How to Create the Perfect Collaborative Workspace

Collaboration is key when it comes to running a business that depends on multiple departments working on a single project. It is vital that these various experts have the opportunity to meet with the others involved to ensure the entire team is on the same page.

This can sometimes be difficult with certain office designs, with some providing restricted space and very little in the way of a meeting room where ideas can be discussed with a group of people.

Here at Officescape, we know just how important being able to collaborate with work colleagues can be, and as leading providers of commercial interior design in London, we’re here to help you see the benefits of a collaboration focused office design, and how it can help your company thrive.

Collaboration Leads to Innovation

Some of the biggest corporations have designed their offices to encourage collaboration. Pixar is one of the best examples of where collaboration has lead to innovation, and it’s all linked to their office design.

Steve Jobs redesigned the offices at Pixar after realising that splitting such creative minds up discouraged each department from sharing their ideas. Allowing the animators to have complete access to the executives encouraged both parties to see how the other worked; effectively giving an insight into how each department of the company works.

The large building that houses the entire Pixar team has been praised by John Lasseter, the chief creative officer of the company. He believed that he’d “never seen a building that promoted collaboration and creativity as well as this one”.

Google is another great example of an office who focuses on promoting collaboration through their office design. Their New York offices allow for frequent unplanned collaborations through bumping into each other in the vertical ladder chutes which replace the standard elevator solution of getting between floors.

Each part of the office is never more  than 150 feet away from food; whether this be in the form of a cafeteria or a micro kitchen. All employees are encouraged to snack and interact with the other employees that they share an office with, even if they are from very different departments.

Collaboration Enhancing Features

So, what are the features of a good collaboration environment?Open plan offices allow for more frequent ‘accidental’ interactions which can lead to innovative ideas and concepts.

• Open plan offices allow for more frequent ‘accidental’ interactions which can lead to innovative ideas and concepts.
• More communal areas such as relaxation rooms for colleagues to meet and explore creative ideas outside of a conventional office space. These could include a selection of books to entice your employees to seek out another space to relax and socialise in.Have space for more than one person in an area. This allows any collaboration to take place without being confined to a tiny room.
• Have space for more than one person in an area. This allows any collaboration to take place without being confined to a tiny room.Include generic areas that allow people to work and come up with ideas while surrounded by other people, rather than on their own in their office space.
• Include generic areas that allow people to work and come up with ideas while surrounded by other people, rather than on their own in their office space.
• Bouncing ideas back and forth is an excellent way of coming up with new and exciting products and opportunities, which is why we want more businesses to embrace this focus on collaboration within the workplace.
• If you can motivate your colleagues through an creating an interesting workplace, then their productivity is going to rise too. After all, you enjoy your job more when you are in an attractive office!

Officescape love the idea of promoting collaboration in the workplace. Who knows what your colleagues can achieve if they don’t have a platform to put forward their ideas, even if they aren’t in a relevant department. Innovation is crucial in today’s society, and we can’t wait to see what new and exciting products are going to come out next!

When looking to redesign your workplace, look no further than Officescape. We have an experienced design team on hand to help you achieve the perfect office design solution that suits all your needs. If you would like more information on our office design service, contact us today by calling 01553 811 833 and see how Officescape can help you.