At work today we just moved into a joining office which is purely to be for designers. While it is really nice to get our own space, this pleasure some what faded with the bizarre logic of the layout that was created. I probably had been aiming a bit high hoping for a memory of what I think of as a design studio when I work where I do, but I still held out some slight hope. All the initial signs were good and included a simple minimal layout in white walls with plenty of space. Thing is, over the day as more and more people moved in to the space it became what one junior called "a sweat shop". I admit I was thinking the same thing as the row of juniors was shoved to one end and the studio manager postioned behind in whip cracking pose. I now face his head and my department now resembles what another junior called rightly "the reception". I was determined the solitary potted plant was going nowhere near me as I was dangerously close to sodding it all and installing a coffee machine and reception chairs. What could have been a great space has now given off such bad vibes that various requests are being made for radios due to fact pins can be heared dropping in all areas of the open floor. I hold out against this as think the addition of a radio stuck on radio 1 or 2 at just within hearing volume, will put the final nail in us being a factory floor.
I have been reminded, through this abomination of spacial organisation, of the need for a creative space to enhance and encourage design. In my own home I am very aware of what works for me and what doesn’t. Of course, I am not the only one at work and as such duplicating my own design womb isn’t going to work. There are some basic things and layouts you can apply to assist in creativity though. I have seen this in a number of other places where I have worked or visited. Some layouts were really inspiring and I felt immediately the vibe of creativity and yearned to work there. I have also been lucky enough to work in some places that you felt really at ease in and inspired. With the new creation of the factory of designers at work, I am wandering how inspiring this is really going to be.
One rather doomsday pointing thing that happened was the noticeable change in people’s behaviours on moving into the space. I have already commented on the two main themes of sweat shop and me being reception. This wasn’t the only thing that got said though and it was rather telling in terms of behaviour. I am fully aware that some people can’t be pleased at all and tend to take a lot of moaning and complaining with a truck of salt as a result. However, it was the behaviour that really struck me. As it is a big space we have all been fragmented and this was seen in an increase in verbal snaps and sarcastic whispering when someone commented and wasn’t in ear shot of this witty aside. If this afternoon is anything to go by the usually united front we all had as a group of designers has been smashed. I am in a different department (actually I am the different department, but that is another thing), but I have always felt united with the print designers and the ad department. With this move we are all seperated and nobody is united. Whether this was some aim I am not sure. If it was it to me is a rather wrong goal and one that will ultimately prove a problem.
The space you work in is important no matter what you do as a job. Possibly, you can even argue for a designer or any job that requires you to be creative this is more the case. I was reminded of this with the big example of the move today. Subconsciously you tend to create a space at home – at least I do. I always have a pretty similar office space. I know what works for me and I tend to stick to it with variations of furniture. Ultimately, what you can do in a work place is think about the space. What seems to have happened where I work is that it was thought about in terms of fitting not working. There was little thought into how the space would feel or how it would optimise working beyond not putting x next to y as they talk too much and that printer is so big so needs so much room. I think as a result there will be some rather rocky roads ahead in the design studio. It doesn’t even feel like a design studio. I honestly think there is a certain "feel" to the best examples of design studios. Where I work you have to be smart casual which reads as smart really. This along with some other things doesn’t make it feel a studio in part. Couple this with the new organisation of the department and you have one bad example of a design studio.
