New innovation spaces are changing the face of the office. Why are they on the rise?
The use of agile methodologies encourages innovation, as opposed to the traditional way of managing projects that ends up limiting the scope of work. Already with these methodologies, professionals can be flexible enough to pivot and change the path of the project before the waters get out of control. Methodologies such as Scrum, Lean, Kanban and Smart allow to promote and accelerate the development of new projects through flexible processes and cooperative environments.
What is clear is that these new work dynamics need multi-purpose areas in offices to facilitate them. If you want to start generating a culture of innovation within your company, you will need to design a suitable space to inspire it.
You don’t need to completely transform it with a total office redesign. But you do need to at least set aside a space within the office that conveys that things are done differently.
What should these innovation spaces look like?
Innovation spaces or team rooms are the collaborative spaces in the office where co-creation takes place and innovation is generated. They facilitate methodologies such as agile, scrum or lean startup, through a flexible, agile, versatile space.
These spaces can be dedicated to a team or to the development of a project, so they must be flexible to accommodate teams of different sizes within an organisation, and reconfigurable.
The equipment of innovation spaces
As we have already mentioned, innovation rooms need to be flexible and versatile, with elements and furniture that make it possible to easily reconfigure the space as many times as necessary and allow for the creation of differentiated and appropriate areas for each occasion.
Dividing panels
Separator panels, designed to differentiate spaces and activities, fulfil this function perfectly. The separator panels configure the work sessions quickly and easily according to the needs of the project and the characteristics of the activity.
When it is possible to join several screens, as the Forthink line offers, they adapt to the dimensions of the workspace. It is also recommended that they have sound-absorbing properties so that several teams can work in the same room.
Innovation spaces should also be equipped with everything necessary for collaboration, from agoras to tables for sitting or standing, as well as for communication, with movable panels or whiteboards, for example, such as those offered by Ofita’s Forthink line.
With its reconfigurable modules, Forthink creates personalised, versatile and dynamic spaces that are optimal for agile and spontaneous teamwork. It facilitates the delimitation of workspaces, and with its removable and portable modules, projects can continue in any other space in the office.
Agoras, protagonists in innovation spaces
One of the main features of innovation spaces are the mini agoras for social dynamics. People are social beings by nature, we need environments that encourage the dissemination of knowledge, motivation and participation in work environments. With reconfigurable bleachers it is very easy to create ideal spaces for these team dynamics.
The agoras encourage the connection between people, facilitate the transmission of knowledge and increase productivity. From Ofita, we recommend that these mini agoras include spaces to store poufs and other belongings (bags, backpacks, briefcases…), as this way the session is held and collected in a quick and organised way.
Accessories that cannot be missing in an innovation space
Panels, blackboards, poufs, stools… are elements that cannot be missing in an innovation space. Important: these elements must be designed to be easily and conveniently relocated. In this way, the space can be quickly redistributed and adapted to the different activities of the working day.
For this reason, accessories and pieces of furniture are very useful, such as panel and blackboard trolleys, tall trolleys with shelves or coat racks, planter modules, clamps for holding panels, etc. In other words, accessories to organise an improvised space of this type, because order is essential to create a balanced atmosphere.
If you want to know the options that Ofita offers you for this type of space, you can download the Forthink catalogue here.
