by Brianna Crandall — June 29, 2015—To create, innovate and do their best work, workers and students need periods of “flow”—those precious few moments when they are immersed in work and time flies by. Yet researchers from global workplace design provider Steelcase observed that finding this flow seems to be nearly impossible in today’s busy workplace and university environments. This summer, Steelcase is unveiling Brody WorkLounge, which the company calls the first and only microenvironment designed for the brain and the body. Brody helps people get into flow faster and stay in flow longer. The concept garnered a Gold Award in the Education Solutions category of the Best of NeoCon Competition two weeks ago at NeoCon 2015.
Research reveals that in a typical day, workers and students switch tasks every three minutes, get interrupted every 11 minutes, and take 23 minutes to get back on task. “To be human is to be distracted. We’re not undisciplined or scatter-brained. We’re overwhelmed.” said Markus McKenna, design director for Steelcase. “Maintaining focus is a costly problem for workers and students today, so we turned to neuroscience to help us better understand how the brain works and sustains attention. We think the workplace can help us think better.”
Available fall 2015, Brody WorkLounge creates a cocoon-like space that blocks visual distractions, providing privacy and an enhanced sense of psychological security for workers and students in open environments such as workplaces or libraries. It creates a comfortable microenvironment by thoughtfully integrating power, ergonomic comfort, personal storage and lighting, allowing users to get into flow faster.
Other features of Brody include:
- Designed for the Brain: Brody creates a psychological safe spot where users can nestle in and not worry about people sneaking up behind them. Designed for individual use in an open space, Brody is configurable in ways that allow multiple people to get into flow in a dense area at the same time. A smart alternative to enclaves, the Brody WorkLounge can help organizations transform underutilized, in-between spaces into coveted destinations.
- Designed for the Body: Discomfort is its own type of distraction. Brody’s state-of-the-art ergonomics cradle the user’s body in a reclined position, allowing the upper and lower back to be supported, while the angled Personal Work Surface holds technology at eye-level to reduce neck and shoulder strain. Arm support built into the work surface relieves pressure off shoulders, and a soft edge seat allows for a range of users to sit comfortably in any position.
Brody is part of Steelcase’s Intelligent Office concept, which the company defines as a future workplace that integrates technology into places that can enhance human interactions at work and give workers more control over key sources of distractions that impact performance such as noise, interruptions, lighting and temperature control.
Integrated sensors and other technology help workers get in flow. A concept sensor in the seat activates a red light around the perimeter of Brody, signaling to others that the unit is occupied. A simple audio control appears on the side surface, allowing people to choose from a selection of sounds playing from speakers embedded in the headrest. A heated lumbar option keeps workers comfortable, addressing one of the top distractions in the workplace — being too cold.
