Creativity is something not only the ‘imaginative industries,’ the filmmakers, the architects, or the advertisers, need. It’s universal. Whether your company is in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, or even agriculture, every professional needs a spark of inspiration. To think outside the box.
To see problems in a different light. To generate ideas. What’s good about creativity is, although it’s an innate, individual trait, it’s also an atmosphere that can be created and shared. The best way to do just that is through office design.
In fact, beyond the functionality of the space, creativity should be your priority when updating the workplace. Here are some of the best tactics in creating an office environment that inspires creativity:
1. Create different zones
People become more creative in their work when they’re free to decide how they approach work. Now, some people get their Eureka moment when they work alone; others are able to produce the best ideas when they’re in a brainstorming session with others.
It’s important, then, that whatever your employees’ work style demands are, the office design can support it. For this reason, you need different zones in the space. Of course, you must have the individual workstations.
If you must update your partitions and do it with a limited budget, consider high-quality used office cubicles. You can look up online for options. Next, you must have collaboration hubs.
Aside from the traditional conference room, you may want to have huddle rooms, where informal, quick team meetings can happen, and community gathering spaces, where the culture of creativity can be discussed further.
2. Let there be light
Natural light, specifically. Natural light boosts moods and contributes to better well-being, according to science. It’s the perfect state for bringing creativity alive. Unfortunately, this is something often overlooked in many offices.
Some only artificial lighting, which of course, help in increasing visibility, but in terms of putting employees ‘in the zone’ for creativity, there’s not much. Sometimes, it can even hurt creativity, in the sense that some employees experience horrible headaches and fatigue under harsh lights.
So, as much as possible, let in natural light into your office. Take advantage of the big windows, if there are. Reconfigure your layout in such a way that employee seating may be next to where natural light comes in.
Offer an outdoor area as well. Of course, moderation is crucial. Use canopies and appropriate window treatments to control natural light.
3. Appeal to the senses
According to psychologists, stimulating the senses can lead to greater creativity. Through office design, you can create a better sensory experience to your team. Start with the sight: colors.
The general rule is to use cool colors in individual workstations to put employees at ease and help them focus on the task at hand, while warm tones in community spaces to energize the team. Move to the sense of hearing: noise levels.
Install acoustic panels to control the sounds. In relaxation areas or break rooms, play some soothing music. For the sense of smell: aromas. Pine scents can increase alertness, while peppermint can boost the mood. Use these around your office space. The principle is, tickle the senses.
Your office design can make or break your employees’ creativity. That’s why when planning your layout and revamping your interiors, think outside the box. So you can let employees think the same too, later.
