Creating environments that support innovation
innovationcultures spoke with Andrew Kim, Design Researcher at Steelcase WorkSpace Futures to discuss what
factors they were exploring in creating work environments that support collaboration and innovation. His background is in
human-centered design and innovation planning and he is part of the core innovation group that focuses on innovation in
the far timeframe. What follows are some of the big ideas they are working on.
transparency
trust
By creating a physical environment that reinforces transparency, you help to build connections that lead to
more impromptu conversations. A physical interpretation of transparency would be glass instead of typical
walls. With transparency concepts you are more aware of the activities and by seeing people, you can
create more social capital. In terms of collaboration, we are also thinking about building trust before you
can reach flow – and that can be physical or virtual. Here you provide environments that allow people to
have conversations.
A palette of place, posture and presence
Place: Andrew says that if the traditional model might have been universal
presence
place
planning, what we were thinking was in terms of efficiency of space. With a palette of
place, Steelcase is now focusing on the different kinds of environments that are
needed. Some parts of the process may need to be reflective, more individual work.
Alternatively, there are periods of time when teams need to be brainstorming with
others and need a different kind of space for that.
Posture: With posture, they look at the ergonomic needs and depending on
posture
different activities, there may be specific postural needs as well.
Presence: With presence, it is both about the physical as well as the virtual. A lot of
times the interactions with their colleagues are not physical. As such, they are also
looking at how to create better virtual experiences.
The Work Café
One application concept that Steelcase has developed is the Work Café - which is about combining work and the
cafeteria.Most corporate cafeterias are about eating and are only used for a short period of time. The Work Café is
used for dining and meeting throughout the day.
We have a zone that is more like a traditional dining space but there is
power at many of the tables. Then adjacent to that area are meeting
spaces as well as informal lounge areas and more private spaces.
The trend that led us to develop this product was realizing that we are
much more connected to the internet. This was confirmed form
contextual observations, leading to the prototyping of this concept.
the work
café
Information access and co-creation
Looking at ways to better collaborate with ‘smart tables’ and co-creation work spaces is another big idea.
Interestingly,we also seem to be moving into a world where we want things to have the same accessibility.
You want to go to a workplace or an airport and have areas to lounge, collaborate and work.
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