The title seem lame: use technology to commuincate better. I hear often that we already use too much technology and not enough face-to-face real life communicaiton. It seems many of us had enough of fragmented, tedius, limiting technology communicaiton in text messaging, both in forms of e-mail and homepages including blogs. In the world of… Continue reading Use technology to communicate better
Category: Workplace design
Philosophy and journey of workplace design
President of a major global company, president of a country
Watching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's speech at UCLA for the inauguration of UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block, I started to think of the responsibilities of a president of a major global company and a president of a country. Both are ultimately leaders who's action and decisions affects everyone within his/her company or country. Just as with a… Continue reading President of a major global company, president of a country
The way Japanese executives think about company responsibility
I don't know what percentage of Japanese executives feel this way, but last week, I've heard it directly from the director of major Japanese companies, like I did from many Japanese executives before. We are responsible for providing livelihood for the citizens. We have to think of ways to offer meaningful jobs for as many… Continue reading The way Japanese executives think about company responsibility
“Japan is all about the way of doing things”
For the past couple of months, I've been having fun with Twitter. Each day, I interact with all sorts of people of the world, finding very intersting information. Today, through Rick Martin's tweet, I found a very good portrait of Japanese. With usual caveats against sweeping generalization, what this made me think was: Japan is… Continue reading “Japan is all about the way of doing things”
Twestival
The team and I are organizing Twestival in Tokyo. It's on the evening of 12 February 2009. Please come!
Now it’s going too far the other way?
I don't think open plan in office works without having easily accessible private room or cubicle to use in need. Like everything else, it's not one size fits all. How the workspace should be layed out depends on your job. I thought of this because recently, I have seen several article that says open plan… Continue reading Now it’s going too far the other way?
Potential of Twitter in Japan
Uchida Yoko people thought it was another one of those crazy ideas I brought in. Rather than doing Q&A after panel discussion, I proposed that we set it up so that everyone can post question or comment during panel discussion to realize audience participation. I explained that people would feel freer to express their opinion… Continue reading Potential of Twitter in Japan
Not new, but real needs of knowledge workers
The current advanced region's challenge is to match the wokplace and technologies for the workforce who are considered knowledge workers. This is to be quantified, but random interviews conducted has shown that our productivity in focused PC based knowledge activities such as reading and writing are highest in general public spaces such as cafes and… Continue reading Not new, but real needs of knowledge workers
Astrology based on changed position of sun rising
Discovering this kind of thing is just so much fun! I mean, we could point out that what astrologers say are vague and also two astrological readings on same person would contradict each other, but that kind of argument would still leave a possibility of one or more astrologers in the world might be right.… Continue reading Astrology based on changed position of sun rising
2009
Happy New year! Here's to share with you my currently favorite video:
Review of the year 2008
Thank you for making my 2008 a wonderful year! It was great working together with my friends, colleagues and clients. Had this enjoyable year end meeting. A typical one we had at many cafes and diners at various places in the world.
Project Kobo Offices
Office is where people work together. I noticed when our team worked, 4 times out of 5, it was not at Project Kobo Kagurazaka Studio. It was far from my home, 1.5 hours one way. We LOVED Kagurazaka Studio. But it just didn't make sense anymore So I gave up the studio. physically, me and… Continue reading Project Kobo Offices
Christmas Eve, Tokyo
My 14-year old son called me on my mobile at 4PM today, the Christmas Eve. "Mom, we want to eat fried chicken from the Kentucky Fried Chicken tonight. You know it's Christmas Eve!" I was definitely not enthusiastic. I knew there was going to be a queue. I mean, you should order ahead of time… Continue reading Christmas Eve, Tokyo
Sustainability effort: moving small office
I did it again..... I let a few months slip by without writing anything. August, September were really busy, then came mid October and nothing. So this is what it's like to be, affected by the economic situation of the time. Being a small operation, it was an easy decision to close my studio, especially… Continue reading Sustainability effort: moving small office
Noboru Konno’s Workplace Design Site
Noboru Konno has started a workplace design site that shows the latest trend. Happy Workplace This is a great read for people who are responsible within a company to create workplace that is a vital part of company operation, and for people who are workplace design professionals.
FUJIKO SUDA 