In an age of mass-produced goods and big box stores, a demand for artisan items is rising. Etsy, an online shop for handmade goods, has approximately 20.8 million annual buyers. Even multi-billion dollar businesses, like the popular grocery store chain Trader Joe’s, incorporate handmade touches. Trader Joe’s uses hand-painted signs in its stores to maintain an independent, non-corporate feeling.
Handmade items have a higher perceived value and feeling. We create an emotional connection to artisan items, knowing they were the creative result of an artist who touched and shaped the piece.
This increased value and emotional connection with handmade items extends to the workplace. Their presence signals the employer’s value and investment in its people, and it can make a space more attractive for mobile workers and more engaging for all.
Incorporating handcrafted items into a workplace helps define a space and express a culture. Today, modern craft is bringing inspiration back to the office.
For instance, a beautifully designed conference room with carefully selected furniture and accessories can welcome new hires and inform visitors of the organization’s culture. The accent stitching on a conference chair signals to participants that their time is valued. A beautifully constructed conference table reflects an organization’s dedication to their mission. A hand-woven rug adds meaning and significance to the space.
Massaud Conference Seating and SW_1 Conference Table create an inspiring meeting space.
In a café setting, the LessThanFive Chair stuns with its modern design and delights with its lightweight construction. As a side chair and an object of curiosity, it naturally encourages conversation among co-workers as well as strangers who rearrange the seating to accommodate social gatherings or productive meetings.
The LessThanFive Chair, CH327 Dining Table and Resourcefulness Rug comprise a café setting entirely of crafted items.
Today, it’s not unlikely that an outdated and dingy workplace causes talent to turn away from new opportunities. Rather, workplaces that inspire and welcome workers will attract and retain talent while enabling them to make a connection to their surroundings.
As modernization speeds ahead, let’s take time to appreciate the fine, hand-crafted elements that inspire us. Let’s bring craft and creativity back to the workplace.
