RICHARDSON personal design dossier gensler dsd program
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 02 WHO AM I?
WHAT AM I ABOUT?
03
04
05 06
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
WHAT’S NEXT?
pharmX Case Study
systems + spaces the floating framework
objects
fabricating for rapid discovery
graphics
rebranding project
timeline - communication strategy - challenges building layout and amenities - solutions furniture - technology - visual communication
My first design project stemmed from my mother finally giving in to my constant badgering and agreeing to let me move into my older sister’s bedroom a year after she went off to college. I remember spending hours upon hours peering over a small shoebox model of a 10 x 16 foot room, designing the perfect lofted twin bed with a cozy reading corner underneath. The excitement I got from composing this new space, no matter how impractical or wildcolored, sparked the thought in my head that I could pursue a future in design.
WHO AM I? human. woman. environmentalist. lover of black nail polish. self-starter. questioner. animal lover. thinker. taurus. spotify playlist aficionado. activist. military brat. feminist. daughter. artist. student. leader. vegetarian. friend. musician. bargain hunter. history nerd. hamilton fanatic. traveler. maker. designer. As a designer and maker, I seek to generate design solutions that are beautiful and empathetic to communities. I strive to make informed design decisions and constantly ask questions, so that a meaningful and sustainable outcome is reached and the world is made better through design.
LEADERSHIP + COMMUNITY BUILDING
EDUCATION University of Virginia
School of Architecture
Charlottesville, Virginia Fall 2015 - Present
B.S. Architecture, Class of 2019 | GPA: 3.65/4 Concentration in Design Thinking, Minor in Social Entrepreneurship
Venice, Italy Fall 2017
Semester Abroad Traveled throughout Italy and Europe studying architecture, architectural history, culture, language, and design
UVA School of Architecture President (‘18-Present) Executive Vice President (‘17-’18) Student Council 2nd Year Vice President (‘16-’17) Fall 2015 - Present SARC mentorship Chair (‘16-’17) 1st Year Representative (‘15-’16) Oversees a council of 20 members to plan professional, social, and service events for the UVA School of Architecture. Serves as a liason between the administration, the student body, and the larger University. Manages school budget allocations.
DESIGN + MARKETING Class of 2019 Trustees
Marketing Consultant
Charlottesville, Virginia Fall 2018 - Present
Designs and manages social media, visual marketing campaigns, the biweekly newsletter, event planning, and merchandise for the UVA Class of 2019. Grew social media following and event engagement.
Tom Tom Foundation
Graphic Design + Marketing Fellow
Charlottesville, Virginia Fall 2018 - Present
Designs and manages social media, copy, press outreach efforts, website content, and event planning and execution for all Tom Tom Foundation events. Supports and enhances a 501c3 that directly benefits the needs. of the Charlottesville community.
National Building Museum
“Investigating Where We Live” Intern
Washington, D.C. Summer 2018
Exhibition design intern for a museum education program. Empowered students to examine the people, processes, and materials that create communities. Created programming to help teens develop skills in photography, exhibition design, problem solving, analysis, evaluation, and teamwork. Designed marketing material for the final exhibiton.
Bainbridge Outdoor Design Build
University of Virginia Judiciary Committee
Architecture Representative + Trial Judge
Spring 2016 - Present
Architecture representative and trial judge for UVA’s judicial body, upholding the 12 standards of conduct.
Fralin Museum of Art
Art Mentor
Spring 2017 - Spring 2018
Habitat for Humanity Spring 2017
Creates 2D and 3D design proposals, structural plans, and design videos, completes daily production tasks and communicates regularly with vendors, construction crews, and clients. Improved company efficiency with the creation of a new bid and sales tracker system.
The Village of Veterans Project
Founding Member + Architect
Charlottesville, Virginia Fall 2016 - Present
Architect in this multidisciplinary team focused on designing a housing community for veterans and their families in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area. Received the 2018 Jefferson Public Citizens Award and grant.
Spectrum Theater
Set Designer, Set Painter, + Pit Percussionist
Charlottesville, Virginia Fall 2016 - Spring 2018
Set Designer for “Next to Normal” (Spring ‘18), Assistant Paint Director for “The Second Law” (Spring ‘17), and Pit Percussionist for “AIDA” (Fall ‘16).
Construction Volunteer Weekly construction team volunteer, assisting in the building of affordable housing in Albermarle County.
SKILLS Technical Skills:
Adobe Creative Suite AutoCAD Rhino 5 and V-Ray Rendering Structure Studios VIP 3D Microsoft Office Suite Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest Hootsuite Mailchimp Design Thinking Strategies
Fabrication Skills:
Rapid Prototyping Physical Modeling Sketching and Drafting Hand and Machine Sewing Laser Cutting and 3D Printing Woodworking Set Design, Construction, and Painting
Design + Production Intern
Sterling, Virginia Summer 2017 - Present
Boys and Girls Club mentor. Lead weekly discussions and art projects with kids at the Fralin Museum of Art.
01
WHAT AM I ABOUT? making. learning by doing. empathy. always looking for the joy. life-long learning. informed design decisions. constant iteration. listening. laughing. using music for inspiration. getting my hands dirty. failing. failing again. learning from failure. research. meaningful end-goals. always asking questions. human centered design. designing for beauty. designing for impact. designing for love.
REFERENCES Elgin Cleckley University of Virginia | School of Architecture Assistant Professor, Architecture + Design Thinking 434.924.8459 | elc2n@virginia.edu Elgin Cleckley was my professor in the UVA School of Architecture for my second year Introduction to Design Thinking course and my fourth year Design Thinking exhibition design studio. Elgin has served as a mentor and co-navigator of academic, personal, and future professional decision making. Walter Bainbridge Bainbridge Outdoor Design Build | President 703.296.2728 | walter@bainbridgeoutdoors.com Walter Bainbridge has been my boss at Bainbridge Outdoor Design Build since I began my internship in the summer of 2017. Mr. Bainbridge quickly became my mentor, sharing his experience of over 35 years and teaching me valuable skills in design, production, and business in the outdoor design build field. Betsy Roettger University of Virginia | Assistant Dean of Students 434.924.3125 | elr2w@virginia.edu Betsy Roeteger has been my advisor for the past four years in my various roles in both UVA’s Architecture Student Council and through an independent study this past semester. Betsy has provided me with endless support in navigating academic, administrative, and professional decisions and responsibilities.
I fell in love with design as a wide-eyed 8 year old, staying up way past my bedtime watching the first season of Project Runway. I became absolutely enthralled by the idea of receiving a challenge and creating something magical from seemingly unrelated materials. I began getting design inspiration from everywhere. HGTV, Pinterest, different hues of autumn leaves, intricate mosaic patterns in restaurant bathrooms---design was all around me and I couldn’t get enough of it. This love for creation expanded into music, both in playing and listening. As a percussionist in my high school drumline, I found another outlet for expression---this time something that required a group to be perfectly in-sync to create beautiful rhythmic cadences. My next design challenge came at age 15. Becoming a vegetarian required me to create simple and delicious everyday meals that nourished my body with the same proteins and vitamins as an omnivorous diet. When I discovered that I could take this affection for all types of craft and turn it into a course of study, I realized I had found my future career. As a student at the University of Virginia studying architecture and design thinking, I have gained a strong foundation in the design of the built environment and an interest in multidisciplinary problem-solving through experimental design processes. Through my studies, I have come to see design as a framework consisting of four core themes: systems, spaces, objects, and graphics. Systems projects focus on the analysis and design of scalable systems and landscapes through organizational and time-based logics. Spaces projects discuss the way programs affect the design of architecture, environments, and the living things for which those spaces are designed.
Objects projects target the creation of products and assemblies through an exploration of new materials, technologies, and fabrication techniques. Graphics projects surround the development of visual communication skills in relation to the analysis and organization of built environments.
Combining this field of study with a minor in social entrepreneurship has allowed me to broaden my education to generate design solutions that are beautiful and empathetic to communities. With design, there’s always something exciting to look forward to. There’s something different around every corner to discover and iterate again and again. As a result, design takes discipline and requires mentorship. Throughout my years I have encountered countless role models and mentors who have inspired me in my work and in how I live my life. During a once-in-a-lifetime semester abroad in Venice, Italy, I experienced unbelievable culture and art, and realized my responsibility to design as a global citizen. In both my educational and professional experiences I have had the opportunity to design systems, spaces, objects, and graphics that are delightful and meaningful. As graduation approaches, I look forward to continuing my understanding and passion for design in the next chapter of my life. I believe that the opportunity to join Gensler’s Design Strategist Development Program will be the perfect next creative adventure for me. I can’t imagine a better community to grow in than a firm known worldwide for its collaboration and design excellence. To me, DSD means: endless design possibilities. collaboration across design departments. learning while doing.
working with the best of the best humans and designers. a global network. a company making business more human.
mentorship.
meaningful and sustainable design.
As a designer and maker, I believe the Gensler DSD Program will bring me closer to generating informed, beautiful, and empathetic design solutions. I want design answers that spark even more design questions, and know that with my experience and passion, I can one day be a part of making the world better through design.
02
THE FLOATING FRAMEWORK VENICE, ITALY | FALL 2017
Design Challenge: Create an exhibition space that would help to reinvigorate the former religious center of San Pietro, a desolate and decrepit island that exists only a canal’s-width away from the Biennale’s central exhibition location at Arsenale. My partner and I first researched the history of the Biennale and made numerous site visits to the Island of San Pietro. After traveling throughout Venice on vaporetto taxis, we discovered that the best way to view and celebrate the city is not on land, but from the water. We used this scale of the vaporetto, as well as the height restrictions of the many bridges spanning over the canals, to inspire the overall design of our exhibition spaces.
SILICONE SEALANT SILICONE SEALANT
PANELED ROOF ROOF GLASSGLASS PANELED
RETRACTABLE SHADES LOUVERS LOUVERS
RETRACTABLE SHADES RETRACTABLE SHADES
SITE INSPIRATION
The Floating Framework is a unique system of cultural venues designed for the Venice Biennale. This “kit of parts” is composed of three interventions: a campo extension, a buoyant courtyard, and three exhibition barges. These barges can travel throughout most of Venice’s canals and can be integrated into the year-round Venetian special event calendar. The mobility of our exhibition spaces allow the public to easily move between Arsenale, San Pietro, and other major Venetian sites. This project celebrates the relationships between Venetian culture, climate, geography, and built environment. I was responsible for project maps, diagrams, plans, sections, and axonometric drawings, while my partner focused on project renderings.
ALUMINUM RIB CONNECTION
ALUMINUM RIBSRIBS ALUMINUM
GLASSGLASS PANELED PANELED SKIN SKIN FLOATING EXHIBITION FLOATING EXHIBITION HULL HULL
BARGE CONSTRUCTION
INTERIOR DETAILS
HIGH TIDE
LOW TIDE INTERVENTION A
INTERVENTION B
INTERVENTION C
BARGE PLAN + SECTION
BARGE + TIDE SECTION
The Floating Framework is a system of floating exhibition spaces that draw the public back to San Pietro, circumnavigate Venice, and seamlessly integrate into the Venetian special event calendar. To design such a space, we had to understand the multiple systems involved in Venetian water transportation and cultural history.
A FLOATING EXHIBITION SPACE IN THE GRAND CANAL
These “floating illuminated glass box” exhibition spaces travel throughout Venice, acting as a display case exhibiting the art both internally and externally.
03
FABRICATING FOR RAPID DISCOVERY CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA | FALL 2018
Design Challenge: Design a museum exhibit within a larger exhibition on the life and legacy of Carter G. Woodson. Find an efficient way to expose the visitor to Woodson’s most famous work, The Mis-Education of the Negro and allow for personal reflection. When first reading Carter G. Woodson’s The Mis-Education of the Negro, the vast number of hard-hitting, thought-provoking quotes stuck out to me. Recognizing that the typical visitor would not take the time to read the entire book upon arrival, I decided that the best way to expose the visitor to the most important messages of The Mis-Education of the Negro was to spotlight one thought-provoking quote from each chapter that best summed up Woodson’s lesson. I laser-etched each of the quotes and their chapter title onto painted MDF and weathered poplar frames that I constructed myself, in the hopes of framing public history. As the visitor circumnavigates the installation, they have the opportunity to write connecting thoughts, declarations, or information on notecards and place them on a peg inside of the corresponding passage’s frame. As more and more visitors do this, more connections between thoughts and declarations will emerge, sparking a larger conversation. The exhibition was fabricated at full-scale and will travel across Virginia.
PROCESS SKETCHES
STUDY MODELS
FULL MOCK-UP
EXPLODED PANEL
FINAL FULL-SCALE INSTALLATION
FABRICATION PHOTOS
FINAL MODEL
EXHIBITION CONTEXT PERSPECTIVE + ELEVATION
EXHIBIT LOCATION WITHIN LARGER EXHBITION
FINAL EXHIBITION DETAILS
Fabricating for Rapid Discovery is a self-fabricated object efficiently exposing the visitor to Carter G. Woodson’s Mis-Education of the Negro and allowing them to make connections from his work to their own experiences.
04
UVA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENT COUNCIL REBRANDING CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA | SUMMER 2017
Design Challenge: Create a new image for the UVA School of Architecture Student Council (A School Stud Co. for short) that is modern and eye catching, and represents the multiple disciplines within the School of Architecture as a cohesive body. When approaching this rebranding project, myself and the rest of my Executive Board conducted multiple in-person and email polls with our colleagues within the School of Architecture. With the data we collected, we came to four major conclusions: 1. Architects and designers LOVE the color black 2. In addition to black, vibrant but minimalistic pops of color are great for catching attention 3. UVA students are very connected to Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda 4. The one thing that all architecture school students have in common regardless of their discipline is that they love leveraging different technologies to create beautiful, impactful work.
ADOBE-INSPIRED BANNER
NOTEBOOK STICKER
With these conclusions, I designed updated logos, website graphics, merchandise, and a new overall feel for our Stud Co. brand that could be recreated in all future promotional materials. Building off of a black base, I took inspiration from the bright colors used in the Adobe Creative Cloud app logos. I also chose to highlight the letter “A” due to its colloquial use in reference to the School of Architecture as the “A School”.
WEBPAGE SCREENSHOT
GEOMETRIC ROTUNDA SQUARE GRAPHIC
“A” SQUARE ITERATIONS
“A” LOGO MERCHANDISE
The A School StudCo. Rebranding project used graphics to communicate an inclusive, unique, and fresh image to the School of Architecture and greater University.
05
COMMUNICATING CHANGE: pharm pharmX is one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. With offices all over the world, pharmX is looking to relocate from their metropolitan office in the heart of Washington D.C. to a large real estate development on the outskirts of the city in Herndon, Virginia. pharmX has hired J.T. and Associates(JT&A, an architectural consulting firm) for their change management services. The company’s executives hope that moving to a quieter, more picturesque location with more amenities will create a more positive, productive, and collaborative environment for employees. pharmX believes that fostering a more collaborative environment will incentivize innovation and increase their market share in the pharmaceutical industry. JT&A met with pharmX executives, department directors, and department employees. The following three pages represent the ideas collected from pharmX employees, as well as the architectural and management decisions crafted by JT&A.
Design Challenge:
How do you address and communicate the changes taking place at pharmX regarding the company’s move and new work environment in Herndon, Virginia?
Company Goals: to relocate the company headquarters away from the heart of Washington, D.C. to adopt a new working environment to save money and encourage collaboration to fight market competition and overcome losing company revenue shares
Company Needs: smaller and lower individual workstations, less overall square footage per person no more private offices, except for pharmX executives who will remain in large private offices some groups will no longer have assigned seating, others will still have workstations assigned to them more diverse work spaces/increased collaborative spaces new technology to enable increased employee mobility
EVOLVE
EXECUTE
ENGAGE
EVALUATE
CHANGE MANAGEMENT TIMELINE January 2019 -JT&A team visits the D.C. pharmX office to observe and evaluate company behavior and best practices February-March 2019 -JT&A team meets with pharmX executives to create the larger message, craft the new location vision, and brainstorm a communication strategy -JT&A team meets with pharmX executives and department directors to gain insight on each department April-May 2019 -JT&A team creates and presents preliminary designs and systems to the entire pharmX D.C. office May 2019-July 2019 -JT&A team sets up multiple two-way communication channels to gain feedback and suggestions on preliminary designs (i.e. dedicated email alias for anonymous feedback, town halls, focus groups) August 2019 -JT&A team creates and presents final designs and systems for the new pharmX Herndon office September-December 2019 -new furniture and equipment is ordered -construction, renovations, and installations for new office in Herndon, Virginia are completed January 2020 -pharmX relocates from Washington D.C. to the new Herndon office March 2020 -JT&A team revisits the new pharmX office for post-move town halls and to support any adjustments
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY Top-Down Communication Approach: J.T. and Associates pharmX Executives pharmX Department Directors pharmX Department Employees Will ensure that only correct and relevant up-to-date information is being passed along to all employees Use of Various Media to Communicate Messaging: In-person meetings, content focus groups, email blasts, monthly email and home-mailer newsletter with updates Multiple media will ensure that all employee (regardless of position) will be kept informed and be able to give input Calls to Actions: At the end of every communication, highlight necessary actions and call for feedback All employees will be able to have their suggestions and concerns heard, reducing anxiety
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY GOALS to be clear and honest about what’s changing and why
to set up two-way communication channels to gain feedback
to be proactive in correcting misinformation
to fully communicate final designs and plans
to acknowledge emotional impacts of changes
to look out for the needs of both the company and its employees
STAKEHOLDERS - employee narratives before initial consultation with JT&A pharmX Executives: Morgan Gibson (56, pharmX CEO since 2015, mother of 3) came up with the idea to move the pharmX office from Washington D.C. to Herndon, Virginia. She hopes that the move and updated layout will improve her company’s productivity and innovation levels and help pharmX overcome their competitors. She is concerned about the move causing the company to lose employees due to the initial lack of access to public transportation. Morgan is confident that she can get her thoughts and opinions heard in the face-to-face meetings with JT&A and hopes that similar meetings will also be productive with pharmX department directors. She also looks forward to the company-wide town halls where general department employees can also give input before initial office designs are created. Morgan currently lives in Chantilly, Virginia and will relocate her family to Herndon to be closer to the new office.
pharmX Department Directors: Cory Rogers (41, pharmX Clinical Research Department Director, single) is excited about the company’s move to Herndon. He has heard great things about the area and is excited for a change of pace from the busy city. However, Cory has heard rumors that he will be losing his own corner office, something he has worked very hard for over his 15 years with pharmX. He is also concerned that the rest of his department will not be receptive to the proposed changes. Rumors circulating have already caused distractions and noticeable less-productivity among his employees. Cory hopes to be able to express the needs of his department to JT&A and the pharmX executives during face-toface brainstorming meetings. JT&A has recommended that he speak with each of his employees individually to gain their perspectives and input on the new changes. They have also recommended that Cory continue checking in on concerns during his monthly department meetings.
pharmX Department Employees: Erica Shepherd (32, Operations Manager in pharmX’s Operations Department, mother of 5) is extremely anxious about the company’s move out of D.C. She cannot relocate to Herndon from her current home of Bethesda, Maryland due to her husband’s need to be near Walter Reed Hospital for his cancer treatments. Erica currently takes the metro into work every day and will be very inconvenienced by having to drive over an hour and a half to work every day. She looks forward to the company-wide town halls to share her story and how others might be similarly impacted by the change. As one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, pharmX is a complex system of executives, department directors, and department employees. This project, surrounding the design and execution of a change management system and office relocation must focus on the analysis and design of scalable systems through organizational and time-based logics and structures that will benefit both the company and its individual employees.
06
COMMUNICATING CHANGE: pharm The new pharmX building is a class-A 6-story office building consisting of 163,000 square feet of space. Its location at 2245 Monroe Street in beautiful Herndon, Virginia benefits from a 22 mile proximity to downtown Washington D.C., but also has its own unique charm. The lot is conveniently located near Dulles Toll Road and Fairfax County Parkway, is only 4.2 miles from Dulles Airport and 2.5 miles from Reston Town Center, and sits adjacent to the 15.75-acre Herndon Monroe Wetland Reserve. When the Herndon metro stop on the Silver Line opens at the end of 2020, there will be a 5 minute walk from the building to the new metro station. Dulles Toll R
oad
Mo nro e
St.
New Office Location
THE BUILDING
THE SITE
Herndon Metro (Opens in 2020)
RELOCATION CHALLENGES + SOLUTIONS Limited access to transportation and retail Though for the first year after the move to Herndon there will be very little access to public transportation, the Herndon Metro Station and Silver Line stop will be completed by the end of 2020, allowing for seamless public transportation to and from work. Until this metro stop opens, pharmX will open a Zipcar business account, allowing select employees to take the metro to the Reston station and then Zipcar to the Herndon office. The same service will be provided at a subsidized cost to reach local retail spaces at Reston Town Center. A new management and communication database will also allow for select telecommuting. Rumors circulating throughout the office causing anxiety and distractions In order to combat the spreading of misinformation, the executives must begin their top down approach of sharing the new vision first with department directors, and then with department employees. Once all employees are in-the-know, they will hopefully become less anxious and distracted. If not, they will be able to voice their anxieties and grievances with JT&A at regularly scheduled town halls and find alternative solutions. Department directors losing private offices Even though PharmX department directors will be losing their isolated private offices, each director will now have their own U- shaped desk in the middle of their department’s space for private work and collaboration when needed. This will open up communication lines and allow directors to work alongside their employees.
ADDITIONAL LOCATION ADVANTAGES
Herndon Monroe Wetland Reserve
pharmX has formed relationships with a local dry cleaning service to provide subsidized rates for their employees
Every level of the building will have an open plan, with little blocking the line of sight from one side to another. This open style will foster a more creative environment, allowing employees to easily gain visual inspiration from one another and encourage the collaboration of ideas and methods. During the observation and evaluation period, JT&A noticed that in the D.C. office, pharmX departments were divided onto totally separate floors. In the new location, departments will be split in half and mixed with another department with a similar mission. One project management team and one private executive office will also be on each floor to manage overall day-to-day activity. This setup will improve the flow of ideas and reduce groupthink within individual departments.
TYPICAL DEPARTMENT FLOOR PLAN Private Executive Office 50% of Department
50% of Department
Office Lounge
outdoor walking trails surround the entire Herndon property approximately 10% of the workforce will be given the opportunity to telecommute from home using the new pharmX cloudbased enterprise management software and global messaging database the new Herndon metro station will be completed at the end of 2020, allowing public transit commuting to and from the office
STAKEHOLDERS - employee narratives after initial consultations with JT&A pharmX Executives: Morgan Gibson (56, pharmX CEO since 2015, mother of 3) is excited about pharmX’s new location in Herndon. She is very happy that she will keep her corner executive office and is looking forward to not having to leave the building to buy lunch. Morgan is hopeful that the integration of multiple departments on each floor will encourage innovation, improve productivity, and improve overall company performance and standing in the industry. She is also excited about being able to go on morning runs around the complex’s nature trails.
pharmX Department Directors: Project Management team
Child Care Facility
DEPARTMENT LOCATIONS + FLOOR AMENITIES Level 01 Lobby Operations Department Quality Department 1 Project Management team 1 Private Executive Office
Level 04 50% of R&D Department 50% of Clinical Research Department 1 Project Management team 1 Private Executive Office Office Lounge
Level 02 50% of Business Department 50% of Finance and Admin. Department 1 Project Management team 1 Private Executive Office Child Care Facility
Level 05 50% of R&D Department 50% of Clinical Research Department 1 Project Management team 1 Private Executive Office Office Lounge
Level 03 50% of Business Department 50% of Finance and Admin. Department 1 Project Management team 1 Private Executive Office Office Lounge
Level 06 On-Site Café and Outdoor Terrace State-of-the-Art Fitness Center Game Room Conference Center Innovation Center
Cory Rogers (41, pharmX Clinical Research Department Director, single) was at first very skeptical about having his workspace integrated within his department, as well as with the Research and Development Department, but after seeing the plans for the new set-up, he is slowly getting more excited. He is looking forward to having a lounge space where he can get to know his employees on a more informal level and generate innovative research solutions. Cory appreciated the multiple feedback meetings with JT&A and believes his department had its voice heard in the designs.
pharmX Department Employees: Erica Shepherd (32, Operations Manager in pharmX’s Operations Department, mother of 5) will take advantage of pharmX’s new Zipcar service from the Reston metro station. She will save time commuting to work every morning because she will no longer have to drop her 6 month old son off at day care and instead will utilizespharmX’s child care facility. Once the Herndon metro station is completed in 2020, Erica will have an easy, direct commute. At work, Erica will collaborate with the Quality Department and PM Team daily to improve pharmX’s day-to-day operations. pharmX needs open, collaborative, and diverse work spaces, allowing employees and departments to choose the right type of setting to match the type of work they are doing at the time. pharmX also needs various recreational spaces to allow for relaxation and innovation.
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COMMUNICATING CHANGE: pharm The goal of pharmX’s move to a new office location outside of Washington D.C. is to create a new working environment that fosters collaboration and innovation between departments to improve company market performance. The updated layout will be completely open in plan and consist of four different types of workspaces: individual “hot desks”, department director centers, group collaboration desks, and department lounge areas. The incorporation of workspaces and technology different in scale, quantity and diversity will allow pharmX to reach its full collaboration and innovation potential.
NEW TYPES OF WORKSPACE FURNITURE Individual “Hot Desks”: In this free-range approach, pharmX employees across all departments shuffle between adjustable-height sitting/standing desks, encouraging a very open, comfortable environment where people can just walk up and engage with one another. There is no assigned seating, and the desks are constantly moved around the open floor plan to create different clusters of employees depending on the project.
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS pharmX must use various mediums to communicate information about the relocation project to their employees. It’s important that these graphics are consistent, informative, and eye-catching or else they could be ineffective and annoying.
Brand: Bestar, Collection: i3 Plus, Mfg #: 160860-47
Group Collaboration Desks: 9 foot-long collaboration desks at the end of every cluster of hot desks are the perfect largescale area for group work and conversation. These desks are where the real magic of pharmX happens. Department directors can call department-wide meetings here or use them to display progress on a particular project. Brand: Fad, Collection: Conference Tables, Mfg #: 2917573
Department Lounge Areas: These informal areas are filled with comfortable couches, chairs, and tables of all different sizes. Here, pharmX employees can stop to chat for a few minutes or discuss projects more in-depth over lunch. These lounges are another great place for employees to build stronger bonds with their department directors and executives. Brand: Coact, Collection: Modular Lounge, Mfg #: 76386, 987456, 234672, and 972546
NEW WORKSPACE TECHNOLOGY Cloud-Based Enterprise Management Software: This management software surfaces valuable pharmX data and reveals important insights about the branch’s operations—insights that will make the company more efficient, more accurate, more predictable and more competitive. Every pharmX employee has access to an online dashboard that allows them to view everything they need in real-time. pharmX Global Messaging Database: pharmX is an international pharmaceutical company with offices all over the world. Employees are expected to take advantage of this global network by staying in touch with colleagues in different departments and branches. the pharmX Global Messaging Database allows employees to message, email, or video call any employee in the pharmX system, fostering extensive collaboration across multiple boundaries and allowing an amazing telecommute system, rotated throughout departments.
NEW OFFICE! -2245 Monroe St. Herndon, VA 20171 -Near Dulles Toll Road and Fairfax County Parkway -Adjacent to 15.75-acre Herndon Monroe Wetland Preserve
-Completely Open Floor Plans -Inter-Mixed Departments on Each Floor
NEW WORKSPACES Tuesday, Feb 18, 4:33 PM (1 day ago)
-Individual Movable Sitting/standing Hot Desks -Long Collaboration Tables -Department Director Centers -Department Lounges
TOWN HALL
Dear Department Directors, This Monday, March 4th at 12pm we would like to invite you all to attend a brainstorming session with pharmX executives and J.T. and Associates, the company overseeing our change management as we relocate our D.C. pharmX office to Herndon, Virginia. We have attached an infographic with some of the current proposed changes. Please come prepared with constructive feedback on how we can use this relocation to better improve the workspaces and overall productivity of your department. I look forward to seeing you all then. Best, Morgan Gibson PharmX CEO 703.874.2930 morgan.gibson@pharmx.com
NEW AMENITIES
pharm
-On-site Subsidized Cafe -On-site Day Care -State-of-the-art Fitness Center -Game Room -Outdoor Walking Trails Surrounding The Property -Innovation Center
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Join us: Friday, May 3rd, 2019!
-Cloud-Based Management Software
Brand: Treanti, Collection: Standing Desks, Mfg #: 1238665
Department Director Centers: In the center of the employee “hot desks” clusters sit large u-shaped desks for each department director, allowing them to have their own permanent and spacious desk areas. The central and public location allow the members of their department the opportunity to have face time with them and encourage conversations and collaborations that wouldn’t normally occur, happen on a daily basis.
RELOCATION
NEW LAYOUT
pharm Morgan Gibson <morgan.gibson@pharmx.com to Department Directors
pharm
-pharmXGlobal Messaging Database ***learn how your department can work from home!***
STAKEHOLDERS - employee narratives after final design presentation by JT&A pharmX Executives: Morgan Gibson (56, pharmX CEO since 2015, mother of 3) believes that with the help of J.T. and Associates, the new Herndon pharmX office could be their best branch yet. She is very excited to see how the investment in both new workplace furniture and a new cloud-based management software improves the quality of work and communication of her employees and overall success of pharmX. She is ready to see the relocation project through to completion.
pharmX Department Directors: Cory Rogers (41, pharmX Clinical Research Department Director, single) was pleasantly surprised at JT&A’s ability to listen to his feedback and create a final design that meets the unique needs of his department. Cory is still a little upset that he will be losing his private office, but believes that the U Shaped desk set-up will help him better contribute to the innovation of his department. He is also very excited by the new management software and pharmX global messaging database that will allow his department to occasionally telecommute from home.
pharmX Department Employees: Erica Shepherd (32, Operations Manager in pharmX’s Operations Department, mother of 5) cannot wait for her department to move into the new building. She is looking forward to having an adjustable, movable desk that allows her to change the way she is working depending on what her current project needs are. She is also excited about the new lounge areas, where she can get to know her colleagues in a more informal, but still product environment. Erica has really appreciated the clear and consistant communication about the relocation from both JT&A and her executives. All rumors have been cleared up, allowing Erica and others in her department to bring their focus back to their work.
In their new workspace, pharmX needs objects - furniture and technology - that encourage openness and collaboration and increase overall employee mobility.
pharmX must create clear, consistent, and eye-catching graphics to communicate all aspects of the relocation project to their employees.
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