WORKPLACE REIMAGINED COMPETITION
Redefining Design: The Journey is the Destination
If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s that workplaces have lost their personal touch. Design - as an institution - has always taught that success stems from deep understanding, a human-centric approach and synergy of qualitative and quantitative factors. Over the years a quantitative process has divorced designers from creating unique experiences, commoditizing every touch point of the work place.
In this narrative, three young professionals pioneer a new creative brand, prioritizing users in a holistic experience — physical space, human interactions and digital integration. Starting with immersive anthropological research, we observe users in their natural habitat. While surveys and interviews provide insight, true understanding emerges from observing users in their flow state.
The future of design is written in the success of the journey.
“Let’s build our own brand and do it our way!”
WELCOME TO MIXED BAG COLLECTIVE!
meet our diverse team of leaders, mentors and creatives
Paula, The Focused Creator, thrives in a quiet environment, staying focused on tasks for most of the day. They're open to collaboration about 10% of the time but works best with an oversized technology set up, limiting their mobility and ability to change locations.
Amy, The Balanced Creator, is frequently mobile between meetings and calls. They require focus for a small portion of their day but seek a change of scenery for motivation and support, needing spaces with reliable and consistent technology to plug and play throughout the day.
Ethan, The Supportive Mentor handles unique and complex tasks in the organization but struggles to stay focused amid multiple demands. They require distraction-free and easily accessible focus areas and prefer visible access to team members to keep everyone moving in the right direction.
Veronica, The Creative Trailblazer, is constantly on the move, working at their desk, in the photo room, and collaborating on product. They require space for building, mentoring, and showcasing their creations without barriers and limitations.
we all work different. explore how and where we spend our time to be our best selves!
… but where will our brand thrive best as a collective?
Eero Saarinen said…
“Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context— a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.”
In this project we consider how work product is experienced in a showroom, how the showroom becomes an integral part of the workplace, how the workplace fits within the design ecosystem of the Merchandise Mart and how users live, work and play within the neighborhood of River North sharing amenities of all types.
how to define a desk?
As the workplace evolves, the footprint of assigned versus flex spaces is shifting and we’re challenged to ask ourselves, “What constitutes as a desk in today’s workplace?”
In the future, successful work spaces will bridge social capital and celebrate inclusivity by organizing the space into zones ranging from highly social to highly focused.
Each landscape will be furnished to accommodate different individual work styles, roles, tasks, tenure, and preferences.
how will the workspace support our diverse flow states?
Explore
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Socialize
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Create
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Collaborate
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Focus
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Rest
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Explore 〰️ Socialize 〰️ Create 〰️ Collaborate 〰️ Focus 〰️ Rest 〰️
Blue Lagoon
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Ceramics Studio
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Performance Arts
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Study Hall
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The Dog Park
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Fine Arts Studio
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Design Peace Room
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Contemplative
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Blue Lagoon 〰️ Ceramics Studio 〰️ Performance Arts 〰️ Study Hall 〰️ The Dog Park 〰️ Fine Arts Studio 〰️ Design Peace Room 〰️ Contemplative 〰️
…and how will we support our external community while maximizing our footprint?
The Salon
A simple concept — the Salon is comprised of three rotating walls that adjust as needed to align with whatever program is required of them. A gallery for quiet conversations and creative exploration, showcasing art and fostering interactive discussions. A flexible space for social gatherings like IIDA Stitch and PechaKucha, featuring food, beverage & entertainment.
It sounds like we’re finally ready for an Open House!
PRESS RELEASE :
Redefining Creative Workspaces for Tomorrow's Innovators
Mixed Bag Collective is thrilled to announce the grand opening of a revolutionary creative workspace, a haven for diverse talents and ideas. Embracing inclusivity of work styles, the collective seeks to break barriers and foster collaboration like never before. At the heart of the brand lies a commitment to mentorship, with leaders dedicated to nurturing emerging talents.
The space will enable individual flow through collaboration hubs and spokes, providing the perfect blend of teamwork and solitude. Central to the collective is a salon, guiding visitors through the creative journey from narrative to presentation. This immersive experience epitomizes our ethos of creativity. Join us in shaping the future of innovation!
Experience Design Team
Christina Brown | Team Lead
Tim Nguyen | Lead Designer
Clarisse Wean | Site Planning
Katie Malate | Story Writer
2024