Why evaluate the impact of the physical environment in relation to innovation and why collaborate with colleagues about ideas for enhancing the physical work environment in order to support innovation?

 

Physical environment and innovation

It is undisputed that it has changed the way we operate and will continue to do so. Likewise, where we function is now changing. As more is learned about how our environments affect our emotions, feelings and behaviour, human-centric space design is becoming more important. This study contributes to the understanding that how creativity relates to the physical world and outlines features to be considered when designing creative spaces.

The relationship between physical space and innovation is a result of five characteristics of spaces that foster innovation have been identified:

1. facilitating collaboration,

2. modifiability,

3. smartness,

4. representing value, and

5. attractiveness.

Step-by-step explanation

Facilitating collaboration: A place that enables collaboration was found crucial as innovation and creativity are generally accepted as collaborative processes, and the notion that innovation is a social process has been internalized by all spaces. Collaboration spaces inspire and enable people to exchange experiences and information, such as collaborative spaces where community members work side by side rather than separately.

Modifiability: As much as creativity calls for versatility in thought, creative space calls for design which is flexible. These options included in this is for adjusting lighting, seating and even spaces, and for using the same area for many different purposes. The study has found that learning and research areas explored encourage users to participate in a wide range of activities and cooperate with others in way which is novel during their study/work. Different, versatile areas facilitate the integration of people from different backgrounds and interests through learning groups, inter-organizational and interdisciplinary.

Smartness: Smart spaces, primarily based on technology, are those that are "enabled to cooperate with systems and smart objects and to interact with different users all over the place." Technology is and will be used increasingly to communicate and interact with others who we would not have had access to otherwise and creativity is enabled by the availability of such technology in creative spaces.

Representing value: An interviewee has summed up this feature: "What are the best companies in space? Their areas give the company a message. Space is filed with symbols, and space, when used wisely, for instance through art, has a broad psychosocial effect on their users." Openness, sustainable development and co-operation are the "values" of creativity, which were found to embody these values in creative spaces.

Attractiveness: An interviewee cited the following: "Interesting space attracts people." Attractive rooms are - at least - healthy, clean and comfortable. The internal area (ergonomics, interior design) and its surroundings still refer, however to the attractive (location, architecture, services).

The collaboration with colleagues will help to achieve the innovation as their support is very important.