Design Shui: The Art of Creative Work Environments
August 13th, 2008
When it comes to creating, and overall just being creative, so many factors come into play to keep the imagination churning and the ideas flowing. And these elements are all taken in to account by the creator. So much care is given to each detail of the tools that the artist will use to shape whatever design they see in their mind’s eye. Each of the materials chosen for their adept nature for blending with the artist’s own, and flowing to create a harmony of motion that both feeds off of and feeds inspiration. But one important area that can play a pivotal role in the artist’s expressive capabilities, and by some can be underestimated or completely overlooked, is the importance of a highly creative work environment.
Looking at the layout for your workspace as you would one for a design, what elements stick out to you as a creative hindrance or aid to the overall functionality of the space? Being able to identify both these beneficial and disruptive ingredients will help you correct the imbalances contained in your design.
It’s not a matter of nature vs. nurture, it’s just a simple fact. The environment one is in can have a profound effect on the individual’s mood, energy, and creative accessibility. It can either act to help or hinder the imaginative,expressive heights that the artist is able to reach. This applies to anyone working within any kind of enclosed area, in fact. People are more productive, overall, in an energetic, inspiring atmosphere, and artists and designers are no exception to this rule. One might say that it is far more important for the folks in these fields to create themselves an environment fitting to this creative flow. After all, their very livelihood may depend on it.
The following images from Google Zurich show that they’ve got this concept artistically handled!
For those in the artistic design communities, being able to ensure this kind of sustained space can assist in their driving creative need that they must be able to accommodate at any given time. More and more weight is being given to this notion, as companies recognize their ability to stimulate their employees inspiration through their surroundings. And work spaces across the world are seeing an imaginative metamorphosis. Coming alive through these transformations and taking off in new directions and soaring to newly found creative peaks.
One of the greatest elements to this environmental instigation of inspiration, is that one doesn’t have to be a multi-national fortune 500 corporation or work for one to create or find this kind of space for oneself. It doesn’t hurt, sure, but it’s definitely not necessary. Anyone can carve out this kind of creative niche for themselves, regardless of the amount of money or space to work with. It can be done, and has been by so many. I would even offer that it’s easier for an individual to do this for themselves than for a company to try and build this kind of environment to suit many people at once. At least for the individual, they have more insight into the most important element in the construction of this ambiance accompaniment. Knowing oneself.
When trying to form this fortress of inspiration-itude, the key is truly knowing what works for you. The implements that work with you on a personal creative level and grant you a sense of comfort. Being the fascinatingly unique and individually inspired people that we are, it’s no wonder that it takes different strokes for different folks, and only we know what it takes to get our expressive juices flowing. What ultimately works for me, may still be utterly lacking for someone else. So it’s up to the individual to find that fit and that comfort for themselves.
We do this almost naturally in our homes, but still we tend to ignore the creative flow when setting up our living space. At work, if we have some area to claim as our own (i.e. an office or cubical, desk, etc…) we instinctively seek to make the area more suitable and comfortable to our preferences, placing pictures and various other elements from our life around so that it makes the area seem more identifiable and friendly to us. Once we have established our mark on the area, we find the relaxation necessary for us to be more productive in this space. Creativity needs that comfort as well, and only you know what it takes to achieve this and find those elements that create that personal harmony granting your imagination the freedom to flow as it will.
As designers, we know the importance of each individual element and the balance they need to strike with the other aspects at work within the piece. We see how even the subtlest of disruptions to the balance or fit of the different components can interrupt the harmony and flow of the whole work. It’s the same with this element of creating. If your environment is not conducive to the imaginative energy needed to keep the designer from stagnating, then finding inspiration whenever you need it, may not be achievable. Creative blocks frequenting the artist tauntingly as they struggle to locate that spark they so desperately desire.
Looking at the layout for your workspace as you would one for a design, what elements stick out to you as a creative hindrance or aid to the overall functionality of the space? Being able to identify both these beneficial and disruptive ingredients will help you correct the imbalances contained in your design. This will allow you to begin the process of discovery that will guide you through constructing the most harmonic and inspiring environment you can create for yourself. It may take some time, but in the end, the advantages will be more than worth the journey.
What makes your space so inspiring for you? Feel free to post images of your workspace!
Author
Angie Bowen is a 31 year old freelance designer from Manitou Springs CO. She runs the Arbenting design blog along with her partner, Robert Bowen.
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