Foster Creativity

Yekanialibeiglou and colleagues link working in ABW (which they call activity-based offices or ABOs) and enhanced employee creativity.  The researchers learned via “case studies of three ABOs. . . . that privacy, noise level, and a distraction‐free environment were the main factors supporting employees' individual creativity, as were open spaces with zones for different levels of noise and private enclosed spaces.

Li and Sullivan link nature experiences while young to adult experiences in designed and other environments. They determined that when “Perceived childhood nature exposure was calculated as a cumulative score based on the perceived nature in residential surroundings from up to three childhood home locations weighted by duration of residence. . . .

Research indicates that co-working spaces may not support new businesses’ creativity long term.  Haefliger and Yacoub determined (via a study published in Organization) that “Co-working spaces can limit the creativity and innovation of new businesses. . . . These shared spaces . . . may offer initial opportunities to collaborate but, before long, they ultimately inhibit the emergence of collaborative practices. . . .

New research confirms the value of listening to natural soundscapes.  In a recent study “EEG and Heart Rate data were recorded from 10 participants within an [real-world] office in London.  Each participant listened to a Moodsonic Soundscape (lapping lake waves) . . . and typical office sounds while they performed a series of tasks; Stroop Test (cognition), Alternative Uses Test (creativity).  . . . Comparative measures were taken from the typical office sounds and Moodsonic soundscape conditions to compare states of relaxation, engagement, creativity and speed of correct completion.