Work Spaces

Turning a Traditional Space into a Creative Space

Have you tried the cubicle thing? How's that working for you? How's that working for your employees?

The cubicle workplace was how we started here at Creative Spark Media...but we quickly outgrew it; and went from a Traditional Space to Creative Space. Here's our story.

Starting with cubicles in the middle, managers had the window offices, the conference table was in a room with a door, and the office manager was stationed in the front entrance area. No customers or clients actually came to our door - but that didn't matter. Two programmers, a designer, and an intern were working in the 4 tall cubicles. Everyone had their own quiet space, and it was very traditional - for a non-traditional internet e-commerce company.

Then one day, the other co-founder, Rick, told me, "I don't think this is working." I agreed. But how do you change a traditional space - a very small traditional space, at that - into something that DOES work?


Winds of Change

We looked online, drooling over companies like Pixar and Google and more. With gusto, we reviewed a television special showing the most creative spaces in America (including an Alice in Wonderland front room where you had to pull the string for assistance, and another large company that had a mini-village with houses - complete with thatch roofs - for each office), we looked at books; and then we stepped into our own small office.

It seemed impossible. I mean, looking around this is how you do it. What could we possibly do, in a very small space, that was creative and different that what we had?


Managers Get No Love

We didn't get it... until we set our own wants aside. You know, "I'm the boss, and this is MY office because it has a window and a door."

After I got over that (yes, it turns out I was the problem) ...then it became obvious.

Creative Spark Media rented the one man office next door, and expanded by knocking a door-size opening between the two. The conference table went to storage. And I conceded that I could work anywhere as long as there was a room with a door that I could use as needed for private conversations.

Now we had 4 window offices open, an open area big enough for 2 desks and another open area big enough for 4 cubes. And 7 of us.

Then like a blank slate, we wiped our minds of the traditional and got creative.

The two programmers took over one window office. The two designers took over another window office. And I gave up my window office and moved into Rick's window office, which we now share. The 4th window office was left open (we had plans to grow, you know!) and the 2-man area we had expanded into turned into a 4 lounge chair with coffee table and ottomans to seat all of us, big-screened TV with Wii....conference/play room. Did I mention we painted a 16-foot long white board with white board paint on the very long wall instead of getting a traditional white board? The 4-man open area gave way to several light, easily movable desks and we setup a wireless system throughout the office so we could bring laptops to meetings, or work together at will.

Productivity increased. Programmers now sat near each other with no cubicle walls in-between, and they started working together on their projects and sharing knowledge. Graphic artists started looking over each other's shoulders to give input (and it was positive input!) And blowing off steam with 4-man Wii bowling during lunchtime Friday's became common.

And in case you're wondering, Rick and I are perfectly happy sharing an office. Especially with these results.


What We Found It Takes To Get Your Creative Space

Not everyone has the option to expand their space, but you can always expand your imagination. What worked for us is starting with a piece of paper and a layout of our total office space drawn to scale. If you do this, I recommend making about 10 copies. Then clear your mind from thinking of what you currently have, and start drawing as if money wasn't an issue. Find inspiration online, on tv, from friends, and maybe even *gasp* from employees. Arrange several layouts, and put numbers in each space to keep track of how many people your arrangement can hold.

Then throw it away and start over.

Then do it again.

And again.

Only when you have something you like, put a $ tag on it and ask yourself, "If I spent this much, how much would it return in productivity?"


Only after you open your imagination will things start becoming creative.


Heather Pieczonka
Creative Spark Media
© 2009 Creative Spark Media, Inc