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Inspiration

What a year it has been for the team at MARSDEN Collective. Before we close the office and take a well-deserved break over Christmas and New Year’s we wanted to share some of the exciting events that occurred in the office over the past 12 months.

When we think about what not to talk about in the workplace, the topics could range from politics or religion to the ridiculous party you went to on the weekend… perhaps it is best to keep quiet.

With the issue of mental health in the workplace rising on our agendas, it seems that keeping quiet (or emotional suppression) is actually the cause of serious mental and physical health problems 1.

It’s been a year since I set off with 15 other women to immerse myself in a culture far different from my own on the other side of the world.

I’d been fundraising for the better part of 6 months to raise $10k for The Hunger Project [THP], securing my spot in the Business Chicks Leadership Immersion program so that I could head to Malawi in Africa, to see first-hand the work that was being done there by THP.

As a studio that places as much value on raw talent as experience, MARSDEN Collective loves bringing on interns.

Being a relatively tight knit company, MARSDEN are realistic about how much time we can dedicate to each and every budding individual that comes to intern with us. That’s why we continually support student designers by allowing for paid work experience opportunities in addition to our core collective team, because for us it’s about quality over quantity.

It’s been raining for four days straight in the sunshine state. Today is Tuesday and the weather man is saying it’s not going to ease up until Friday. So here, I sit, Googling words like sunshine, summer, outdoors, trees, Barbados, as I try and put a cap on the growing cabin fever feels. As often happens as one trawls through the Internet mindlessly, I stumble across something completely off topic, a tree house. Not just any treehouse though, Microsoft’s new ‘meeting space’ treehouse. OK Microsoft, you’ve got my attention.

The influence of our environment on behaviour

Think about your drive to work this morning. Was it stressful? Punctuated by car horns, a broken heater and your dirty car interior? Or was it peaceful? Soothing music playing on your radio, a comfortable car seat cushioning your body and your cup holder; cocooning that perfect latte you made for the commute.

The way of the future, or unrealistic idealism?

What is the golden ratio of the amount of time an employee spends at work versus the actual productivity and output of that employee?

Business owners and employees themselves would love to find out. One solution has been the implementation of the four-day work week or the six-hour work day. As workplaces and societal norms start to shift to non-standard and flexible hours, more examples of shortened work week models are popping up.
Materials make up the majority of the built industry but are often one of the least understood elements.

There is exciting potential for designers to resurrect long-forgotten building methods and materials and pair them with innovative, modern technology.

We also see the ability to shake off existing connotations associated with materials and what they can do.

Balance is a situation in which different things exist in mutually beneficial parts. If you look at how optimal outcomes are achieved in various situations it’s through balance. A thriving ecosystem, a myriad of ingredients coming together to create an amazing meal, the highest performing, leading football team… They’re all a balance of different parts coming together to contribute to a greater, impressive outcome.

How often have you been somewhere and instantly felt good about being there?  Somewhere you remember with a fondness that takes you back there?  Is there a particular coffee shop that you’re drawn too? Is it the smell of the brewing coffee, the friendly smile that welcomes you and asks “the usual?”, the gentle hum of the surrounding conversations, ambient lighting and interior detailing?