HAWORTH. CROSSINGS

The next few web pages will reveal exciting, new ways of looking at office furniture. Meet Crossings. Learn why it is, what it is, and why it does what it does. Crossings offers flexible, functional, and practical furniture solutions designed to support today's new and emerging work styles.

The Trends
To fully appreciate Crossings, you need to understand the thinking that went into its development. This furniture wasn't designed in a vacuum. It's the tangible outcome - the result - of a query posed collectively by Haworth's industrial design team, futurists, architects, interior designers, facility managers, and others. The query: what are the trends affecting today's workplace?

The Flexibility of Time and Space
Work is no longer a 9 to 5 proposition. Today, work happens on the road, in your car, at home - wherever you are and wherever it's necessary. Because of technology, when you work (time) and where you work (space) have become secondary to simply getting the job done. It has allowed the virtual office to become a virtual reality.

The Importance of the Individual
Think it's difficult to attract and retain good employees now, just wait. Positions in highly skilled occupations are on the rise, yet the pool of knowledge workers - highly skilled individuals able to access, analyze and use information - is shrinking. In addition, the needs of workers are constantly changing. The workplace is becoming increasingly diverse, with minorities and generation "Xers" comprising a large portion of new entrants into the workforce.

Collaboration
Teaming may be a buzzword, but it's also a reality. Organizations are forming self-managed work units like never before. The goal is to make employees accessible to one another, enhancing collaboration, improving communications, increasing productivity, reducing key activity cycles - all while helping organizations run lean with fewer rungs on the corporate ladder.

Change
Change is the only constant in today's workplace. It's the inescapable tumult that either takes you by surprise or presents you with an opportunity. Change occurs within organizations and individuals, affects companies and careers, and requires continuous adjustments. Businesses need to capitalize on the opportunities change provides, while individuals must learn how to adapt their work styles to meet the needs of an ever-changing workplace.