall satisfaction

People can express their personalities through details such as flower vases and picture frames Freestanding and attached components provide an appropriate amount of storage for individuals

Arms are 13 inches off the floor so that electricians and IT technicians have clearance to easily remove raised-floor tiles and access power and data

Poles are less likely to interfere with raised-floor tiles compared to traditional systems furniture panels

Mobile file bins keep frequently used files and documents close at hand

With about one-quarter the components of traditional furniture systems, Resolve reduces costs to manage inventories

Resolve’s organic, 120-degree geometry can increase density from 30 workstations (top) to 50 (bottom) in the same floor plate without disturbing the overhead truss system

Intriguing appearance, human scale, and ease of use attract people to Resolve environments and help them stay interested in their work

Installation and reconfiguration occur 6 to 30 percent faster than traditional systems furniture Overhead truss system provides an ideal complement to zone distribution of telecommunications

Truss layout can take the most efficient path through the space, keeping cable usage to a minimum and staying in place when furniture below is reconfigured

120-degree geometry provides more usable space than traditional 90-degree corners 120-degree geometry translates into highly efficient spaces that keep everything within arm’s reach

more with less

Economic use of materials and 120-degree orientation create densities 6 to 37 percent greater than traditional systems furniture without sacrificing openness, communication, or comfort

6-circuit electrical system uses one-third fewer power in-feeds than 4-circuit systems, reducing installation time Display surfaces on screens and tool rails attached to arms keep materials and tools in a vertical position, which supports how people work today

Disassembled workstations occupy one-third the volume and weight of traditional workstations, reducing storage and handling costs

Customer’s Own Image program lets organizations support brand and personal identity

Palette can reflect local cultures and regional preferences within an efficient global standards program Monitor pods and monitor arms for flat panel displays keep the focus on the monitor in the workstation

Velcro-attached work tools give people control over aspects of their workspace that can increase their overall satisfaction

People can express their personalities through details such as flower vases and picture frames Freestanding and attached components provide an appropriate amount of storage for individuals

Arms are 13 inches off the floor so that electricians and IT technicians have clearance to easily remove raised-floor tiles and access power and data

Poles are less likely to interfere with raised-floor tiles compared to traditional systems furniture panels

Mobile file bins keep frequently used files and documents close at hand

With about one-quarter the components of traditional furniture systems, Resolve reduces costs to manage inventories

Resolve’s organic, 120-degree geometry can increase density from 30 workstations (top) to 50 (bottom) in the same floor plate without disturbing the overhead truss system

sources

Banbury, Simon and Dianne Berry. “Put-Up or Shut-Up? Habituation to Speech and Office Noise,” Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 41st Annual Meeting, 1997.

Becker, Franklin, and Fritz Steele. Workplace by Design: Mapping the High-Performance Workscape, Jossey-Bass, 1995.

Bone, Eugenia. “Building in Transparency,” Metropolis, April 1997.

Corcoran, Elizabeth. “Learning Companies,” Scientific American, February 1993.

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Creativity, Harper Collins, 1996.

Herman Miller. “Advance Project Savannah,” internal report, 1998.

Herman Miller. “Bigger Than the Baby Boomer Cohort: A New and Different Office Worker Generation,” internal report, 2000.

Leather, Phil et al. “Windows in the Workplace: Sunlight, View, and Occupational Stress,” Environment and Behavior, November 1998.

Herman Miller. “Compressed Workplace Study: Effect on Facility Management Goals,” internal report, 1999.

Lohr, Steve. “Cubicles are Winning War Against Closed Offices,” The New York Times, August 11, 1997.

Herman Miller. “Issues and Trends in Online Document Storage,” internal report, 2000.

Mahnke, Frank. Color, Environment, and Human Response, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1996.

Herman Miller. “It’s Here Somewhere: The Effect of Storage Methods on Job Performance,” research summary, 1992.

MIT Wearable Computing Web Page. www.media.mit.edu/projects/wearables, April 19, 2000.

Herman Miller. “Light Construction: The Emergence of a New Architecture,” internal report, 1998.

Norford, L. and C. Dandridge. “Near-Term Technology Review of Electronic Office Equipment,” IEEE Publication 0-7803-1462, Building Technology Program, Department of Architecture, MIT, 1993.

Herman Miller. “Penny II Advance Project Report,” internal report, 1998.

Institute for the Future. “The Outlook: A Synthesis of Project Year 1997-1998,” ITFT unpublished work, 1998.

International Facility Management Association.

“Research Report #18, Benchmarks III,” 1997.

Nussbaum, Bruce. “Welcome to 2010,” Business Week, March 6, 2000.

O’Neill, Michael. Ergonomic Design for Organizational Effectiveness, Lewis, 1998.

Riewoldt, Otto. Intelligent Spaces: Architecture for the Information Age, Lawrence King Publishing, 1997.

Riley, Terence. Light Construction. Museum of Modern Art, 1995.

Robbin, Tony. Engineering a New Architecture, Yale University Press, 1996.

Ryburg, Jon. “New Churn Rates: People, Walls, and Furniture in Restructuring Companies,” Facility Performance Group, Inc., 1996.

Shenk, David. Data Smog: Surviving the Information Glut, Harper Collins, 1997.

Towers Perrin Workplace Index. www.towers.com/cgi-bin/towers.cgi, 1995.

sources

Banbury, Simon and Dianne Berry. “Put-Up or Shut-Up? Habituation to Speech and Office Noise,” Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 41st Annual Meeting, 1997.

Becker, Franklin, and Fritz Steele. Workplace by Design: Mapping the High-Performance Workscape, Jossey-Bass, 1995.

Bone, Eugenia. “Building in Transparency,” Metropolis, April 1997.

Corcoran, Elizabeth. “Learning Companies,” Scientific American, February 1993.

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Creativity, Harper Collins, 1996.

Herman Miller. “Advance Project Savannah,” internal report, 1998.

Herman Miller. “Bigger Than the Baby Boomer Cohort: A New and Different Office Worker Generation,” internal report, 2000.

Leather, Phil et al. “Windows in the Workplace: Sunlight, View, and Occupational Stress,” Environment and Behavior, November 1998.

Herman Miller. “Compressed Workplace Study: Effect on Facility Management Goals,” internal report, 1999.

Lohr, Steve. “Cubicles are Winning War Against Closed Offices,” The New York Times, August 11, 1997.

Herman Miller. “Issues and Trends in Online Document Storage,” internal report, 2000.

Mahnke, Frank. Color, Environment, and Human Response, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1996.

Herman Miller. “It’s Here Somewhere: The Effect of Storage Methods on Job Performance,” research summary, 1992.

MIT Wearable Computing Web Page. www.media.mit.edu/projects/wearables, April 19, 2000.

Herman Miller. “Light Construction: The Emergence of a New Architecture,” internal report, 1998.

Norford, L. and C. Dandridge. “Near-Term Technology Review of Electronic Office Equipment,” IEEE Publication 0-7803-1462, Building Technology Program, Department of Architecture, MIT, 1993.

Herman Miller. “Penny II Advance Project Report,” internal report, 1998.

Institute for the Future. “The Outlook: A Synthesis of Project Year 1997-1998,” ITFT unpublished work, 1998.

International Facility Management Association.

“Research Report #18, Benchmarks III,” 1997.

Nussbaum, Bruce. “Welcome to 2010,” Business Week, March 6, 2000.

O’Neill, Michael. Ergonomic Design for Organizational Effectiveness, Lewis, 1998.

Riewoldt, Otto. Intelligent Spaces: Architecture for the Information Age, Lawrence King Publishing, 1997.

Riley, Terence. Light Construction. Museum of Modern Art, 1995.

Robbin, Tony. Engineering a New Architecture, Yale University Press, 1996.

Ryburg, Jon. “New Churn Rates: People, Walls, and Furniture in Restructuring Companies,” Facility Performance Group, Inc., 1996.

Shenk, David. Data Smog: Surviving the Information Glut, Harper Collins, 1997.

Towers Perrin Workplace Index. www.towers.com/cgi-bin/towers.cgi, 1995.

WHY RESOLVE®—the research behind the product research says: The average churn rate for all industries grew 14 percent over the last decade of the 20th century to reach an average annual churn rate of 44 percent. Increasing churn requires

frequently disconnecting and reconnecting networked technology and appliances. Architecture, interior spaces, and even corporate cultures are taking on a higher level of openness and

transparency. Emphasis is shifting to the efficient and appropriate use of materials in design and open, light architecture. rising real estate costs demand efficient use of space, while performance needs require that smaller workspaces safely and comfortably support

workers. Paper is now primarily a display medium; to serve its function, paper must be kept on display—visible and accessible, out in the open. Many companies are moving filing out of workstations and into archival off-site storage facilities or shared on-site storage areas.

As technological tools become more mobile and dispersed, standard “computer support”

furnishings becomes less relevant. Companies require ways to deliver brand messages for differentiation in competitive markets while conveying a sensitive understanding of regional

cultures. Work environments that provide richer, more meaningful contexts may enhance cognitive performance. The amount of sunlight penetrating into the workspace has a significant direct effect on job satisfaction and general well-being. Young adults place a heavy

emphasis on control, both over others’ access to them and over the personalization of the office space. As employees are given greater flexibility to choose where and when they do their work, the role of the workplace becomes increasingly collaborative. Many workers rate “collaboration with coworkers” as more essential to their productivity than either “privacy” or “quiet places.” People learn more quickly in work environments that permit overFor more information about our products and services or to see a list of dealers, please visit us at www.HermanMiller.com or call (800) 851 1196. © 2002 Herman Miller, Inc. Zeeland, Michigan Printed in U.S.A. on recycled paper O.R2905 ® Z, Y, and Resolve are among the registered trademarks of Herman Miller, Inc.

lapping of different specialties or “communities of practice.” A stimulating environment, one that

allows for interaction and visual display, may be an aid to creative problem solving.