Space and Time!

How does team proximity affect creative thinking?

This subject interests me because recently our creative team made a collective decision to take over a back space in our office that was reserved for our under-utilized ping-pong table. The table was on its last leg (literally), and none of us were good enough to get an entertaining volley going anyway. In it’s place we created a simple gathering area with a meeting table, book shelves, lounge chairs and a projector. Nothing fancy, but informal enough where it has a comfortable feel and laid-back vibe. The idea was to encourage us to gather up as groups, small teams, or even solo. Prior to creating the space we were spread through two floors and across buildings. Most days, unless a meeting was planned or projects were in full stride, our creative team would rarely interact as a whole. I accepted it as just being the nature of the business.

When I stepped back to really look at it, it wasn’t the interaction that was the problem because we’re lucky to have a team that truly loves to exchange ideas and feed off each other, but rather it was the literal walls and spaces that didn’t promote these impromptu moments. I know the concept of a creative space is nothing new or unique, but it’s the act of actually using the space and adding it into the team culture that is the main key.

At most hours of the day you can walk into our space and see a few folks around the meeting table talking while someone sits in the background lounge with headset cranking. So why does any of this matter enough to write it down? Well, prior to this we would typically save our ideas or contain the exchange within a meeting structure. Upon completion of the sessions the team would disperse back into their rooms until a follow-up brainstorm was scheduled.

It was almost like training the brain to stop and start. Most creative folks stay in perpetual motion, sometimes in the fast lanes and other times crawling up hill, but always in motion nonetheless. The more structured the exchanges become, in my opinion, the less the brain can shift gears and the flow of ideas become almost formulaic or factory-like. Like most creative houses, some of our best group idea exchanges are shared in the hallway, the kitchen or over morning coffee. I think the group exchange is much like my colleague Brian Campbell wrote about in his earlier post about how he personally gets his ideas. They’re not typically planned or scheduled ….it’s impromptu and captured in the moment. Sharing a community space with your team allows for one big impromptu moment. Questions are asked, ideas are challenged and concepts strengthened… all of this done without the need for iCal!

Now, I’m not condoning throwing out creative sessions or brainstorm at all, it’s good to have those structured times set aside for the sake of the project flow. What I’m saying is, take a look at the use of space and time in your office. If you only see faces at lunch time and structured meetings blanket the day, a gathering spot may not be a bad idea to explore. Get out of your office, take a seat at the table and see what happens! (Depending on your co-workers and company dynamics, results may vary!)

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• Creative Spaces and Innovation (designmind.frogdesign.com)
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