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Remembering 40 years of cubicles...


odouble
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So I got to work yesterday and all the tacks, post-its and reminders were on the floor. Really strange... Even stranger my computer was on and this page

http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/711206.html

was displayed on firefox.

 

I took sometime to read it and then it dawned on me... I forgot to say happy birthday to my cubicle on Friday before I left for the weekend... duh! It was feeling a little under-appreciated.

 

I have since made amends and purchased a birthday card that is now hanging on the cubicle and also our favorite double chocolate birthday cake (which i really enjoyed eating for the cubicle). Needless to say, my cubicle is now happy and feeling appreciated and all my stuff is back where it should be. Still can't find my stapler though... I think the usual suspect took it.

 

How did we not commemorate this milestone on Friday. I am requesting that everyone celebrate 40 years of the cubicle (for all it's good and bad). Afterall, we spend more time with them than most of our loved ones.

 

Does anyone know when the table and chair were invented... I don't want to miss any important anniversaries anymore... especially with the chair.

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Guest percydaman

well you have my sympathy for having to work in a cubicle. I can't think of too many things that kill creativity like cubicles.

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well you have my sympathy for having to work in a cubicle. I can't think of too many things that kill creativity like cubicles.

It's all fictitious...

but I thought open plan cubicles encouraged creativity and collaboration.

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Yes. I'm finding it's killing mine. And destroying my spirit. Oh how I yearn for a studio environment.

 

On that note...Congrats! (I guess...ha :)

 

Until you find out that the guy next to you listens to Kenny G, and the cubicle partition was your friend all these years.

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I often think about what it'd be like to be like 5'0" and not to be able to see over the cubicles. It'd just be a big corporate maze. That'd suck even more. Sometimes, I even stand up and look over my partitions and around to remind myself I dont just work in a little 11x9 cubicle...that there's a world out there.

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Guest percydaman
Nonsense.

 

If you have to be outside of a cubicle to be creative, then you probably aren't very creative to begin with...

 

good one. That's like saying that if you can't be creative in a room full of screaming babies, then you probably aren't very creative to begin with. Some people find too much distraction a hindrance to creativity. Others find a complete lack of stimuli a hindrance to creativity.

 

And I'm referring to creativity in a professional environment. Not just being able to come up with some crazy doodle.

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good one. That's like saying that if you can't be creative in a room full of screaming babies, then you probably aren't very creative to begin with. Some people find too much distraction a hindrance to creativity. Others find a complete lack of stimuli a hindrance to creativity.

 

And I'm referring to creativity in a professional environment. Not just being able to come up with some crazy doodle.

 

Thank you.

 

I am certain that most of us do not have to work in an environment filled with screaming babies. Perhaps you are resorting to hyperbole or just accurately describing your present coworkers?

 

Believe it or not, but you can be distracted or unstimulated beyond the walls of any cubicle!

 

Creativity is intrinsic. I will be creative in spite of my surroundings.

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Guest percydaman
Thank you.

 

I am certain that most of us do not have to work in an environment filled with screaming babies. Perhaps you are resorting to hyperbole or just accurately describing your present coworkers?

 

Believe it or not, but you can be distracted or unstimulated beyond the walls of any cubicle!

 

Creativity is intrinsic. I will be creative in spite of my surroundings.

 

good for you. I made the screaming baby comparison to highlight the opposite side of the spectrum, ie an environment with too much going on. I'm sorry but I wasn't poking fun of you in your cubicle.

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Thankfully, I have never had to work in a cubicle. I can't say how they would or wouln't affect my creativity. I don't think I would have liked it very much. Has anyone ever seen "Office Space"? Great commentary on the modern office environment, and a good scene involving a cubicle.

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Thankfully, I have never had to work in a cubicle. I can't say how they would or wouln't affect my creativity. I don't think I would have liked it very much. Has anyone ever seen "Office Space"? Great commentary on the modern office environment, and a good scene involving a cubicle.

How nice would it be to have a boss like Bill Lumbergh... The things you could do...

Speaking of cubicle scenes, how about "The Incredibles" scene with Mr Incredible in his little cubicle?

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How nice would it be to have a boss like Bill Lumbergh... The things you could do...

Speaking of cubicle scenes, how about "The Incredibles" scene with Mr Incredible in his little cubicle?

 

Actually I used to have a boss who was very much like Lumburgh. And much like in the movie he was one of 20 others bosses I had. Fortunately, the other 19 were pretty cool and the Lumburgh wanna be was eventually fired.

 

I loved how Mr. Incredibles shoulders actually touched the sides of his cubicle. Good stuff. Any other cubicle references in movies or TV. Obviously, The Office has plenty. Both the British and American versions I'm sure.

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MMkay.....

 

The thing is, it was the corporations and their facility managers that completely twisted Propst's initial design into what is now the 'cubicle' - in order to increase density and save money on real estate.

 

He intended Action Office layouts to be completely amorphous, responding purely to the needs of individuals/groups/departments. His work was heavily based on various furniture designs and studies that George Nelson had carried out earlier for Herman Miller.

 

For the first 5 years or so, Action Office was utilized exactly as designed.

 

Then it all went to poop.

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