Framed glass dry-erase boards can transform your office. My name is Hannah and here’s how they worked for me. Read my story.
My framed glass dry-erase board - why I love it!
Hi, my name is Hannah. I own a small interior design agency in Sydney, NSW. What you’re about to read is the tale of how a framed glass dry-erase board came to take centre stage in my office.
Starting my own company was one of the best and most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done. Perhaps the most daunting endeavour was designing my own office space. It was to be my calling card, after all: clients would visit and form an immediate judgement of my professional skills.
The main job was to create a space where my team could be highly functional but that would also be visually pleasing for visitors. The key is the difference between style and design: an office might have stunning style, but if that gets in the way of getting work done, then the office doesn’t have good design!
I am an interior designer, I want my interiors to work! For my own office, this meant prioritising the fixtures. One such office fixture: the office whiteboard.
I wanted something that would serve both function and form. And I’ve seen some ugly office whiteboards in my time – boards that are stained, boards with paint that’s chipping off, boards that are bent or have dents. Those would NOT be appropriate.
And searching for something that definitely was not like those was how I came across WhiteboardsOnline and their awesome range of glass whiteboards. Yes, glass.
Why choose a framed glass dry erase board?
Glass whiteboards are simply the best in whiteboards. The tempered glass they’re made with is the toughest whiteboard material on the market. It doesn’t scratch, dent, break, stain or wear out. The boards have a lifetime warranty for a reason.
Glass is also one of the most versatile materials used in interior design.
Man-made glass has been around for a very long time. According to archaeologists, the first glass was made over 5000 years ago - probably as beads. Since then, people have found ways to use glass in everything from computer screens to car windows to entire buildings, and - yes - glass whiteboards.
Choosing my glass whiteboard
Narrowing down my choice of whiteboard wasn’t as difficult as I’d first thought. When I first looked at the WhiteboardsOnline range, I’ll admit I was slightly overwhelmed. Turns out though, I just had to fall back on my interior design instincts.
I ended up deciding on a framed glass dry-erase board for a few reasons.
First, I wanted the board to act as a focal point in the office. This meant a board that would draw the eye and garner attention. This meant framing would come to the fore.
Framing serves multiple purposes in interior design:
- The frame colour works to harmonise interior colour schemes
- The frame depth adds interest to the wall it’s hung on
- The frame acts as a focal point, drawing the eye to whatever it encloses.
I knew if I wanted to make a feature of my whiteboard, then it had to be framed. Lucky for me, WhiteboardsOnline sells beautifully designed framed glass dry-erase boards, ready to hang.
Second, I wanted a board that would be beautiful to use as well as look at. Glass whiteboards are all that and more. They provide an unmatched user experience. I just had to have one.
Third, I needed the board to match my existing interior decor. As much as it was going to be a focal point, I couldn’t have it sticking out like a sore thumb. WhiteboardsOnline to the rescue again! Their glass whiteboards come in a breathtaking range of colours, so I was able to match my whiteboard to my brand.
How my framed glass dry-erase board became a crucial part of my business
Now, I know what you’re thinking: it’s just a whiteboard. And I’ll admit, I thought much the same even as I was buying the thing. But over time, I came to discover just how integral a great whiteboard can be to running a business.
The importance of visual thinking
Visual thinking is too often overlooked when it comes to solving complex problems. This mind-hack involves harnessing visualisation to find answers that can’t be found through verbal thought.
As a designer, I know well the power of visual thinking. Humans are visual creatures. Our brains process images 60,000 times faster than text and about 90 percent of the information transmitted in a brain is visual. There’s a reason my industry works with visual mockups!
Imagine my delight, then, when I realised just how well our workplace whiteboard facilitated visual thinking. It shouldn’t have come as such a surprise, really. But there was just something special about using our big, beautiful glass whiteboard to encourage strategic visual problem solving among clients and staff.
Plus, when you give the client the whiteboard marker, you either get a really clear brief … or they suddenly realise how much they need a visual expert to translate their ideas into images.
The benefits of the watercooler effect
We started using our whiteboard in work-in-progress and brainstorming meetings to great results. My off-siders and semi-regular contractors were able to map ideas visually, resulting in more constructive meetings and a better outcome for our clients. It was when the board wasn’t being used in meetings, however, that things got interesting.
I’d read about the watercooler effect before. It’s a phenomenon observed in workspaces that have informal communal areas – areas that encourage interpersonal communication.
What I started to notice happening around our office whiteboard was pure “watercooler”. When it wasn’t helping us in meetings, our whiteboard took up an ad-hoc noticeboard role in the office. Employees and contractors routinely wrote down social plans, encouraging messages and other informal notes.
Mondays quickly became pet day – employees would brandish print-outs of their best pet pictures from over the weekend and we’d all have a laugh or an aww.
I honestly couldn’t have been more excited to see the watercooler effect at play in my own office. Studies show that it can increase worker productivity by up to 15% but more importantly (to me at least) our humble whiteboard was proving the focal point that drove office cohesion.
My framed glass dry-erase board is the MVP of the office
When I was shopping for a whiteboard, I thought I was shopping for a simple office resource. What I got instead was a gorgeous interior focal point, an indispensable problem-solving tool and a driving force in positive office culture. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase from WhiteboardsOnline.
Why choose a WhiteboardsOnline whiteboard?
WhiteboardsOnline will help you find the answer you’re after. We offer Australia-wide delivery to your door. Contact us today on 1800 654 911 or info@whiteboardsonline.com.au