Wednesday, December 23, 2009

12 Coolest Cubicles and Work Spaces

Studio 53 Cubicle Concept

In 2006, Steelcase created a number of conceptual cubicles that were displayed at the company's Chicago showroom during NeoCon, an annual furniture industry trade show. This design, called Studio 53—the name is a reference to the 1970s Manhattan disco, Studio 54—was such a hit with visitors that some companies asked to purchase it as it was. The idea was to remake the standard-size cubicle into a stylish and comfortable meeting place within an office, where workers could gather to find privacy in today's increasingly open-plan working environments. Leo Burnett, the advertising agency, is one company that asked to buy a Studio 53 cubicle on the spot, turning this conceptual design into an instant product. It's in use today.
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Google' Cubicles

You've probably heard about the latest project from the architecture and design firm Camenzind Evolution: Google Zurich. What is truly remarkable about this project is that Carmenzind Evolution delivered exactly what Google desired, while not exceeding the costs of many conventional interior office fit-outs. The design team began by working closely with Google through the pre-design process by interviewing all 350 employees with the intention of incorporating their ideas into a new workspace. Because many companies spend excessive amounts on furniture and finishes that have nothing to do with how theemployees work and interact within the space, the final design resulted in elements from which the so-called ‘Zooglers' would benefit most. (Link)


War Cubicle

Mark MacAskill's Cubes of War cubicle won the Lifehacker's Coolest Cubicle of 2008 contest. As Mark said when he submitted his cubicle, “The war on terror is second only to the war on boredom. And my cube was definitely boring before I transformed it into a weapon of mass destruction.” (Link)


Luxury Cubicle

Meet the luxury and refinement in Jared Nielsen's executive cubicle. Take note of the dark cherry hardwood floor, red mahogany luxury paneling, carved desk, oriental rug, and of course the executive office chair. (Link)





Privacy Cubicle

Back in the day when one would specify freestanding pedestal desks for secretaries, they would have an optional "modesty panel" so that visitors and co-workers couldn't look at their knees or worse. I wonder how one acts when the whole upper body is encased in this wonderful shed/office/house on legs designed by Soojin Hyun. You certainly won't go to work in your bathrobe. Or perhaps it is the reverse of that Anchorman joke, where you wear nice pants but don't need a top. However once one gets over that objection it looks like a lovely, productive space Yanko says: “House on the table” by Soojin Hyun captures that same sense of implied privacy with its whimsical design. By creating a desk that combines bookshelves, a vaulted ceiling, four walls, look-out portals and interior lighting, you can spend your days defending your domain from the invading middle-management hordes." (Link)


Selgas Cano Architecture Office

Bored to work in concrete jungle? How about to work in the middle of the nature? I believe you will love to spend longer hours in the office and your work efficiency will increase too if you are working in the Selgas Cano Architecture Office in Madrid. Selgas Cano Architecture Office is a great project of Spanish architecture firm, Selgas Cano, designed by Iwan Baan. The office, which is located in the middle of a forest, allows you to have a good view of its surroundings through the wall of windows while you are working in the office. The design of clear roof reduces the usage of electricity on lights and depends more on natural sunlight during daytime. (Link)


Pixar Cubicles

One could guess that some of the most amazing movies by animation studio Pixar (from "Up", "The Incredibles" and "Finding Nemo"), weren't created in a small boring office. The workplaces at Pixar consist of different huts whichemployees can design to their likings. This way they'll never work in a boring environment. (Link)


Kithaus K3

Kithaus offers modular prefab kits that provide a smart solution to the never- ending quest for (outer?) space. K3 is a 9‘ x 13' module that can function as a backyard office or studio and no foundation is necessary. Because of this, the K3 may be permit exempt in many municipalities. What's included? An MHS aluminum construction system, dual insulated windows and doors, data port and electrical connection box, finished walls, floor and ceiling and more. Imagine the uses – meditation room (inner space), clubhouse, personal getaway that can be booked by members of the main household. (Link)


Engine's office

Can you guess what the room above is for? A chic, futuristic restaurant? A sci-fi set? Nope – it's part of a new office for London marketing group Engine, as designed by Jump Studiosarchitecture firm. (Link)


A3 Curvilinear Cubicle

"No one is going to convince me that an office in 1952 is anything like an office today," says Hani Rashid, co-founder of Asymptote Architecture in New York. So when Knoll asked Rashid to rethink the cubicle in 2004, he abandoned the typical conventions of heavy, closed environments. Instead, Rashid and his team used semitransparent screens with wide side openings to balance the need for privacy with the desire for an open, airy feel.The most radical element of the A3 system is the wall's "curvilinear" geometrical shape, which Rashid says offers deliverance from the rigidly square standard cubicle. A built-in cabling system also "further dissipates technology into the environment," Rashid adds. (Link)


Dilbert Ultimate Cubicle

Blowing away the standard corporate cubicle design, the Dilbert Ultimate Cubicle concept addresses the 'cubicle culture' of disaffected workers with a combination of modularity and opportunities for customization. Concept features include: wall modules for whiteboards, corkboards, tray shelves and drawers; a top row of lights that simulate the sun traveling around the cubicle throughout the day and a drop-down seat for visitors. (Link)


Aluminum Cubicle (prank)

This person's co-workers had too much time on their hands... they wrapped this cubicle and everything in it in aluminum foil! It probably took several rolls of foil to pull off this prank. (Link)

12 Creepiest Children's Books

Is this a book for future geeks or a brilliant piece of marketing? This ‘stay-at-home' server's piece of literature is a true oddity. Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?. (Link)



"Jackie wakes up late at night and finds her parents smoking pot..." is the beginning of this not-so-traditional book, written by Ricardo Cortes. The book is a children's story of marijuana. It's Just a Plant: A Children's Story of Marijuana. (Link)



This is the very graphic front cover of Howard J. Bennett's book . It Hurts When I Poop! is a child's book for kids who are scared to use the potty. (Link)



Visiting Day tells the story of a little girl, who once a month gets ready for a journey with her grandmother to see her father. Nothing odd until the part where "the bus pulls up in front of a big old building where, as Grandma puts it, Daddy is doing a little time." Well, what she actually meant is that Daddy is a convict in prison! (Link)






Germs Make me Sick, written by Melvin Berger, gives children clear information about virus, bacteria and other related facts. Well, in times of swine flu, it might be useful after all. (Link)



No, there's nothing wrong with the front cover of Joined at Birth... it's just a shocking (very shocking) way to present a book written by Elaine Landau, which provides historical and modern examples of conjoined twins. (Link)



Robie H. Harris's It's not the stork! contains information about sex and sexuality addressed to children. It uses simple text and real words, like "penis" and "vagina." And just in case children still don't get it, it's illustrated with pretty cartoonnish and explicit pictures. (Link)



Love you forever, written by Robert Munsch, portrays each stage of a mother and her son's lives. Well, the content doesn't sound that bad, but what's with the bathroom front cover? (Link)



The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts, written by Shinta Cho, explores all forms of flatulence. I know, it sounds kind of nasty but actually it's said to be an informative book. (Link)



Never Smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins, explains how dangerous it can be to collect a cone shell, pet a platypus, or touch a tang fish. I hope my child doesn't become a phobic after reading this! (Link)



Where is Baby's Belly Button? written by Karen Katz includes questions, such as: where are baby's hands? where are baby's eyes? and... well, you get the picture. (Link)



If you give a cat a cupcake, written by Laura Numeroff, features a cat that first appeared in "If You Give a Pig a Party". I wonder where does someone gets the inspiration for such titles! (Link)

15 Strangest Contact Lenses

If you want something out of the ordinary when it comes to contact lenses then you might want to have a look at these special effect lenses, also known as crazy contacts or Halloween contact lenses, right from Hollywood plots. From a happy face to a soccer ball, see some of the craziest contact lenses ever worn.

Thanks to our reader, Stacie A., who sent us the idea!


Mickey Mouse contact lens. (Link)



John Galliano is taking designer branding to a new frontier: contact lenses that outline the iris in fine circles of sparkling gold or black.The Dior Eyes — currently hitting shelves in Europe. (Link)



Nike MaxSight contact lenses are very functional, but also very weird. Each one is designed for a different sport; this one is red and is designed for cyclists to reduce the road glare from the sun. (Link)



Cat Eye. (Link)






Looking for an extra sparkle in your eyes? Designer Anthony Mallier from India has created ‘Sparkle' contact lenses to make your eyes “Sparkle like they've never sparkled before.” Imagine having tiny Swarovski crystals beaming out of your eyes? Sounds insane but at the same time hot, the Swarovski crystals surrounds the edges of the lenses to create that “sparkle”. (Link)



Keep your ball on the eye: German optician Stephanie Berndt shows off a soccer ball contact lens in Munich. The lens is paired with a German flag lens in a set that sells for $54. (Link)



In the frenzy to come up with something different, one designer has created a line of jewelry which is intended to be worn on the eyes. The bizarre range features a number of adornments which hang on wire from contact lenses. Users attach a range of accessories, such as crystals and flowers, to the new prescription or dummy lenses and wear them throughout the day. (Link)



While everything Hello Kitty freaks me out, there are definitely some Hello Kitty items that freak me out more than others. It's stuff like this that is definitely on the high end of freaking me out list – Hello Kitty contacts. (Link)



Contact lenses with imprinted electronic circuits and lights for augmented reality display vision are under development by University of Washington scientists. The UW engineers used microscopic scale manufacturing techniques to create a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with imprinted electronic circuits and lights. If used by human beings, a pair of contact lenses with circuits and lights would be the perfect display for augmented reality system. (This one was tested on a rabbit). (Link)



With Halloween fast approaching, everyone is scrambling to find a costume that will wow their friends and family. Contact lenses are a great way to change your look and make a costume even more believable. (Link)



This Dragon Eye contact lens is a full sclera covering contact lens that has a neon green and dark green outside that looks like the scales of a dragon or a lizard. The inside has a black cat eye type pupil with orange and black speckles like a dragon egg.

If you want to buy the Dragon Eye contact lenses, they're not cheap. They're particularly not inexpensive because they are usually hand painted and they are full sclera contact lenses. If you've never used contact lenses, Dragon Eyes are probably not for you since getting a full scleral contact lens into your eye is very difficult. The Dragon Eye Contacts are currently priced at $219.99 (Link)



Wild Zebra Eyes. (Link)



Dont Worry.. be happy. Wear the 80's logo with a smile! (Link)



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