Design Principles for Creative Spaces
Create emotional connections
- Embed authentic design elements and materiality
- Design for comfortable proximity to others and content
- Include integrated technology for rapid explorations
- Offer posture options for different work modes
Nurture creative confidence
- Provide co-creation tools so everyone can contribute, interact
- Plan for integrated technologies to speed visualization, interactive evaluation
- Design for information persistence
- Create “safe havens” for privacy interludes
Build a fluid ecosystem
- Design for seamless connectivity via technologies that let content move with people
- Compose a range of spaces and technologies, choices for where and how to work
- Appropriately scale spaces/zones to meet individual, team and organizational needs
Each of these spaces is intentionally designed to support the needs of individuals and teams as they move through the different stages and activities of creative process. This collection of thoughtfully curated destinations brings together design and materiality without compromising performance.
Focus Studio
Creative work requires alone time to focus while also allowing quick shifts to two-person collaboration. It’s a place to let ideas incubate before sharing.
Place + Technology
Posture: Provide seating that supports the range of postures used when creating with Surface Studio with Surface Dial and Surface Pen. A height-adjustable table switches from sitting to standing to encourage movement and boost energy.
Privacy: The space is configured to keep information private and reduce visual distraction. Enclosed spaces keep ambient noise out.
Proximity: A height-adjustable table facilitates brief collaboration with content on Surface Pro4, Surface Book or on the Surface Studio through Miracast wireless projection; storage with integrated lighting secures bags and extends the work area.
Duo Studio
Working in pairs is essential for creativity. This space supports trust, with two people co-creating shoulder-to-shoulder or individually, with space for rejuvenation or for others to join for review.
Place + Technology
Posture: Height-adjustable tables make it easy to sit or stand, work individually in parallel or lean over to collaborate, maintaining consistency using Surface Dial and Surface Pen. Lounge seating creates a place to relax.
Privacy: The enclosed space mitigates distractions from noise and enables private conversations with remote participants. The Surface Hub’s “I’m Done” security feature removes content from the previous session, encouraging rapid starts for new collaboration.
Proximity: The environment supports access to technology, storage, analog content and teammates. It offers an informal, theater-like setting for reviewing work at the Surface Hub.
Ideation Hub
A high-tech destination that encourages active participation and equal opportunity to contribute as people co-create, refine and share ideas with co-located or distributed teammates.
Place + Technology
Posture: Stool height seating encourages movement and interaction with the Surface Hub.
Privacy: The enclosed space integrates the Surface Hub and provide unparalleled acoustic privacy to prevent disruptions and enhance remote participation via Skype for Business.
Proximity: The furniture elements are scaled for ample circulation and the ability to engage or step back to reflect or gain a different perspective.
Maker Commons
Socializing ideas and rapid prototyping are essential parts of creativity. This space encourages quick switching between conversation, experimentation and concentration.
Place + Technology
Posture: This space supports a range of postures – seated, standing, lounging, perching — encouraging movement without breaking flow.
Privacy: Plan a range of privacy options within this space for social and focus work in the open area with amenities like integrated lighting, power and bag storage. Privacy features help create cocoon-like settings in the open plan to sketch or take notes on Surface Pro4.
Proximity: Centrally located in the ecosystem, this is a communal atmosphere to gather and play with ideas. It allows easy shifts from “me” to “we” activities and among stages of the creative process.
Respite Room
Creative work requires many brain states, including the need to balance active group work with solitude and individual think time.
Place + Technology
Posture: Relaxed postures support diffused attention and allow the brain to wander, which can lead to ‘eureka!’ insights. Users can quickly switch between typing, digital ink and touch on their personal device.
Privacy: Enclosed spaces create acoustic privacy and visual relief, allowing the brain to rest, form new connections and access spontaneous ideas. Privacy during Skype for Business calls is also supported when active work is required.
Proximity: Modular power distribution makes it easy to charge devices; Ottomans or casegoods allow for storage of personal items; ; highly adjustable LED lights allow control of the light level.
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Designing for Creativity
Creativity is the fuel for innovation making it an essential ingredient for business growth. The Creativity Ideabook provides key insights and information around planning for creativity in the workplace, as well as greater detail on each of the Creative Spaces.
Learn more
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Steelcase and Microsoft can help you develop a unique ecosystem of creative spaces that is tailored to the needs of your organization.
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Steelcase and Microsoft partnership
Steelcase and Microsoft share a passion for helping people at work. Together, we understand how the integration of place and technology can unlock creativity.
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Buy a Surface Hub
Built for teamwork, Microsoft Surface Hub is a multi-touch, cloud-enabled collaboration device. Select Steelcase dealers are authorized to sell the Surface Hub and can help your organization integrate this modern technology into your workplace.