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You + Your Workstation = BFF?

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:48:05 -0700

Ergonomics Education Series Part I

Do you need a keyboard tray? If you are 6’-4” tall, placing your key board on the desk top (29-1/2” above the floor) is ergonomically correct. If you are any other height, you are an excellent candidate for an adjustable keyboard tray!

A proper keyboard tray allows for adjustability in height, tilt, distance from your monitor, and adequate knee clearance. These simple adjustments allow you to customize your keyboard to your body height and comfort level.

The best posture for computer tasks is “hands in lap.” This means, your elbows are at your sides, your wrists are straight, and your shoulders are dropped. This position allows your shoulders, elbows, and wrists to relax and avoid strain on your neck and back.

Keyboard trays do take some getting used to, but they are the most cost effective and healthy solution for improving your posture, comfort, and circulation while working at a computer.When you purchase a keyboard tray, ask the dealer, manufacturer, or designer for a short training course to learn how to effectively manipulate your new equipment.

Now, go ahead, give your keyboard tray some love!

(notice the negative tilt of the keyboard tray, putting no strain on the wrists)

Happy Bloomsday Weekend!

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:21:49 -0700

It’s going to be HOT this weekend! Good luck to all the Bloomsday runners and spectators. Enjoy the sunshine, and stay COOL!

Promoting Wellness in the Workplace

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:22:00 -0700

Employee Health has become a “buzz” phrase in corporate America over the past 5 years. An ever increasing aging and overweight society has caused a spike in healthcare premiums, in turn causing corporations to examine the practices and daily routines of those they employ. Today’s corporations are stepping up to the challenge of promoting wellness among their employees and are implementing on-site wellness programs.

Design Source recently had the opportunity to work with Washington Trust Bank to help create a wellness area for their employees within their Financial Center. We helped transform a fire stairwell into a place for employees to work out on their breaks. Two positive results have emerged: the employees are becoming healthier and more comfortable with the fire escape route!

We welcome the challenge and opportunity of creating unique wellness environments for businesses who want to promote the health of their employees.

Global Goes Local!

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:22:20 -0700

Over the last few months, Global Credit Union has been rolling out their new marketing brand and initiative. Their new Global Citizen campaign is all about celebrating the people who make our community great!

You may have recognized the local artists and musicians featured on their latest billboards, bus wraps, and television commercials. These original works were specifically designed for Global to showcase their talents and passion and to enrich the community.

Today, their newest branch opens in Shadle - a culmination of the principles expressed in their print ads and television commercials. We were fortunate to collaborate with Wolfe Architectural Group to integrate Global's new business philosophy into their branch interior design.

It is rewarding to work with clients who give back to the community and appreciate the impact of great design.

National Architecture Week

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:16:32 -0700

Next week, architecture will come to life with exhibits and presentations celebrating National Architecture Week. AIA Spokane has a full schedule for people of all ages, kicking off on Saturday with a week-long exhibit at River Park Square. Head downtown and check out some of these great events!

Office lighting – Time for an illuminating change!

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:02:48 -0700

In recent decades office tasks, technology and people have changed greatly however, in most cases, office lighting design has not.

Why? and what can be done? Let’s explore…

Today’s workplace scenario:

A typical worker spends the majority of their day working on a computer.
The work force encompasses three generations of employees – each with different lighting needs for their individual eyes.
Multitasking is prevalent at work - we go back and forth between computer work and pen and paper work. These activities require very different lighting levels to empower the user to perform efficiently.

The Problem:

An existing, outdated lighting plan provides an improperly lit and over lit office space.

Computer screens create their own light and any extra light in the surrounding area bounces off of the screen and reflects back at the user, causing blurry vision and headaches.
As people age, their eyes tend to yellow, making their environment seem much darker than a younger person may see it.
Old lighting schemes do not provide different levels of lighting for different tasks.

The Solution:

Work with a professional to design a lighting system that includes a lower level of general lighting and adjustable/ergonomic task lighting for every worker in each workstation and office.

The Benefits:

The long term return on investment has been proven in many case studies.

Employee health and productivity is improved.
Bottom line cost to a business is reduced due to lower energy bills.

For more information, visit HumanScale.

To find out how your business could benefit from an updated lighting design, contact us here.

Seeing is Believing!

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:00:00 -0700

Seeing really is believing, and sometimes this leads to understanding. The most powerful benefit of creating a 3D model of an interior space is the ability to experience what it will look like before the foundation is even poured. Recently, a client was facing the challenge of selling apartment units that had not yet been built. Their sales tool of a two dimensional floor plan was not providing potential buyers enough information to visualize their new home. Hence, we were commissioned to create a 3D model.

Based on the floor plan established by the architect we virtually “built” the apartment complete with windows capturing actual exterior view photos taken on the property. A design style was created including cabinetry, lighting, doors, detailing, finish materials and a color scheme. Lastly, the apartment was staged with furnishings and accessories. The result was a customized digital model tailored to capture the amenities of the home and inspire potential buyers.

Once the final touches were made, 3D modeling technology was utilized to take photo realistic images of the interior. With these, a short video was created and is currently being used by our client as an enhanced marketing tool.

To see your project in 3D or for more information on the benefits of modeling technology, contact us here.

Changes in “Sprinklers” to Encourage Business Growth

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:27:57 -0700

“I see one of the City’s primary jobs as helping to improve our business climate, allowing the private sector to grow and create jobs. Changes like these can make the difference between a project moving ahead or becoming stalled through overly burdensome regulation,” says Mayor Condon. “I am appreciative of the work of the Fire Department to propose these modifications and to the City Council for approving these amendments.”

On July 19th, 2012 Spokane Mayor David Condon signed into law a new ordinance that amends a number of Spokane fire codes to encourage business development. Though the fire codes are created to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, Mayor Condon believes that when too stringent, they can cause business expansion and growth to stall.

To help reduce the high costs associate with fire codes, the following amendments have been made to Spokane Fire Code:

• Increases the allowable distance to a fire hydrant for an un-sprinkled building to 500 feet, from 250 feet now. Buildings with sprinklers can now be 750 feet from a hydrant. This means fewer projects would have to put in new hydrants, minimizing overall development costs.

• Allows buildings to receive credit for fire hydrants that are on the opposite side a four-lane street or a street with a median divider, as long as they are within the allowable distance. This was not allowed previously and again reduces the need for new hydrants.

• Allows for smaller driveways in residential areas if there is an on-site location with an adequate turning radius for a fire truck. This could help encourage infill development within residential areas with site access issues.

• Allows building owners to use smoke-detection equipment in elevators instead of more expense heat-detection equipment and associated shunt trip equipment.

• Increases the allowable distance between a fire hydrant and the Fire Department connection for new standpipe or fire sprinkler systems to 500 feet from 150 feet. These connections allow firefighters to use the sprinkler or standpipe system to help fight a fire and increasing the distance provides greater flexibility on a project and possible reduced costs.

• Adds an approved alternative to fire sprinkling in existing basements. This provision provides an option for building or business owners that could avoid costs on some rehabilitation or remodeling projects.

To find out how your business could benefit from these changes, contact us here.

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Before and After: City Ramp Parking Garage

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 08:10:48 -0700

In November of 2010, we talked about one of our most fabulous projects, the renovation of the City Ramp Garage. This historic Spokane landmark was built in 1928 and was the first example of art deco architecture in the region. Created by the architectural firm Whitehouse and Price, the City Ramp Garage was the most modern ramp-type parking garage west of the Mississippi and the first effort by local building owners to provide parking for clients.

Nearly one hundred years later we have had the honor and the privilege to develop a design program to update the garage while at the same time honoring its history. Over the past few years upgrades have worked their way from the interior out. While the finishing touches are being made on the City Ramp Garage, we thought we would take a moment and share some before and after shots of this amazing space.

To see all of the City Ramp project photos, visit us on Facebook.

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Best of Luck!

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:29:30 -0700

Wishing the best of luck to all of the athletes participating in the 2012 Coeur d' Alene Ironman!

Test Drive Your Design

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 09:51:28 -0700

Do you ever wish you could see what a new paint color would look like on a wall before you even touch a paint brush? How about what it would feel like to knock down that wall between your living room and dining room? Well, with today's technology, we are able to show you!

As an Interior Design firm we have seen an increase in demand for the use of 3D visualization. By generating a three dimensional model of an environment, we are able to produce images to help our clients visualize what their project will look like complete. Depending on the intended use, the styles can range anywhere from an informal sketch-like feel to photo-realistic images.

One example of this is our current work with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic and their new Data and Administration Center in Toppenish, Washington. The lobby, break room and coffee bars were areas of importance and needed a higher level of design detailing. By generating a 3D model of each space, our client was able to see how each area would look and feel. They were then able to take the images and share with the staff to generate excitement and enthusiasm for their beautiful new office space.

The Data and Administration Center is currently under construction and the details are starting to take shape. Take a look at how the 3D images that were generated months ago are being translated into the built environment on the job site.

To have us create 3D model for your project, contact us here.

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thank you...

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:27:18 -0700

Happy Memorial Day!

Before leaving for our much anticipated three day weekend, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the reason for this mini-vacation. We send a heartfelt thank you to all of the soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country and for those soldiers willing to give the ultimate sacrifice.

- We cherish too, the Poppy red
- That grows on fields where valor led,
- It seems to signal to the skies
- That blood of heroes never dies
  - Moina Michael, 1915

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We are Elevating Our Success. You’re Next.

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:07:38 -0700

At Design Source, we pride ourselves on the level of quality service we provide. For the past 25 years, our focus has been to help our clients achieve their goals and improve their business and home life through creative design solutions. Now it is time for us to practice what we preach.

In order to improve efficiencies, increase staff communication, elevate synergy and optimize our real estate investment, we will be consolidating onto the first floor of our beloved Fire Station No. 9. The new layout will not only improve our daily interactions but will enhance our ability to respond to client needs.

Are you missing out on elevating your success? If you are in need of realigning your core values or streamlining your operations, call on us to help. We believe less is truly more and look forward to embracing the benefits from our firm and yours.

As a result of our consolidation, there is a rare opportunity for a business to occupy the second floor of Fire Station No.9. If you are looking for a unique office environment with historic character, and a contemporary vibe, please check it out. Your new office space would be close to downtown with onsite parking and includes a kitchen, exterior balcony, courtyard with BBQ, private restroom and shiny brass fire pole.

For more information please contact Craig Soehren at: craigs@khco.com.

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Seattle Condo

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:14 -0700

Recently, a client of ours purchased an amazing condo in the heart of downtown Seattle, Washington. Located just above the world famous Pike Place Market, the condo’s floor to ceiling windows present amazing views of Puget Sound. Our job was to take the empty shell and complete the space with amazing furnishings, accessories and design details. The results are fabulous and we wanted to share them with you.

For assistance designing your condo or home, contact us here.

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Happy Friday and...

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:42:17 -0700

Tee Hee! We hope everyone has a fabulous weekend and good luck to all of you bloomies running Bloomsday 2012!

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The Power of the Doodle

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:33:17 -0700

Lately, writable surfaces are emerging from their usual home in the conference room, and showing in up in places such as offices, break rooms, meeting areas, even the reception area. “Writable surfaces” today are not your typical white board. They consist of entire walls dedicated to doodling with dry erase and white board paint as well as glass that can turn any flat surface into an immediate larger than life notebook.

Everett Katigback, a communication designer at Facebook says “the hand is the easiest way to get something down.” It should come as no surprise that most of the walls within Facebook offices around the country are finished with dry erase paint or glass panels allowing the employees an area for their doodles, thoughts, ideas, mathematical equations and even sketches of cats.

Benefits of visual note taking are said to include increased engagement, improved ideation, fuels collaboration and simplifies communication. Many see putting pen to paper as a chance to connect on a personal level, forcing all of us to look up from our smart phones and tablets.

Recent studies support that visual note taking helps keep employees engaged. A 2009 study published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology found that doodlers retained more than non-doodlers when remembering information that was presented in a boring context. According to Jackie Andrade, a psychology professor at the University of Plymouth in England, doodling takes up just enough cognitive energy to prevent the mind from day dreaming.

Jeffery Murray, principal test manager at Microsoft starts off his new product feature meetings with sketches and cartoon like story boards. Sketches help “get everyone on the same page and convey the emotion and experience of the user,” he says. Eventually these ideas are transferred to PowerPoint desk he says. Ironically, the developers then sketch and scribble over the top of the projections on the whiteboard.

Fueling creativity and increasing engagement while connecting on a fun, personal level, the benefits of visual note taking are quite impressive. Whether a traditional white board, an accent wall of dry erase paint, or a large panel of glass, the opportunity to provide doodle space is virtually unlimited.

To learn more about incorporating visual note taking areas into your office, contact us here.

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Sources:

info

image

In Celebration of Mother Earth

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:24:53 -0700

In honor of Earth Day this Sunday, April 22^nd, we would love to share the story of its origin with you as told by Senator Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day himself.

“What was the purpose of Earth Day? How did it start? These are the questions I am most frequently asked.

Actually, the idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country. Finally, in November 1962, an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, a virtual cinch to put the environment into the political "limelight" once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue by going on a national conservation tour. I flew to Washington to discuss the proposal with Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who liked the idea. So did the President. The President began his five-day, eleven-state conservation tour in September 1963. For many reasons the tour did not succeed in putting the issue onto the national political agenda. However, it was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day.

I continued to speak on environmental issues to a variety of audiences in some twenty-five states. All across the country, evidence of environmental degradation was appearing everywhere, and everyone noticed except the political establishment. The environmental issue simply was not to be found on the nation's political agenda. The people were concerned, but the politicians were not.

After President Kennedy's tour, I still hoped for some idea that would thrust the environment into the political mainstream. Six years would pass before the idea that became Earth Day occurred to me while on a conservation speaking tour out West in the summer of 1969. At the time, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, called "teach-ins," had spread to college campuses all across the nation. Suddenly, the idea occurred to me - why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment?

I was satisfied that if we could tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into the environmental cause, we could generate a demonstration that would force this issue onto the political agenda. It was a big gamble, but worth a try.

At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, I announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes, and air - and they did so with spectacular exuberance. For the next four months, two members of my Senate staff, Linda Billings and John Heritage, managed Earth Day affairs out of my Senate office.

Five months before Earth Day, on Sunday, November 30, 1969, The New York Times carried a lengthy article by Gladwin Hill reporting on the astonishing proliferation of environmental events:
"Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam...a national day of observance of environmental problems...is being planned for next spring...when a nationwide environmental 'teach-in'...coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned...."

It was obvious that we were headed for a spectacular success on Earth Day. It was also obvious that grassroots activities had ballooned beyond the capacity of my U.S. Senate office staff to keep up with the telephone calls, paper work, inquiries, etc. In mid-January, three months before Earth Day, John Gardner, Founder of Common Cause, provided temporary space for a Washington, D.C. headquarters. I staffed the office with college students and selected Denis Hayes as coordinator of activities.
Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.”

It has been 42 years and today we continue to struggle with environmental issues. This Sunday, we urge you to spend some time honoring our planet, whether it be planting a new tree or switching your light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent. If everyone makes small alterations, they will add up to one big change.

If you would like to learn more about sustainable technology in your home or business, contact us here .

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sources:

http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html

http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/earth-day-2011-events

Race for the Cure 2012

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:37:11 -0700

“Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.”

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For the second year in a row, one of our designers, Cassidy Lange, will be participating in the Race for the Cure in honor of her grandmother who is a breast cancer survivor. On Sunday, April 22nd, Cassidy will join thousands of supporters in a three mile race through downtown Spokane. She is a team member of the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) local chapter, who’s t-shirts read “make them permanent fixtures”. Cheers to everyone participating in the race!

For more information on the Susan G. Komen Foundation, you can visit their website here.

If you would like to support Cassidy in her Race for the Cure, donate here.

Congratulations and Cheers!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:07:52 -0700

We wanted to take moment and recognize our amazing clients who were winners in the Inlander’s Best of 2012. We have the most incredible clients and are so excited for each and every one of you. Congratulations and Cheers!

Saranac Public House

Best New Restaurant (3rd Place)

Best New Night Spot (3rd Place)

Washington Trust Bank

Best Bank (1st Place)

Inland Northwest Bank

Best Bank (3rd Place)

Bistango

Best Cocktail Bar (3rd Place)

Thomas Hammer Coffee

Best Coffee Roaster (1st Place)

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agora excellence

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:16:01 -0700

We just turned in our semi-finalist questionnaire for the 2012 AGORA Small Business Award last week. It was an honor to be nominated and make it to the semi-finals! After reviewing the list of other semi-finalists, we acknowledge that our competition is a group of amazing local businesses. Including Design Source, there are eight businesses competing for the Small Business Award and we offer a shout out to each one of them: Angus Meats Inc., Intrinium Networks/IT Security, Let It Shine, Maid Naturally LLC, Modern Construction & Consulting Services LLC, Presentation Solutions and Zipline Interactive.

For over 20 years, Greater Spokane Incorporated (formerly Spokane Chamber of Commerce) has been presenting AGORA Awards for Business Excellence to local businesses. We were fortunate to win the AGORA Small Business Award in 2001, make it to the final round in 2010 and hope to achieve the coveted AGORA status again in 2012!

Our application preparation this year included looking back on our past submittals. Although many aspects of economy have altered our business model, the core company values remain steadfast. Our team offers personalized customer service providing quality, value added design solutions. Whether it be aesthetically more pleasing, (South Hill Residence), functionally more efficient (Washington Trust Bank), planning for the long term (St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center), or developing new spaces (Cochrane & Company), our goal is to create balance within the unique requirements of each interior space.

But enough about us. Congratulations and good luck to all of the semi-finalists in all of the categories! To learn more about the AGORA Awards, you can visit the Greater Spokane Incorporated website.

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