Workspring has chosen not to renew its lease in downtown Chicago. It has been our team’s pleasure to provide thousands of training, brainstorming and strategizing experiences to companies across the globe, and we are grateful to all of our customers. If you need to contact us, email info@workspring.com.
Read to request a reservation, tour or personalized support? Complete this form or call (800) 605-9092. We look forward to welcoming you!
Joint research released by Steelcase and Microsoft this week revealed creativity is the new 21st century job skill. According to research, 72 percent of people believe their future success depends on their ability to be creative. Meanwhile, Adobe’s State of Create reports 83 percent of leaders say greater creativity leads to more innovation and 73 percent say it leads to financial success.
“These days I think creativity might be your most valuable asset as an individual and as a company,” said Groene. “So many things have been optimized. Creating something new as an individual and as an organization, those are the things that unlock great potential and great value for companies.”
Compartmentalized jobs where people specialize in a single task do not represent the complex problems and systems most businesses face today. Research tells us creative work has a rhythm. Instead of a linear process, people move back-and-forth through an iterative process. Sometimes they need to work alone. Other times they need support from a large group or a single colleague.
“We’ve moved past one-size-fits-all. There’s not one-size-fits-all moments throughout the day,” explained Ludwig. “I may need a private office for an hour, but then I’m traveling or meeting with other people and it’s just wasted real estate. When I don’t need space, it should be shared and used by others.”
Creative Spaces is an ecosystem of spaces designed to support different work modes throughout the day. The spaces are embedded with tools and technology to enhance focus, two-person collaboration, hands-on making, group ideation and individual respite.
“You want to allow people to choose the spaces where someone’s mind is most productive,” said Groene. “We realized there’s so much value in coming together as people in space. The idea to create the space based on the modes of working and thinking hasn’t happened at this level.”
Ludwig says they are seeing companies move away from the traditional corporate office to something similar to a creative studio. Leaders want to ignite the feeling of a start-up culture within their organizations. They are looking for ways to engage their people and help great ideas flourish. Creativity is a process in which everyone can engage. As Groene put it, it’s not just for designers like himself, it’s for anyone working to solve a problem or to create something new. “A good idea might come from an unexpected place,” said Groene.
“How do you create ideas, identify them, foster them and make them tangible? That’s what creates value in organizations today,” said Ludwig. “Recognizing there’s opportunity for creativity and problem solving by everyone is a key concept leaders can communicate to their people. Giving them the tools and spaces is a strong message to send to them that we’re all about unlocking your potential. That’s what this partnership is about.”
Explore Creative Spaces and the Microsoft and Steelcase partnership.
Read Steelcase CEO Jim Keane’s story about “The Future of Work with Microsoft.”
About the Author:
Rebecca Charbauski – Senior Communications Specialist
Rebecca, an Emmy-winning journalist, reports on global research impacting the places where people work, learn and heal. Over her career, Rebecca spent 17 years covering local and national news events on television and a variety of digital platforms. She directed a digital news group in Kansas City for three years before becoming news director in Grand Rapids, Michigan for more than five years. Prior to Steelcase, Rebecca worked with one of the four largest media groups in the United States to coordinate news coverage among 48 newsrooms from the east to west coast
Please fill in the below form, and we will email you a copy of the document requested.