The subtle design tricks that help – and harm – creativity

The subtle design tricks that help – and harm – creativity 4 July 2017 Share Save Bryan Borzykowski Features correspondent Share Save Getty Images Well-designed workplaces often create environments that make their employees more creative, often without even realising they have done it. “The office was designed for a manufacturing mindset, but most of the work we’re doing is knowledge work that values innovation and creativity,” says Kay Sargent, director of workplace at HOK, a global design firm. “When you experience low ceiling height you activate concepts of constriction or confinement.” Alamy There may be a reason why people like working in large public libraries – the high ceilings can help them think creatively It’s not a new area of research. He noted that “chapels, which are small and contained, are likely to convey the notion of confinement or restrictedness, whereas awe-inspiring cathedrals are reminiscent of the freedom and openness of the cosmos.” Putting it into practice Incorporating all of these hidden design elements means developing a variety of spaces in an office, so staff can find privacy if needed, but also work in areas for creative and analytical thinking, says Sargent.