How often do our workplace communications open with I hope you are well or I trust you are doing fine?These wellness checks reflect the fact that everybody has become more conscious of the need to be kind to others. Thats a good thing. Our workplace has become a setting where the best bosses and colleagues take pride in showing sensitivity to the emotional and physical well-being of others.And for these reasons, beginning a letter or a conversation with I hope you are well has some merit. But even if it reflects the best of intentions, this opening should be abandoned. Heres whyand some suggested replacements.Why to stop saying I hope you are well in emailsI hope you are well is not a prohibited email opener by any means, but here are some reasons you may want to consider starting your message a different way.1. Its a cliche.First, this opening is overly general. Of course you want to begin an email or conversation with something that warms up the relationship. I call this the grabber. But people who use I hope you are well or a similar phrase are simply making a pro forma statement that could be made to anyone. The words sound good but have no deeper personal or individual meaning.2. It sounds unprofessional.Second, beginning an email or phone call with I hope all is well can make you sound unprofessional. Given that this expression is a throwaway line that typically is not meant to be answered, it will make you sound fluffy. It smacks of fillerof saying something that youve heard others say and youre just repeating it because it sounds good. Its a bit like saying hows it going? or whats up? These are oft-repeated, empty expressions.Platitudes can weaken your impact because they are empty of meaning. You dont want to come across as a person who has nothing to say and therefore begins emails and conversations with boilerplate text.3. It creates confusion.Third, beginning with I hope you are well can create confusion for the recipient, who may wonder how to respond. Should they address the comment or let it go?For example, when an email begins with this expression, possible answers run through the recipients mind, including Im well, or Im having a great week, or life has been good. They might even consider getting more specific. But if theyre grappling with a problem, should they spill all?Here is where the confusion sets in. Should the respondent not address the query at all, answer only in the positive, or go deeper and explain that they are wrestling with a problemat work or at home? People justifiably get confused about how to respond.4. It can lead to a digression.An email or conversation launched with I hope all is well with you can get the discussion off course. Your recipient may respond with details of whats happening in their lifewhich can be fine (or even nice). But you may also find yourself having to respond to a narrative you hadnt planned on.With an especially talkative individual, you might get a response like, Yes, Ive been well. In fact, let me tell you where we went on a recent holiday. Your listener has been waiting for a chance to tell you or anyone else about their recent vacation, what cities they saw, and what they liked about each one. Your statement becomes an invitation to share a personal narrative that may get you (and them) off track.5. It may sound empty.Saying I hope you are well might also sound empty or even heartless to someone who has actually been going through an especially hard time. It may strike the recipient as toxic positivity insofar as the speaker is using a quick brushstroke to gloss over something much more profound. It may not be an intentional dig, but its still a poor way of introducing the subject of the recipients emotional state. The query will ring hollow with any recipient who is dealing with something serious.7 Alternatives to I hope you are wellHere are some other ways to start your messages:1. With something specific and sincereI hope youre well can sound overly vague. So instead, sk yourself what you can say to show that you do care about the person you are writing to or talking with. You might begin: You have been on my mind lately, and then explain why. Or say: We were so enthralled with the event you hosted last month. In short, think about something in your relationship with your recipient to draw out.If its a new contact, show youve done your research and say something positive about that person. For example: Im so impressed with your HR organization, or I am looking forward to meeting you and being part of your product launch. Being specific gets the relationship off on good footing.2. I hope youre having a [productive/good/great/etc.] [week/month/season/year].This is a good email opener for a quick message. Not every email needs to make a great first impression or build a relationship, but getting a bit more specific will make it feel more personal than the vague I hope youre well.3. We met at.. or another a reminderMaybe youve met the person youre emailing, but it was just once or perhaps you worked together years ago. Either way, you want your recipient to know who you are right up front. If not, they might not be motivated to read the rest of your message. A well wish from a stranger doesnt mean much.4. [Name] said I should reach out.This is another opener that hooks your recipient by telling them why they should read your message. It tells them right up front why youre contacting them and reassures them that someone they know vouches for you. Your next sentences should quickly explain why you were referred to them by your mutual contact. And of course, you should only use this opener if its true.5. With an introduction to yourselfSometimes youre sending a cold or nearly cold email, and in these cases, your first order of business should always be introducing yourself. This doesnt mean telling your life story, however. Instead, quickly tell the email recipient what about you is relevant to them.For example, if youre messaging someone who works at the same company as you, you might say:Hi Millie,Im Peter, the new marketing assistant under Kim and I was wondering if youd be able to answer some of my questions on the newest product feature release.Or if youre reaching out to a possible contact for an information interview, you might say:Hello Juan,Im a senior in USCs Computer Science major and Im interested in pursuing a career in game design.6. How are you?This doesnt necessarily mean to literally start your email with the sentence How are you?you can use any of the many alternatives. But only use this opener if you genuinely want an answer and youre ready to continue any conversation that the recipient starts as a result. Asking how someone is doing is less presumptuous than I hope you are well because it gives room for them to answer genuinely.7. NothingNot every email needs a dedicated opener. Particularly if youre emailing someone you work with a lot or have other conversations going with, you can just cut to the point. If youre Slacking your supervisor every day, for example, theres no reason to start an email with pleasantries. Instead, you can just keep your email brief and to the point.Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article and a previous version.

Reggio School, a project that combined experimental eco-architecture with a radical approach to learning, is the 2022 instalment in our 21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings series.This innovative building on the outskirts of Madrid was designed by Spanish architect Andrs Jaque, dean of the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University in New York, and his Madrid-based studio, Office for Political Innovation.Located in Encinar de los Reyes, the building is packed with features encouraging biodiversity, including sprayed-on cork walls that provide habitats for insects and fungi, and greenhouse-style atriums filled with plants.Reggio School combines a concrete base with walls of corkThe building programme was designed around the progressive Reggio Emilia teaching methodology, which promotes child-led rather than adult-dictated forms of learning.Just as the Montessori method led Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger to design some of the most innovative schools of the 20th century, Jaque used the Reggio Emilia method to develop a new type of educational building for the 21st century.It is one of the most inventive school buildings of the centuryOliver Wainwright in The GuardianThe school's non-hierarchical layout, indoor landscapes and open-air teaching spaces encourage self-guided exploration and interaction, which are central to the teaching style."It is one of the most inventive school buildings of the century, breaking ground in everything from its layout, to the use of materials and its relationship to the natural world," said critic Oliver Wainwright in a review for The Guardian.The cork is thermally insulating and provides habitats for insects and fungiThat sentiment was echoed by Matt Shaw, writing for The Architect's Newspaper."In 2023, it is rare to see a building that actually innovates in programme, material or ecological strategy, let alone all three," he wrote."The Madrid Reggio School does this in a way that aligns with the best intentions and examples of modernism."The school features greenhouse-style atriums filled with plantsReggio School was a turning point for Jaque, whose output before this point was limited to private residences like the playful House in Never Never Land and experimental installations such as the water-purifying Cosmo at MoMA PS1.As the architect divides his time between New York and Madrid, his studio typically only takes on one project at a time.We will see architectures in the next few years that will totally surprise usAndrs Jaque speaking to DomusThe school is his largest building to date, expanding on several themes from his earlier works.These include his ethos of multispecies architecture, with the building designed to support various other lifeforms besides humans, from birds and bats to insects and microbes.The non-hierarchical building layout includes open-air teaching spacesAnother is aprocess Jaque calls "thinning, skinning and making fluffy", a budget-saving strategy that involves reducing the amount of structural materials and incorporating natural, breathable materials.He claimed to have reduced the amount of construction materials at Reggio School by 48 per cent by including no wall claddings, interior wall linings, suspended ceilings or raised floors, and adding in the thermally insulating cork.Building finishes were kept to a minimum in a strategy of "thinning, skinning and making fluffy"The age of pupils increases as one moves up through the building, but spaces throughout are designed to allow activities to blend. There are no corridors and there is no clear distinction between areas for study and those for play."That was a big part: thinking that there's no divide between the classroom and, let's say, leisure areas," Jaque told architect Toshiko Mori in a 2023 interview with Domus.Read: Dibdo Francis Kr's Gando Primary School was the most significant building of 2001"The ecosystemic character of the building means it can prompt serendipity and allow for the unexpected," he said.Reggio School was one of seven projects shortlisted for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, the Mies van der Rohe Award, in 2024.The architecture reflects the Reggio Emilia teaching methodologyIt was also shortlisted at Dezeen Awards in 2023.For Jaque, it signalled a move towards a more radical form of sustainability in architecture."At a time when we face so many crucial transformations, we will see architectures in the next few years that will totally surprise us and will probably make our environment not look or perform as it did in the past," he told Domus."I'm very excited about that."Did we get it right? Was the Reggio School by Andrs Jaque the most significant building completed in 2022? Let us know in the comments. We will be running a poll once all 25 buildings are revealed to determine the most significant building of the 21st century so far.This article is part of Dezeen's21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildingsseries, which looks at the most significant architecture of the 21st century so far. For the series, we have selected the most influential building from each of the first 25 years of the century.The illustration is byJack Bedford and the photography is by Jos Hevia.21st Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings2000:Tate Modern by Herzog & de Meuron2001:Gando Primary School by Dibdo Francis Kr2002:Bergisel Ski Jump by Zaha Hadid2003:Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry2004:Quinta Monroy by Elemental2005:Moriyama House by Ryue Nishizawa2006:Madrid-Barajas airport by RSHP and Estudio Lamela2007:Oslo Opera House by Snhetta2008:Museum of Islamic Art by I M Pei2009:Murray Grove by Waugh Thistleton Architects2010:Burj Khalifa by SOM2011:National September 11 Memorial byHandel Architects2012:CCTV Headquarters by OMA2013:Cardboard Cathedral by ShigeruBan2014:Bosco Verticale by Stefano Boeri2015:UTEC Lima campus by Grafton Architects2016:Transformation of 530 Dwellings by Lacaton & Vassal, Frdric Druot and Christophe Hutin2017:Apple Park by Foster + Partners2018:Amager Bakke by BIG2019:Goldsmith Street by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley2020:Anandaloy by Anna Heringer2021: Sara Kulturhus by White Arkitekter2022: Reggio School by Andrs JaqueThis list will be updated as the series progresses.The post Andrs Jaque's Reggio School was the most significant building of 2022 appeared first on Dezeen.

A company called FlyFrames makes sunglasses with no arms, or temples, as they're formally called. To seat the glasses on your face, they've gone back into the past to the pince-nez design, which essentially puts a butterfly clamp between the lenses. The company claims they're comfortable to wear for long periods, won't fall off even if you have oily skin or a small nose, and that they'll stay in place "even during intense activities like tennis."That said, I believe the design will induce a UX hassle: Constantly smudged lenses. Maybe I'm clumsy, but I don't think I could grasp that clamp without bumping my fingertips into the lenses. One of my ongoing hassles is ridding my reading glasses of smudges from fingertip oil.The glasses run $154, and the company says they're also working on a prescription version.

A company called Max Space is developing an inflatable space station, as a way to fit the entire thing within a single rocket launch.Here on Earth, Luxembourg-based architecture firm 2001 TBSI envisioned something similar, that could be fitted atop a towable trailer. It's called the Esch 22 Space Station. Built as an exhibition for the city of Esch's 2022 stint as a European Capital of Culture, the experimental structure unfolds its two wings to accommodate a bubble that is then inflated atop it."Esch 22 Space Station is a 6-people mobile sleeping hut, designed for experiencing the various contexts and environments of the city of Esch during the Capital of Culture 2022. "In [its] mobile [configuration], the space station is reduced to a stainless steel trailer, containing bath, kitchen and dining space." "Once arrived [at] a destination, 2 wings unfold to form a 9 meter circular platform with cork [flooring] on top of the trailer. On this platform, a double-shell pneumatic dome is inflated to form the generous sleeping habitat." I'm not sure how practical it is, but I imagine camper manufacturers will see this and think "Hmm."

Ever since a lot of pet owners have been more visible and vocal on social media about their fur babies, were seeing a lot of brands and products specific for both the pets and their owners. From food to shelter to clothes to toys, you can find a lot of options for your dogs, cats, and even other pets. Not all of them are of course well thought of when it comes to design and materials. But there are also brands and product designers that put a lot of consideration when creating these products, prioritizing things like the pets comfort, safety, and well-being and also putting the owners lifestyle and even aesthetic preferences. Designer: Karim Rashid for Ubbi This dog toy bundle for Ubbi, designed by Karim Rashid, is one such product line that has taken a lot of things into consideration. The toys are made from natural rubber which are PVC, BPA and phthalate free. These materials make the toys not only safe but also durable so they can last a long time even if the dog plays with it regularly. Theyre also easy to clean since these toys are dishwasher safe. Aside from these functional features, theyre also visually pleasing and can capture the interest of your fur babies with their colors and shapes. In this particular bundle, there are three kinds of toys that can be used for different play styles, inclduing fetch, tug, and chew. The tuggle tug toy has a twisted shape so the dog can pick it up easily and also play tug with their human. It has a bright pink color which can easily catch the attention of your fur baby. The chomp chew toy meanwhile is designed to have an erratic bounce so it can bounce in unexpected directions. This is a dark purple colored chomp chew toy that can last for some time because of the natural rubber material. The kibbler treat toy is not just a toy but is actually something that can keep kibble and small stick treats. The mint green toy has 2 side compartments to keep the food and is a more playful way for the dogs to enjoy their treats. All three toys are fun and trendy and are recommended for use of medium-sized dogs, although small and large dogs may also find it appealing. The way theyre designed and the material used should make it safe for any dog, no matter what their size. The post Ubbi dog toy bundle lets dogs have fun with trendy, colorful chew toys first appeared on Yanko Design.

Called the Yohoo Museum, Beijing-based architecture firm Aedas designed this intriguing structure. It will be located on an artificial island in Hangzhou, China, and it signifies the surreal flow of the Yangtze River. It will boast an undulating facade that seems to float gently above the water, characterizing it as a cultural landmark. The concept of jade, a material that has a lot of cultural significance in China, is the focal point of the museums design. The symbolism of jade is witnessed in the double-ring structure, which imitates two interlocking jade rings.Designer: AedasThe double-ring structure occupies over 5,356 sq m and seems to defy gravity. The edges of the building are elevated above the ring and supported by a singular steel frame that provides no visible support, giving the impressive impression that the building is floating in mid-air. The museums faade will feature translucent emerald glass panels crafted from multilayered laminated glass. These panels are designed to allow natural light to flow into the interior, creating a gentle interplay of light and shadow that enriches the museums ambiance.The Yohoo Museum will be elevated above the tranquil lake that surrounds it, providing visitors with breathtaking panoramic views from nearly every angle of the building. The architectural design includes a raised west side, which is supported by a robust steel framework. This elevation creates a dynamic piazza beneath the museum, making it the perfect venue for hosting a variety of outdoor events and community gatherings.The space is designed to be a lively hub of activity, bringing people together in a vibrant setting. On the north side of the museum, large glass panels have been thoughtfully incorporated into the design to offer expansive views of the picturesque surrounding landscape. This design choice seamlessly blends the museums interior spaces with the natural beauty of the external world, enhancing the overall experience for visitors.As you enter the museum, you are welcomed by an interior that feels modern, interactive, and quite multi-dimensional. This space is designed to support cultural engagement, creating a lively and conducive environment for community interaction. It includes a series of open courtyards, and circular light wells, thereby showcasing a variety of different spatial experiences. The diverse spatial experiences have been thoughtfully and carefully created and crafted to evoke different emotional responses and thoughts.The Yoohoo Museum displays a bold, visionary, and dynamic approach to museum architecture, but we are unsure whether it is sustainable and practical in the long term. The elevated structure is visually impressive and captivating but could be quite difficult to maintain and access. Also, the museums floating design and extensive use of glass bring up concerns about climate control and energy consumption, specially in Hangzhou, where temperatures can change quite quickly. But besides these potential problems, the Yohoo Museum does have the ability to become an architectural masterpiece that will make quite an impact.The post This Upcoming Museum In China Seems To Gently Float Above The Water first appeared on Yanko Design.

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Some worry the Chinese startups impressive tech indicates the US is losing its lead in AI, but it may really be a sign that a new approach to building models is gaining traction.

A new document examines the opportunities and risks of A.I. and calls for moral and ethical considerations to be enshrined in all of its applications.

Social media exploded in a celebration after the news that a Chinese start-up had made an artificial intelligence tool that was more efficient than any in the United States.