creative spaces

Where are you most creative? Creative in the sense that you have this energy to wander, explore and be curious. Creative in that you feel open and vulnerable, not knowing for sure what will happen, but trusting enough to know that something will. Creative so that you feel the thrill of life, the joy of being alive, and the exhilaration of waiting to find out what you will make.

Traditionally, there are the types of creative spaces that we are used to thinking about as studios. Where artists and craftsman are in their zone, focused and unwavering in their attention with every movement of a paintbrush, a chisel, or a carving tool.

There are also the creative spaces of writers, poets, and playwrights. I've only seen them in the movies. There is an antiqued desk, late 1800s, polished mahoghany with a drawer in the front. Atop the desk are only a lamp, paper, a vase with flowers, and pens. Usually the desk is positioned in front of a window overlooking some large field, providing a field of expansiveness to let the mind wander.

There are also the creative spaces of dancers and actors, the stages and rehearsal rooms cluttered with props and chairs along the sides. The hollowness of the theater or the reflections of mirrors grants the performer their imagination as they walk through, move through, or talk through their character.

For the student of history, or accounting, or law, or biology, there creative space can be the architecture of the library or the beauty of the campus grounds. It could even be the chaos and calamity of the student union building or a dorm, if noise is your muse.

And, business, where are the creative spaces? Where are the places where individuals can tap in to their creative energies? If you go from meeting rooms to work areas, you wonder where people get their energy and inspiration to find breakthrough ideas. I'm sure that for some, there isn't too much of a need to have a creative space.

For those who know that a creative space adds to their contribution, what does that look like? What are the colors in that space? What are the dimensions? Do you need music or just quiet? Windows? Books? Paintings? Posters? What types of paper do you need to have around you? Markers? Pens? Post-its? Even toys, things that you can roll around while you're thinking, or things that you can assemble or squeeze?

Even though we know that businesses don't offer the creative spaces that we want, think about ways to make your own creative space when you need it. See what happens to your discussions. To the naysayers, tell them you'll keep the "toys" in your part of the meeting. On the other hand, you never know, you might start a trend.

Comments

[Antonio Deli]

I have read the Agatha Christie´s autobiography many years back. I still remember her inner conflict when some reporter wanted to take photo of her in creative space, but she did not have creative space! She had just old typewriter and sometimes she sat in the kitchen and sometimes somewhere else... The creative space is a spirit space.