Jeff Fromm: Zappos Embraces Holacracy as the Millennials Shape the Future of Work

 PSFK by Leah Swartz, FutureCast 


As powerful consumers, marketers have had their eye on the millennial generation for some time now. These young adults born between 1977 and 2000 have revolutionized the consumer economy and created the most connected and innovative culture in history. However, while marketers were spending their time trying to understand these young adults from a consumer perspective, millennials were busy growing up, graduating college and entering what we like to call, the real world.
Today, millennials represent a strong majority of the workforce and by 2020 they will make up 50 percent of the total adult working population in the United States. Unfortunately, millennials are a generation that is still largely affected by unemployment. More than 15 percent of millennials are currently unemployed and just one third has obtained a bachelor’s degree. A large reason for this high percentage of unemployment is largely due to the fact that millennials are having a hard time finding jobs that align with their values and future goals.
Unlike previous generations, millennials are not willing to get a job simply for the reason of “having a job.” As a highly aspirational generation, these young adults feel very strongly about the places they work and don’t want to be just another cog in the machine. Millennials want work environments that align with their collaborative nature and propensity to voice their opinions.
In an effort to adapt to a new workplace structure that is more millennial focused, many brands are turning towards the concept of Holacracy. However, Zappos is the leader when it comes to the implementation of a self-governed work environment.

What is Holacracy?

Henning Larsen's university building has a facade that moves in response to changing heat and light

Henning Larsen Architects aimed to set a benchmark for green design with this university building in Kolding, Denmark, featuring a climate-responsive kinetic facade and a triangular form (+ slideshow).

Vibram Unveils the Bizarre Furoshiki Wrap-Around Shoe

Industry standard sole manufacturer Vibram has unveiled a bizarre new footwear contraption. The Furoshiki shoe takes inspiration from the Japanese tradition of wrapping objects in cloth, and consists of a gripped sole unit which wraps around the foot with stretchy straps, making an innovative, adaptable shoe that Vibram promises will provide “comfort in every environment.” The shoe sports an anatomically-designer sole which promises to accommodate all foot shapes without sacrificing grip or comfort, and was originally designed for use in the water sports. Head to the Furoshiki Shoes website for more information and the chance to cop – although be warned, the website is mainly in Japanese.

Modify the color layout of your sneakers with shift concept by rehabstudio

the potential of apparel lies in materials that alter circumstances, or that are designed to have unexpected properties, combined with integral electronics. rehabstudio opened their minds and envisioned what apparel of the future might look like, what it might do, how it might live and react to our world with the ‘shift sneaker’ concept.

Thermo color map displays attractions according to weather conditions

‘bath °C thermo color map’ by camilla hempleman is a hand held activated map, based on her home city of bath, england. using thermochromic inks and tyvek fabric the map is activated at different temperatures, revealing layers of hand illustrated buildings and attractions, showing the best places to visit depending on the weather. designed as a roll map, the fabric is water, and crumple proof allowing it to be easily stored in your bag with minimal packaging to combat any excess waste. the map is color coded to specific external environmental temperatures, which allows tourists, visitors and residents a like to have a new experience of bath.

Power-Producing Rubber

No, this is not an image of a delicious Fruit Roll-Up, it's actually a unique new flexible material from Ricoh that can create electricity from pressure and vibration. Dubbed "Energy-Generating Rubber," this piezoelectric mat combines the best features of existing ceramic and polymeric materials; high energy output and flexibility, respectively. In fact, this new rubber produces just as much power as ceramic does while surpassing the flexibility of polymeric materials, according to Ricoh. What's more, it is more easily produced than either existing form of piezoelectric.
Unfortunately, that's just about everything Ricoh has revealed about the new material so far. The company hopes to further develop the technology into a commercially viable product some point in the future. As such, it is teaming with the Tokyo University of Science to further improve the material's productive capabilities.

Source: engadget.com

A rolling garden on wheels recently popped up in the middle of Milan

A4A Rivolta Savioni studio’s urban garden solution popped up at Expo Gate Milano last month. Easily movable on reused bicycle wheels, the public garden—called ‘Why not in the garden?’—was rolled out into the city square. The mobile garden can bring a wall of flowers or rows of edible plants to nearly any outdoor area.

 

Known for transforming cityscapes into urban oases with sustainable live plant installations, A4A Rivolta Savioni designed a pop up garden for the concrete open space for visitors to enjoy. Situated around a sprawling communal table in the sun at the Expo Gate, the wheeled gardens took on two forms, a vertical module with metal frame espaliers that allow flower pots to hang, and horizontal modules with a flat table top for flower beds. Each of module is mounted on steel frames connected to four recycled bicycle wheels, painted in bright colors to match the framework. In order to allow guests to enjoy the lush greenery, A4A installed wooden benches alongside each module, letting visitors breathe in the fresh scents of florals and herbs while they sat down for a rest.
Related: Matteo Cibic’s Tree Trolley is a Mobile Garden Bench That Can be Parked Just Like a Car!
Throughout the festival, the modules were reconfigured each day, creating an ever changing outdoor component of the International Furniture Exhibition. The 450 lush plants were center stage for a series of events, including cocktail hour, communal dinners, kid’s snack time and evening parties. After the week of celebrations, Why not in the garden? was disassembled, and the plants were sold with proceeds benefiting Link for Aid, a not for profit that assists children in Myanmar and Cambodia.