These white papers are published by Herman Miller to address key issues behind the design of office furniture and working environments. The papers draw on the research of subject experts, in fields as diverse as ergonomics and the environment, to present an overview of current trends and innovative approaches.
Accessibility
Equal opportunity facilities: designing for universal accommodation (310 KB PDF)
The increasing diversity of the workforce means that designers and facility managers need to consider a huge range of physical needs and preferences. What can businesses do to create an environment that is accessible to all?
Acoustics
Beyond four walls and a door: understanding privacy in the office (227 KB PDF)
A recent British study found that more than one in four office workers complains about lack of privacy on the job. How can this need for privacy be addressed?
Churn
Churn in the workplace (361 KB PDF)
Churn - moving people or equipment around - is an inescapable part of responding to change, but it can prove disruptive and costly. Appropriate strategies are needed to manage churn successfully.
Office alternatives: working on site (128 KB PDF)
The way we work has changed, calling for a reassessment of facility strategies to use office space more effectively. This report looks at the effect of new ways of working on facility design and answers some common questions about how these changes can be best supported.
Collaboration
Collaborative settings: fostering teamwork in the workplace (449 KB PDF)
Despite the obvious benefits of teamwork, the transition to collaborative ways of working can be difficult if organisations are not equipped to accommodate fundamental changes.
Office alternatives: working on site (128 KB PDF)
The way we work has changed, calling for a reassessment of facility strategies to use office space more effectively. This report looks at the effect of new ways of working on facility design and answers some common questions about how these changes can be best supported.
Colour
Experience of colour (717 KB PDF)
Colour is not as straightforward as it seems. A better understanding of how we perceive colour and the effects it has on us can be used to improve motivation and performance in office environments.
Environment
Companies going green (493 KB PDF)
Businesses around the globe are actively seeking ways to develop, produce, market, and sell more earth-friendly products.
The search for good wood: sustaining the yield from tropical forests (599 KB PDF)
With tropical forests are being destroyed at the rate of 50 to 100 acres per minute, the challenge faced by governments, farmers, indigenous peoples, environmentalists and businesses alike is to find ways to manage this resource sustainably.
Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Planet (1530KB PDF)
While the "reduce, reuse, recycle" approach to the environment has slowed the consumption of natural resources, it's not enough. What's needed, say environmental experts, is sustainability--i.e., meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It's an ambitious goal, but some companies are making headway. Here, four companies talk about the steps they've taken and the lessons they've learned since setting out on the journey to sustainability.
Work Force Diversity and What It Means for the Office (1019KB PDF)
To get a preview of the North American work force in 10, 20, or even 50 years, simply look around nearly any office and imagine the same scene, only with more women, a broader range of ages, and more races and ethnic backgrounds represented. This diversity brings challenges and opportunities for managing human resources and giving them environments in which they can contribute their best. Since diversity will only continue, organizations would do well to consider measures that help the workplace accommodate a wider variety of people, keep people interested and involved in their work, and support a person's individuality.
Ergonomics
Body support in the office: sitting, seating, and low back pains (427 KB PDF)
Sedentary work styles have led to increasing problems with back pain among office workers, highlighting the need for ergonomic chair design.
Cross performance at work: what new roles mean to the chairs we sit in (295 KB PDF)
Increasingly office workers are undertaking a wide variety of tasks and 'cross performance' chairs are needed to support the many changes of posture they will assume throughout the day.
Cumulative trauma disorders (414 KB PDF)
Cumulative trauma disorders, or repetitive strain injuries as they are also known, are an increasing problem in the workplace. This report outlines the symptoms and considers measures to counteract this health risk.
Everybody deserves a good chair (716 KB PDF)
Everybody deserves a good chair. But what is a good chair? For almost 100 years now, researchers have been trying to answer that question. This summary examines their work and considers their conclusions.
If the chair fits (280 KB PDF)
This research summary explores the importance of good fit in office chairs. It discusses the range of different body sizes and examines the ways chair designers try to fit them.
The anthropometrics of fit (87 KB PDF)
People vary widely in all their dimensions. Improperly fitted chairs can cause discomfort and contribute to health problems. A design solution is needed to provide people with chairs that fit as comfortably as their clothes.
The art of pressure distribution (175 KB PDF)
Correct pressure distribution is critical to sitting comfortably. The Aeron's pellicle ensures that the chair supports all body shapes without restricting the circulation.
The attributes of thermal comfort (55 KB PDF)
Creating a chair that 'breathes' so that its users stay cool and comfortable is one important ergonomic criteria for the design of a new work chair.
The kinematics of sitting (108 KB PDF)
In the best of all possible worlds, the body is free to position itself spontaneously, constrained only by gravity. A person seated at work should be able to move freely and unselfconsciously from computer-related tasks to more relaxed or interactive postures. The work chair should follow along, providing optimal support whether the body is in motion or at rest.
Vision and the computerised office (940 KB PDF)
Concern about vision complaints is part of a growing trend among employers who recognise the importance of investing in the health of their workers. This paper brings together research on the issue.
Health risks and prevention
Body support in the office: sitting, seating, and low back pains (427 KB PDF)
Sedentary work styles have led to increasing problems with back pain among office workers, highlighting the need for ergonomic chair design.
Vision and the computerised office (940 KB PDF)
Concern about vision complaints is part of a growing trend among employers who recognise the importance of investing in the health of their workers. This paper brings together research on the issue.
Cross performance at work: what new roles mean to the chairs we sit in (295 KB PDF)
Increasingly office workers are undertaking a wide variety of tasks and 'cross performance' chairs are needed to support the many changes of posture they will assume throughout the day.
Cumulative trauma disorders (414 KB PDF)
Cumulative trauma disorders, or repetitive strain injuries as they are also known, are an increasing problem in the workplace. This report outlines the symptoms and considers measures to counteract this health risk.
Everybody deserves a good chair (716 KB PDF)
Everybody deserves a good chair. But what is a good chair? For almost 100 years now, researchers have been trying to answer that question. This summary examines their work and considers their conclusions.
Managing change
Churn in the workplace (361 KB PDF)
Churn - moving people or equipment around - is an inescapable part of responding to change, but it can prove disruptive and costly. Appropriate strategies are needed to manage churn successfully.
Office alternatives: working on site (128 KB PDF)
The way we work has changed, calling for a reassessment of facility strategies to use office space more effectively. This report looks at the effect of new ways of working on facility design and answers some common questions about how these changes can be best supported.
Privacy
Beyond four walls and a door: understanding privacy in the office (227 KB PDF)
A recent British study found that more than one in four office workers complains about lack of privacy on the job. How can this need for privacy be addressed?
It is a matter of balance: new understandings of open plan acoustics (570 KB PDF)
The problem of noise in open-plan work spaces is one of the most common complaints of office workers. Experts have determined that controlling open-plan acoustics always comes back to controlling the same three acoustical problems: sound level, speech intelligibility, and sound paths.
Productivity
Cross performance at work: what new roles mean to the chairs we sit in (295 KB PDF)
Increasingly office workers are undertaking a wide variety of tasks and 'cross performance' chairs are needed to support the many changes of posture they will assume throughout the day.
Environments for learning (532 KB PDF)
For a company to become a 'learning organisation' means more than just running staff training sessions. It can also be a matter of corporate mind-set, teamwork and a learning culture.
It's here somewhere: the effect of storage methods on job performance (337 KB PDF)
Providing appropriate, flexible storage solutions for office environments can have a significant effect on worker satisfaction and productivity.
Lighting in the workplace (296 KB PDF)
Designing workplace lighting has become increasingly complex, given the changing priorities and technologies of today's offices.
Office alternatives: telecommuting - working off site (131 KB PDF)
Emerging technologies and the challenges of a global economy make telecommuting increasingly practical and attractive. How is off-site work changing the way that businesses think about their facilities and their staff?
Office alternatives: working on site (128 KB PDF)
The way we work has changed, calling for a reassessment of facility strategies to use office space more effectively. This report looks at the effect of new ways of working on facility design and answers some common questions about how these changes can be best supported.
Seating
If the chair fits (280 KB PDF)
This research summary explores the importance of good fit in office chairs. It discusses the range of different body sizes and examines the ways chair designers try to fit them.
The art of pressure distribution (175 KB PDF)
Correct pressure distribution is critical to sitting comfortably. The Aeron's pellicle ensures that the chair supports all body shapes without restricting the circulation.
The attributes of thermal comfort (55 KB PDF)
Creating a chair that 'breathes' so that its users stay cool and comfortable is one important ergonomic criteria for the design of a new work chair.
The kinematics of sitting (108 KB PDF)
In the best of all possible worlds, the body is free to position itself spontaneously, constrained only by gravity. A person seated at work should be able to move freely and unselfconsciously from computer-related tasks to more relaxed or interactive postures. The work chair should follow along, providing optimal support whether the body is in motion or at rest.
Everybody deserves a good chair (716 KB PDF)
Everybody deserves a good chair. But what is a good chair? For almost 100 years now, researchers have been trying to answer that question. This summary examines their work and considers their conclusions.
Cross performance at work: what new roles mean to the chairs we sit in (295 KB PDF)
Increasingly office workers are undertaking a wide variety of tasks and 'cross performance' chairs are needed to support the many changes of posture they will assume throughout the day.
Body support in the office: sitting, seating, and low back pains (427 KB PDF)
Sedentary work styles have led to increasing problems with back pain among office workers, highlighting the need for ergonomic chair design.
The anthropometrics of fit (87 KB PDF)
People vary widely in all their dimensions. Improperly fitted chairs can cause discomfort and contribute to health problems. A design solution is needed to provide people with chairs that fit as comfortably as their clothes.
Technology
Vision and the computerised office (940 KB PDF)
Concern about vision complaints is part of a growing trend among employers who recognise the importance of investing in the health of their workers. This paper brings together research on the issue.
Churn in the workplace (361 KB PDF)
Churn - moving people or equipment around - is an inescapable part of responding to change, but it can prove disruptive and costly. Appropriate strategies are needed to manage churn successfully.
Lighting in the workplace (296 KB PDF)
Designing workplace lighting has become increasingly complex, given the changing priorities and technologies of today's offices.
Telecommuting
Office alternatives: telecommuting - working off site (131 KB PDF)
Emerging technologies and the challenges of a global economy make telecommuting increasingly practical and attractive. How is off-site work changing the way that businesses think about their facilities and their staff?
Powertrip (577 KB PDF)
This report examines how power and data make their way from building source to the desktop.
World at work
Office alternatives: working on site (128 KB PDF)
The way we work has changed, calling for a reassessment of facility strategies to use office space more effectively. This report looks at the effect of new ways of working on facility design and answers some common questions about how these changes can be best supported.
Office environments: the North American perspective (631 KB PDF)
Change is rampant in North American enterprises and today's organisations are undergoing a fundamental transformation in the way they think about, organise, and carry out work in a globally competitive economy.
