Research Design Connection: Supporting Creative Employees

by Sally Augustin, Ph.D. | May 4th, 2015

Hoff and Oberg interviewed office-working digital artists to learn more about how they believe the physical work environment can support their creative work. The researchers found that “The physical work environment was considered to offer three types of support for creative work for the participants: functional, psychosocial and inspirational. Creative processes would find better breeding ground if functional support, such as adequate lighting and tools, and psychosocial support, such as spatial possibilities for both privacy and communication, were provided. Without inspirational support, such as brainstorming rooms, dynamic planning and imaginative interior design, the work outcome was believed to become less creative.” Eva Hoff and Natalie Oberg. 2015. “The Role of the Physical Work Environment for Creative Employees – A Case Study of Digital Artists.” The International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 26, no. 14, pp. 1889-1906. Sally Augustin, PhD, a cognitive scientist, is the editor of Research Design Connections …