It's a merch drop. Well, sort of.
Welcome to a social experiment.
We’re taking our research lab out into the field and trying to learn what new tools we need for the work spots — out of office. Our first experiment: the Out of Office Uniform.
Throughout history, uniforms have been about protection and utility—they are the tools for work that we wear closest to us, so close that we rarely think of them as tools at all. But there’s something else special about uniforms—or band merch, or university swag, or any uniquely branded wearable. They help us find each other and create a sense of belonging, blending utility with identity.
After the abrupt interruption of the traditional in-place 9-5 in 2020, working from the comfort of pyjamas became indistinguishable from a pair of slacks. With that, it becomes increasingly difficult to encourage people to leave the comfort of their homes and gather, leaving a generation of remote/hybrid workers feel lonely and uninspired.
THE BRIEF
How can we build permission, purpose, and structure to leave our comfort zones of the home office to foster connections and creative inspiration amongst remote/hybrid workers?
How it works
We’re launching this Out of Office Uniform, giving a generation of lonely remote workers a fashion statement to promote a different way of working and living.
It’s a quirky opportunity to make connections with like-minded people, transcend the confines of WFH and digital isolation, and foster genuine human connections. By increasing your surface area of serendipity, connection, and intention, we’re equipping those wearing it to be connectors of this new modern group of humans. Roll up your sleeves to focus, or roll them down to invite conversation and collaboration by showing off the "Ask Me What I'm Working On" prompt. Explore the constellation of conversation starters on the back of the sweatshirt, sparking creativity, surprise, and more meaningful connections throughout your day.
It’s a symbol of belonging to a creative, dynamic network and a unique way to facilitate real-world interaction for freelancers, creatives, and hybrid workers.
Behind the Scenes
This isn’t just merch. With distributed work leaving us feeling lonely, disconnected and uninspired, we’re interested in new social infrastructures and incentives that work used to provide use as well. That spontaneous coffee that unlocked your project, that morning commute that forced you to get dressed and out of your home.
This social experiment puts a focus on the cyber-physical aspects of community and belonging to a global network while engaging locally. By buying this uniform, you're part of a group developing new ideas, tools and ventures to pave the way to new models of living and working and get access and discounts to a directory of curated third spaces where work, people, ideas, art + culture collide.
Okay, secret secondary agenda reveal time.
We’re fascinated by third spaces and what comes after the office. Here are three things we see this as the first spark for, and what we learn from this experiment helps take the conversation further. Let us know if you have more suggestions, or would be willing to connect us!
To what end, why?
Social Infrastructure
What if remote workers became active participants and investors in their neighborhoods for the activities that suited their work and life styles?
We’re curious about:
One Shared House
Index Space
How might we understand what people are looking for nearer to where they live, to shape their neighborhoods?
Urban Development Funding
What if we could invest (either through corporate or grant funding) in places that aren’t currently ideal for co-working and connection?
We’re curious about:
SF Privately Owned Public Spaces
Community Challenge Grants
Upholding Google’s goal to be a helpful neighbor
How might we design these funding mechanisms to be sustainable? What are pre-existing forms of fair governance for fund allocations?
Cyberphysical Belonging
What if there were new models of belonging to a global network while engaging locally?
We’re curious about:
How might we connect in cyberspaces to remote co-workers we share work with, and get to know the remote co-workers who we share space with?
AN OUT OF OFFICE NETWORK x CHAOTIC GOODS PRODUCTION
For any questions of enquiries, reach out to katteralice@gmail.com
