June Newsletter: Happy Pride Month and Furniture Tradeshow Month!
This past month has been a whirlwind for the furniture industry! Earlier this month, our design and account management team attended NeoCon and Design Days in Chicago, two of the largest commercial furniture tradeshows in the world. We hosted our signature mixer in Chicago, "Up In The Chi", and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of networking and connection.
The tradeshows themselves showcased were a refreshing breath of intentional design. This year, while we didn't necessarily find any groundbreaking technology (no - AI will not take over your workstation yet), we found that manufacturers were able to blend versatility, flexibility, and comfort in a more cohesive way than ever. Stay tuned next month for our full recap of the latest trends from the industry.
Additionally, we were thrilled to celebrate Pride Month in June! Thanks to the beautiful people who attended our Drag Queen Bingo in San Francisco, as well as our other Pride celebrations across each office.
Read on to meet our team, product and project inspiration, industry research, and more!
What We're Specifying
Products that have caught our eye this month.
Studio TK - Suit
Offered through a partnership with Artifort located in Schijndel, The Netherlands, Suit chair's unique silhouette combines professional elegance with individual personality and brings a strong sense of style. Designed by Monica Forster, Suit is fully upholstered and contours the body to embrace the user like a tailor-made suit. The seat and back can be upholstered with complementary or contrasting textiles, allowing for a personalized identity. With an elegant open back, flowing lines, and smooth-rolling casters, this distinctive chair is a comfortable and inviting addition to hospitality, dining, and work environments.
Electronic Arts Vancouver: A LEED Platinum office in Vancouver's first large-scale mass timber building
The Collective worked alongside Metro Contract Group, our minority-owned furniture dealer, and interior design firm, Māk Interiors to furnish EA’s new office location in Vancouver. Our product solutions have been carefully designed to foster EA's agile workplace, supporting their return to work and new work approaches. These solutions also ensure maximum flexibility for future-proofing interiors, setting the stage for a dynamic and adaptable work environment.
The latest and greatest we're reading in the industry.
Employee Highlight: Rob Zizak
Rob has been a dedicated Account Manager at The Collective USA division for 8 years, managing some of our most impactful accounts in the Silicon Valley area and beyond. Read more about him in this month's employee spotlight!
MMQB Editors Review the Major Showrooms at NeoCon + Design Days
MMQB, the industry-standard magazine within the furniture industry, gave glowing reviews to Teknion's showroom and aesthetic. One of the editors writes, "they presented numerous new and enhanced products, demonstrating a clear understanding of the evolving workspace. Teknion’s consistent excellence reinforces their position as a leader in the industry, adept at anticipating and meeting future demands."
Specifying re-loved furniture for a charitable business
We were thrilled to collaborate with Teknion to furnish MABELLEarts, a charitable community organization in Toronto. The project involved Teknion's DIVERT program to source a mix of new and used furniture that ensured the space looked good while staying within budget.
Tim Baxter, Regional Vice President Corporate Accounts and Executive Sponsor, Divert Program Canada adds, “Teknion and MABELLEarts share similar values. We are both design-driven organizations that share an appreciation for art, beauty and accessibility. Not only do they benefit from the furniture donation, we give our furniture a second life and keep it out of landfill. A win-win for everyone.”
Read a recap by Work Design and their design friends on the standout products and moments they captured including the Aarea Conference Chair by Teknion, where one team member mentioned, "I am pleased to see yet another example of innovation in sustainability and circular design, and can’t wait until this is the standard!".
The latest happenings and what we've created at The Collective.
Thank you everyone for attending our annual mixer "Up In The Chi"!
We're still reeling from the energy at our annual Up In The Chi mixer! From mingling with industry friends and celebrating the largest commercial interiors tradeshow in the world, we had a blast! Thanks to everyone who attended our annual event. We can't wait to see you next year.
We had so much fun kicking off Pride Month in our annual Drag Queen Bingo event. This year, we celebrated a Ballroom-themed edition of the event.
A heartfelt thanks to those who joined us at our Pride Month Drag Queen Bingo event, as well as to our fabulous and creative partners for hosting the event @studiotk_cali@teknioncalifornia@shawcontract. Your presence and enthusiasm made the evening truly special, and we are incredibly grateful for your support and participation. If you weren't able to attend, we missed you and hope you're able to attend next year!
This month, our team in both Canada and the U.S participated in a webinar with Russell Pollard, the founder of Framework Leadership, Pride Talks, and Leading Professionals. This presentation brings foundational knowledge of workplace equity, diversity and inclusion in support of Queer individuals working in the built environment professions.
Architectural Products
The latest happenings in our Architectural Products Division
Teknion - Within System
At Design Days, Teknion Walls showcased some impressive innovations. The Within system introduced a new infill of louvers, allowing users to manually adjust light levels for adaptable visual privacy. It's clear Teknion is all about making workplaces more flexible and stylish at the same time!
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