A comfortable collaboration space can make all the difference between successful meetings and missed deadlines. But before you change the layout, first think about how your office uses this space. Even subtle changes like colour can have a large impact.
The room you set up for potential clients will likely differ from an office used for brainstorming marketing campaigns. Also, consider the type of meetings you hold, whether you’re using this space for video conferences or creating mind maps.
Thoughts about Colour
When considering design, ensure that you give some serious thought to colour. Different tones can really help to set the mood in a collaboration space, so it makes sense to choose wisely. Blues, for example, can create a relaxing space. But if you’re in a high-energy business, it might have the wrong feel to it. To get people thinking, you might opt for purple instead which can get their imagination going. Tan or ivory offer some good alternatives to create a comfortable setting. Likewise, red accents will increase the energy level of your workspace. Consider the atmosphere that will work best in your office and the type of communication you do.
Reducing Distractions with Comfort
Perhaps nothing is more distracting than to successful collaboration than being uncomfortable. It keeps people from focusing and can sour even the best of moods. Comfortable chairs, preferably with an ergonomic design, will go a long way in keeping everyone on point.
Also, consider the other elements in your office space. If you use audio-visual equipment, the layout of the room should provide suitable viewing for everyone. Likewise, if Internet access is required, a proper wireless setup is essential to avoid frustration caused by poor connections.
Shedding Some Light on the Matter
The goal of a collaboration space is to create an ideal environment in which for people to discuss ideas. It follows that adequate lighting is essential for presenting information. If daylight does not light your office, you may want to consider using full-spectrum lighting that is conducive to a productive work environment.
Adequate lighting will illuminate the workspace without being too harsh or too dim. Warm-spectrum lighting will provide a more comfortable setting rather than stark cold-spectrum lights.
When designing a comfortable workspace, small details like colour, comfort, and lighting can make a huge difference in how well people work together. Therefore, it makes excellent business sense to pay attention to how these elements affect your work environment.
Maria Fonseca is the Editor and Infographic Artist for IntelligentHQ. She is also a thought leader writing about social innovation, sharing economy, social business, and the commons. Aside her work for IntelligentHQ, Maria Fonseca is a visual artist and filmmaker that has exhibited widely in international events such as Manifesta 5, Sao Paulo Biennial, Photo Espana, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Joshibi University and many others. She concluded her PhD on essayistic filmmaking , taken at University of Westminster in London and is preparing her post doc that will explore the links between creativity and the sharing economy.