Deflecting distractions in the modern workplace with Bound acoustic screens

For employers seeking to tempt employees back to the workplace, offering a multitude of choices under one roof is paramount. With remote and hybrid work empowering many to discover their individual working styles, now office design must rise to the challenge of providing a rich diversity and rhythm of experiences for workers to return to – from tools and tech, to varied zones for collaboration and focus.

Finding mental and physical space for focus in shared workspaces is particularly challenging – especially when people have become accustomed to the quiet and comfort of home. Common office distractions (from sudden noises to surprising outfit choices) have a way of shifting brains off-task and adding hours onto the day. In fact, a study on the impact of distraction published by the University of California Irvine found that, after an interruption, it can take someone over 23 minutes to refocus.

So, just like we might choose a chair to support the body in a healthy way, how can design help our brain to focus in the most effective way? Herman Miller has been providing problem-solving designs for the workplace since the very invention of ergonomic furniture in the 20th century. Today, their new Bound screens are designed specifically for creating personal atmospheres for focus in the bustling modern workplace.

Bound is a series of soft acoustic ‘boundaries’ that absorb sound while blocking out visual distractions. The minimal design is appropriate for all types of workspaces, available in three types – work-top mounted, free-standing and mobile –, as well as multiple sizes and a palette of calming colours such as mustard yellow and forest green. Like any good design today, sustainability is at its core; they are created from 60% recycled content and are 99% recyclable at the end of their life cycle.

For employees seeking to craft their own unique office experience, multiple screens can be combined to create customised acoustic cocoons around clusters of fixed or sit-stand desks. Moved easily, they can be continually adapted due to the screens’ lightweight, stackable and mobile nature, allowing people to disappear and emerge from their zone of focus when they wish. Bound is a new visual, physical and symbolic architectural language for the office; helping people avoid the annoyance and conflict caused by distractions.

Not only for focused work, the Bound screens bring the comfort and warmth of home to the workplace with soft, upholstered textiles that hide acoustic material developed with sound specialists. The pinnable textiles provide canvases for personal photos and inspiration, which is particularly handy for collaborative working too – imagine a team gathering around a mobile free-standing screen to share ideas. As well as focusing hard on work, people can feel good inside their cocoon too.

Bound can ultimately adapt to many different workplace settings, from creating divisions across large open-plan offices, to dividing a small single studio for an individual looking to create distinct zones. The screen also works as an addition to existing interiors, or can take a leading role in a new interior paired with other Herman Miller products such as the dynamic Aeron chairs, or Nevi Sit-Stand desks. Plus, they are the perfect fit to support students and lecturers at educational institutions.

Maintaining the vibrancy and success of the shared workspace is at the heart of Bound’s mission. ‘We developed Bound to help people create their best work,’ says Ben Watson, President, Herman Miller. ‘In today's workplace, we cannot always find isolated places for focus, but we can equip workstations with better tools. Bound screens are specifically designed to minimise distractions or promote collaboration, depending on employees’ needs.’ It’s certainly a tempting proposition.

© Architonic

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