Think of your school, university or workplace unless you are someone fortunate enough to be in a interesting work or learning environment, Â I am guessing the walls in your office or school are white, the floor is a some hue of grey or dark colour and the furniture looks like it came from an industrial designer who lived in the gulag. These environments amaze me that not more thought went into where we learn and work, we head everyday to minimalist and/or cheapest alternative when creating learning or working environments. How do we expect cities, states, and countries to be full of class leading innovators when the places they have to learn and work are boring and uninspiring.
For me I often become inspired with ideas when I am travelling whether its locally or internationally. The new places, scenes, people, materials create new stimulus that sets off the innovator or thinker inside of us. So why not bring that to our work or school environments. It may be too costly for some but simple changes such as calenders, pictures and adding a few plants with coloured pots can make people feel more inspired. But you don’t have to wait for your school or workplace to do it, you can add a few things to your desk (of course within workplace regulations) that inspire you and change them often. Another way is taking a different way to work or a different mode of transport . The change will give you something to think about.
So, if your a boss or manager of a school, university or workplace reading this post why not think about how you could make a few small changes to inspire people. It maybe something simple as painting doors, putting up some art or hiring plants on seasonal rotation. Another way is taking people out to the park or the roof top of the building or starting a running/sport group. The more you break up the monotony the more people will wish to stay for the long term.
If your designing a new office or school think about how you can make small changes to improve people work/study life. Does the kitchen really have to look the same as the whole office? Can you make the desks different colours and interchangeable. Can the some of the break out/meeting areas just be a high table and stools to make meeting less formal. I sure you can think of different ways to make a difference – just put your mind to it.