Our Blog

The latest insights into the positive impact of furniture and space design on students and learning communities.

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A Fresh Perspective: Tiny Room: The Perception of Space

Britannica describes space perception as the “process through which humans and other organisms become aware of the relative positions of their own bodies and objects around them.”

A Fresh Perspective: Designing for Social Impact

In 2021-2022, about 19% of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied during school (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022).

A Fresh Perspective: Flipping the Script

Design shapes our autonomy in profound ways. Every interface, space, and system we interact with either expands or constrains our choices, often invisibly.

A Fresh Perspective: More Than A Feeling

The number of decisions educators make in a day. According to EdWeek, “That number, which equates to about three decisions per minute in an 8-hour work day, is based on research that was conducted in the 1980’s 1990’s, but is [...]

Nature Deficit: BioTable

How many of you have built a fort? A fort outside? Or have paused to hear the birds while you walk? Have been fortunate to see and hear - experience the ocean? How many of you have ripped grass from [...]

Educational Spaces: Gas Stations or Rest Stops

“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge. Our apparatus for educating the senses offers the child a key to guide his explorations of the world.”

SereniCube – Speaking to the Senses

Australia’s Department of Education highlights teaching ideas regarding the 5 senses. In a page titled, ‘The Senses Working Together’

A Fresh Perspective

A collaboration from the UFG Manufacturing Team: Director of Education, Hannah Tejeda, BA, M.ed; Engineer, Arun Surujpaul and A&D Representative, Adriana Mezquitti

Inspiring Growth: Part 3

How ‘being known’ can contribute to overall confidence, communication, and cognition. Harvard Business Review released its November - December 2024 issue. On the front cover, it highlights an article located on pg 68 titled: We’re Still Lonely at Work - [...]

Inspiring Growth: Part 2

The act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. A range of possibilities from which one or more may be selected. Of very good quality.

The Sycamore School Credit Ratio Design Mark Beebe 5

Inspiring Growth: Part 1

Inspiring growth is at the forefront of educator conversations and development throughout the year. Connection is a substantial component of fostering this growth. Connection to self, connection to materials, connection to others, and relatedly - interconnection between those connections. Observing [...]

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Back to School, Pt3

A well-known best-practice instructional methodology is Understanding by Design. Usually, partnered by Backwards Design. Both practices highlight the importance of gestalt theory, especially throughout the unit planning process.

Back to School, Pt2

Conclave Perch Outer STEAMspace Stool (2)

Back to School

Product Features Supportive of Pedagogical Features: Organization

Product Features Supportive of Pedagogical Practices: Part Two – WELL BEING

Product Features Supportive of Pedagogical Practices: Part One

Preventative Design 3

Preventative Design 2

Prior to creating a learner-centered space, there are preventative measures one can take to ensure an equitable, experiential, and joyful learning environment. Prior to facilitating in a learner-centered space, there are preventative steps one can take to ensure the creation [...]

Preventative Design

Through many forms of evaluations and assessments, learners are observed and studied; their outcomes are measured and used, in comparison, to grow future learners’ skill sets and abilities.

THE MEASURE OF THE MIND’S HEIGHT – Collobana Alto

Alongside academic durability and aesthetic appeal, NorvaNivel considers natural curiosities and needs of learners when designing for educational spaces.

ROCKIN’ AROUND – Conclave Rocker

Based on a conglomerate of research, we know that more intentional movement = more focus, more focus = more progress.

LET’S PLAY A GAME – GengaFlex

Each of NorvaNivel’s new designs are based on an educational or design study. Research from The National Library of Medicine, International Journal of Ed and Practice, Frontier Psychology, The Hun School of Princeton, Harvard Business School etc.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT – Genci Straight

THE WEIGHT OF IT ALL – Conclave Sit’n’Store

LET’S BUILD A FORT – FlexPod

Collective to Individual

'Independent learning is defined as that learning in which the learner, in conjunction with relevant others, can make the decisions necessary to meet the learner's own learning needs' (Kesten, 1987).

Stimuli in the Classroom

Stimulus are everywhere – including classrooms. If this is what we process in our favorite coffee shop,imagine what students process throughout their learning day.

Research Based Approach

One common pitfall of the educational furnishings industry, is that designs are influenced by adults outside of the education system with primarily aesthetic influence.

What it Means to be a Differentiated Classroom

“Everybody’s a genius. But if you judge a fish based on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its entire life thinking it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein Considering everything that has happened in our world over the [...]

10 Ways to Stretch your Budget to Create Meaningful Change

As summer strolls in, and the campus gets waxed, painted, and washed, this is the leadership team’s time to buckle down and work on budget and how to spend. With the support of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [...]

learners need more than a safe place.

A learner’s well-being doesn’t stop at physical distancing. They desperately need developmentally, socially and emotionally safe spaces as well.

Home Hacks for Creating Learning Spaces

Before you scour the stores attempting to simulate the traditional classroom, you may want to explore what’s really going on in progressive schools, and most workplaces.

The Story Behind the RockerOttTM. The Original Rockstar.

The award-winning NorvaNivel ROCKEROTT is the first of its kind. Lightweight, flexible, and truly versatile. The original RockerOtt was and still is a seating solution that can support learners through all their natural body movements and learning needs, as well [...]

How COVID can make us better

COVID-19 has definitely impacted global education. How do we sustain distance (albeit temporarily) in learning environments while ensuring it doesn’t become the overriding principle in space design?

The Power of Color in a Learning Environment

Bright yellow combined with vibrant greens and soft blues to create a calming space for the young readers of the Connetquot Public Library. Why is the psychology of color important to the learning environment? Understanding the role that different colors [...]

Choosing Height-Adjustable or Varied Height Tables

At NorvaNivel, all the learning spaces we create are designed to empower learners. We recognize that spaces are not one-size-fits-all, but need to cater to learners’ profiles. Having surfaces at varied heights with options to sit or stand ensures learners [...]

To Cast Or Not To Cast Using Casters WiPurpose

To Cast or Not to Cast: Using Casters with Purpose

Casters are great when they are purposefully integrated into the balanced learning environment; however, it is a common misconception that, in a future-ready learning environment, all furniture needs to be on casters. Casters are important to ensure an ease of [...]

Seats Without Backs? The Facts on Going Backless

Sitting on the edge of your seat is a sure sign of engagement! At NorvaNivel, we design and manufacture seats, but not chairs. For those transitioning to our flexible learning spaces, questions can arise around seats without backs. From research [...]

The Story behind…. the GRASSYOTT™ Ottoman

Two students on a medium GRASSYOTT ottoman in a library space THE GRASSYOTT ottoman is just what nature ordered! The GRASSYOTT ottoman provides learners with a natural feeling and comforting material. These dome shaped seats come in three different sizes, [...]

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