Real vs Artificial Plants - Which One is for You?

Even though artificial plants have objective benefits, and have been used for a while now for both outdoor and indoor landscaping, there are still some people who have second thoughts about purchasing them to beautify either their living or commercial space.

If you don’t know yet what the advantages are of using faux greenery, then take a look at our article about why artificial plants and trees are beneficial for your retail business. You will find there a series of objective benefits that can help you create a better experience for your customers.  

Nevertheless, artificial plants can also be a great way to decorate an office building, giving the workers more connection with the outdoors and with nature. This has been proven to stimulate the brain and help people be more efficient. By using the artificial plants, you get the most of it, with the minimum effort! 

However, all these advantages don’t mean that natural plants don’t bring any added value and they should be permanently excluded. The main idea is to find the right option for your own space and the activities you intend to perform there. So, if you are still confused about which one would suit you better, we have prepared a list of your answer questions.  

Real vs Artificial Plants – a Fair Comparison 

Maintenance: a time-consuming investment

When it comes to choosing which option suits you best, the first question you should ask yourself is whether or not you have the right amount of time to invest in the maintenance of the plants. Lack of proper caretaking would lead, in the case of natural plants, to big losses, which would be costly in the long term. You must keep in mind that plant maintenance doesn’t only mean watering the plants every now and then, but also cleaning them of any parasites that might appear, changing the pots and the soil regularly and always making sure that the new size is fit for the place where they are stored. When it comes to real plants, they continuously grow, and their needs will grow with them.  

Read the full article here: https://www.plantersartificial.ae/blog/real-vs-artificial-plants-which-one-is-for-you

How to Optimise Open-plan Offices with Plants

During the tech boom of the 1990s and 2000s, the open plan office was partly embraced to utilise the office space efficiently. Of course, the aesthetic value became so popular that 80% of the U.S offices use the open plan office concept today.

Today, people spend at least 90% of their time indoors, driving designers to incorporate nature in their interior design. Indoor plants have played an essential role in making the open-plan office concept agreeable to many business owners. Studies show that these plants help improve the productivity of workers, remove toxins from the air, and even reduce noise levels. 

From big corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, to small private offices, the open-plan office concept has been widely adopted. At Facebook, for example, a massive 10-acre greenery campus is used by 2,800 employees. Wanting to interact with nature is in our genes, and this is why the biophilic design has been in every designer’s mind for the past few decades. Biophilic design seeks to create an ideal habitat for people residing in modern concrete structures, communities, and landscapes. With every biophilic design, the evolution of human tendencies over evolutionary time and how this positively affects our health and wellbeing takes centre stage.

Why use office plants?

Because of the ability of indoor plants to revamp work stations, many office designers recommend using them. The use of these plants in offices helps at tweaking the office aesthetically, but more importantly, helps workers connect with nature. This concept further affords the employees increased lighting and larger workspaces. Several studies show that the productivity of employees working among natural elements increases by 6% and their creative ability shoots up by 15%. The wellbeing of such employees increases by an average of 15%. This means fewer sick days and absenteeism for employees.

                                                                           Image Source: Open AD for Greenhouse

The innate human desire to be closer to nature means that we can try and counter the disadvantages that open plan design comes with. In a 2010 study conducted by the University of technology, Sydney, it was found that indoor plants help reduce tension and anxiety among employees by up to 37%. The study also found that greenery helps to reduce fatigue in employees by around 38%. Plants take in carbon dioxide while giving out oxygen, which humans need. In some NASA studies, it was discovered that having plants in offices can help capture harmful elements like benzene and formaldehyde. The biophilic design of an office can also influence job applicants because an increasing number of workers today argue that they would want to work in a greener environment.


Find out how to incorporate plants in your open-plan office here.

Impressive Green Wall Arts to Inspire Your Next Design

Green Walls: The Hottest Design Trend 

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises." - Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Nature has been a source of inspiration to artists for millennia from the cave paintings of Lascaux to the exquisite nature studies of the Impressionists. Our understanding of why nature is so important to us has been enhanced by recent studies on biophilia. This is reflected in the growing trend to incorporate green walls in interior design. Green walls are becoming particularly popular in commercial and retail locations, including corporate offices, shops and restaurants all around Dubai, Abu Dhabi and elsewhere in the UAE. Their increasing popularity is not surprising given their many cumulative benefits, including:

• Increasing employee productivity: living green walls increase employee productivity by 15%
• Enhancing indoor air quality
• Improving occupants’ sense of health and well-being
• Reducing ambient noise
• Helping to control energy costs (heating & A/C)

There is another aspect to green walls that is more difficult to quantify but no less significant and that is their aesthetic quality. Vertical gardens make an indelible visual statement adding incredible beauty to meeting rooms, hallways, and reception areas. They can even be used in office layout as standalone walls or partitions. Corporate environments and high-end retail establishments often make substantial investments in art. Any touch of beauty, like a painting, sculpture or living wall, enhances the space in which it is displayed. The same impact can be achieved using greenery. The beauty dividend of green walls is achieved whether you are using a living green wall or a moss wall. Any spot of greenery is even more prized in highly urbanised areas like Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Bringing a garden indoors seems almost magical, like being able to recreate a little spot of Eden on earth.

Read more here. 

Exhibit in Dubai; Your personal guide to a hassle-free experience

With the likes of Expo 2020 fast approaching and a proven track record of exponential growth, opportunity in the Dubai market is thriving. This emirate offers an extensive range of venues with the benefit of year-round warm weather. From niche trade shows, to boutique hotels and exhibition halls, Dubai’s flourishing events and exhibitions industry is a prospering sector that is calling out to the European market.

1/ Get to know the country

Allow time to gain knowledge and understanding of the culture, its sensitivity and local laws. Their working week starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday meaning the communicative working week is cut to 4 days. Approximately 85% of Dubai’s population is expatriate, therefore dealing with different nationalities and languages will become routine. Checking the calendars of corporations such as Dubai World Trade Centre and Visit Dubai will give you a great insight into upcoming and annual events.

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2/ Plan a lot in advance to avoid extra costs

Dubai’s calendar is heavily centralized around its peak season due to daily heat highs of 45 degrees in its summer months, so consider this when looking to exhibit here. The season in Dubai begins in September and ends in May, subject to Ramadan. Consequently, all events and exhibitions take place during these months and keep it in mind that contractors will have many clients during the busy period.

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3/ Select the best contracting partner

This will be key to success! When selecting a partner, look to find one that has the same level of expected standards. Whether it be in the materials they use, their quality control or delivery success rate; understand the company to the fullest. Trust the contractor’s credentials and client testimonials, memberships to international trade associations such as ESSA (Event Supplier and Services Association) and ILEA (International Live Events Association) and check out their website and social media pages to know more about their behind the scene activities. Finally, meet face to face with a representative locally based in Europe and perhaps request for a visit to the company’s factory/workshop to get to know exactly who you are working with.

4/ Bonus! Find a contractor that provides 360-degree solutions

The journey is as important as the destination. Finding a trusted contractor is the cornerstone of preparing for an event. From building stands and managing exhibitors to addressing requests for furniture and setting up the décor – a successful contractor will effectively handle the micro and macro of your event. Subsequently, finding a reactive, organised and fully integrated contractor with client project managers who are highly competent in management and transparent communication will provide the ideal hassle-free experience from abroad.

Article originally published by Electra. Read more here https://www.electrasolutions.com/2018/03/exhibit-in-dubai-your-personal-guide-to-a-hassle-free-experience/

7 Values A Shared Workspace can Teach Freelancers and Employees Alike

It’s hard to ignore the shared workspace revolution that is happening all around us; coworking isn’t just something that happens at the front line of modern urban life. It’s happening everywhere – from cities that never sleep to small towns.

Coworking is here to stay. The reason is simple; it’s a win-win-win. Entrepreneurs can accelerate their business growth, freelancers can carve out the working life that they actually want, and companies can encourage their workers to flourish. Oh, and generally everyone gets more done, and you can save money. Win-win-win, right?

That’s all great, but one of the most important reasons why shared workspaces are emerging all over the place is the tangible benefits they offer. Because let’s face it, somewhere along the line, a lot of company offices forgot this key fact. We are people. We don’t all necessarily thrive sitting in the same fluorescent cubicle day after day.

Coworking enables people to thrive, not just survive, and one major reason for this is the fact that whether we realise it or not, a shared workspace teaches us values that the average corporate office simply doesn’t. No training manual, or (shudder) corporate teambuilding exercise can ever come close to the skills and values learned organically by simply living them.

1. Collaboration

Encountering different people from different professional backgrounds is always going to mean you’re exposed to more ideas and greater opportunities. Coworking brings you into contact with more opportunity for collaboration. Instead of rejecting a project because it requires a skill you don’t have, a shared workspace becomes a pool of talent where you can seek out your next collaboration.

Collaboration requires another important skill; communication. Without a doubt, a shared workspace enables you to naturally build up your communication skills. Talking to different people, however formal or informal the chat; whether you’re discussing your work, their work, the current political situation or that series you’re both binge-watching, all adds up to better communication skills. For more on the power of collaboration see our blog: More Than Just a Desk.

2. Openness

A shared workspace brings you into contact with more people, sure, but it also requires you to work on you. The temptation to hide away in a company office is very real and working from home is a series of pitfalls and temptations that often leads to very little work getting done (a ten-minute nap, you say?). Coworking means you bring your A-game. There is no-one curled up on their desk asleep and – hopefully – nobody is watching movie trailers in their pyjamas. Everyone is there because they want to be. Everyone is aspiring to be as productive as the example set by everyone else.

If you’re struggling in a shared workspace, solutions are everywhere. There is freedom to move to another place in the office, to shake it off or shake it up. There is an area where people can chat, a kitchen where you can refresh your cuppa, the friendly guy who you spoke to last Tuesday who knows all about the software that has just shut down on you three times in a row. Openness might seem like vulnerability, but once you embrace it, openness really means security, and that is great for your wellbeing. For more on coworking and wellbeing see these top tips.

3. Diversity

A modern shared workspace introduces you to diversity in every possible way. Sure, you’ll meet people from all over the place, but when we talk about diversity in a shared workspace, we can open the term right up. Shared working environments attract people from all stages of their working life. From the young entrepreneur with a flourishing startup to the experienced older business owner and from individual freelancers to team players. You’ll meet people who are at the top of their game, and those who are embarking on an entirely new career. Check out our piece on networking for more on this.

In no other place will you work alongside people who are in a completely different industry. Yesterday an architect, today a designer, tomorrow a writer. From each of these people, you will learn something new. That is the true value of diversity in a collaborative workspace.

Article originally published by Areaworks. Read more https://www.areaworks.com/7-values-shared-workspace-can-teach-freelancers-and-employees-alike/

Tips to Find the Best Exhibition Stand Company in Dubai

Exhibiting in Dubai: Why It’s An Excellent Choice For Any Company Wanting to Gain Visibility

The trade show and exhibition industry in Dubai is moving from strength to strength. It is one of the pillars of the UAE’s flourishing economy. Dubai is already one of the world’s top destinations for trade shows and Abu Dhabi is catching up. There are nearly 200 events planned in the UAE over the remainder of 2018 till end of 2019, the majority of which are blue-chip events. Participating in Dubai-based industry events is one of the best things a business can do to highlight its products and services and make new business connections. Dubai is a central economic hub, providing a gateway to markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Having a unique exhibition stand is essential to creating interest to attendees and increasing brand awareness and sales.

Reasons to Find The Best Exhibition Stand Company in Dubai

The high volume of events means that there are many exhibition companies providing exhibition design and construction services. A complete list of exhibition companies in Dubai would run into the dozens. Finding the best exhibition stand company to stylize and set up suitable high-quality stands for your clients, or for your business or brand can be a challenge, when there are so many providers to choose from.

Making a poor choice can have devastating consequences. You or your clients could be out a lot of money and you can lose prestige because of a poorly designed or executed stand. A low-quality stand will reflect badly on you and your clients. Here are some of the nightmare scenarios of dealing with an inferior exhibition stand design company:

Busted Budget: Cost overruns due to poor planning or hidden expenses and overheads

Design Disappointment: Failure to achieve the desired design vision or to adhere to brand guidelines

Atrocious Arrangement: Poor quality materials, shoddy construction

Unreliable Service: Low quality execution or set up; failure to abide by deadlines, or to provide needed support and assistance.

Poor Communication: service provider who fails to inform clients about milestones, fails to provide updates on project stages and neglects to get necessary approvals

Article was originally published by Electra. Read more here https://www.electrasolutions.com/2018/11/find-the-best-exhibition-stand-dubai/

What are the Challenges of Having Living Green Walls?

Living green walls offer a wide range of benefits to businesses. From livening up the office space to cleaning the surrounding air, lowering energy costs, improving staff morale and reducing absenteeism, to name but a few. Interest in living walls in Dubai and Abu Dhabi haves steadily increased in popularity. Due to the region’s hot climate, these additions to a building are often preferred for their cooling effect as well.

Along with the perks, there are challenges in having living green walls. Sure, they look and smell great and drastically increase visual appeal for your business. But they are alive – and need to stay that way, so that they continue to provide their benefits. In order to keep your green walls thriving, use the best landscapers in Dubai to plan, install, and maintain the structure. Let’s take a look at the challenges of having living green walls.

In this article, we’ll cover the following:

Plants need to create nutrients from strong light sources. This is how they grow and thrive, and stay healthy throughout the year.

Correctly monitored irrigation is going to play a huge role in the success of your living green wall. Without proper water amounts, plants can die very quickly.

Proper nutrition and sunlight are imperative to a plant’s health. Otherwise, they may suffer from extreme heat and lack of nutrients.

Lighting

Plants need to create nutrients from strong light sources to survive. Plants absorb the light and convert it into nutrients. The challenge lies in ensuring the right amount. When plants aren’t getting enough light, photosynthesis can’t occur at a healthy level. LED lighting should be applied to indoor plant walls that don’t receive natural sunlight.

Professional landscapers will work with your business to design panelling or a structural frame to attach to walls which allow for adequate lighting. Both sunlight and artificial light can play a role in this process, depending on whether your wall is indoors or outdoors.

Article originally published by Planters. Read more here https://www.planters.ae/blog/challenges-of-having-living-green-walls