Your surroundings really do have an impact on your ability to think creatively, so how do you create a good environment for brainstorming and designing?
I tend to work better in an atmosphere that is fairly quiet, yet visually stimulating and always different. For example, I work well in a small cafe, where people constantly come and go, where sunlight trickles in the windows onto hardwood floors, and a small fire crackles in the stone fireplace.
I also like to find a table in a restaurant downtown, where people bustle down sidewalks and walk their dogs, where trees line the streets and many small shops bunch together next to the ice cream shop and the Starbucks.
In contrast, I find that my small bedroom office does not help me design. I can still work there if necessary, but it’s not naturally stimulating, so it takes discipline and time to get my brain in the right mindset. It’s not like your surroundings can make you a good or bad designer, but they can definitely contribute to your ability to think outside the box.
If you work for a design firm, how have they designed the offices to stimulate creative thinking? Some companies do a job of this, while others don’t make it a priority.
If you’re a freelancer, where do you like to work? What tips can you share with the rest of us for creating a creative environment? I’m curious to hear what works for you.
Leighton Taylor Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Yeah, being in an environment that keeps my mind active really helps me. Thanks for your input Dan.
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