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4 Steps to Creating an Inspiring Studio Space

When setting up your design workspace take care to be organized and efficient to maximize your creativity and motivation! Your projects will benefit from a workspace that is not only well thought out but inspired by your life!

Creativity

Ideally, your workspace should be separate from your living area so as not to confuse work/life tasks and obligations. However, working in a space that is as comfortable as say your living room makes working less like “work."

Select a wall color that has personality, but not so much so that it takes on a “play-space” attitude versus an incoming-producing environment. You want your wall color to stimulate your artistic nature yet be professional. Gather photographs, artwork and your favorite decorative pieces, and place them throughout your workspace. Perhaps dedicate a space with a chair for daydreaming? Keep sketch pads and your favorites pens and pencils close on a side table. Also, a decorative board with a collection of postcards and snapshots, upcoming industry trade shows and/or announcements from vendors is an easy way to artfully display mementos with meaning and express your interests.

Organization

Organization in a workspace is equally important to creative expression in an office. Examine what furniture and storage needs you require to manage your work. Do you need long tables to accommodate design planning, sketches, sample boards, meetings with clients? Or, do you need computer desk space? Most likely you need a few different table top configurations which involve different seating options. Your primary chair needs to be just right; check out ergonomic requirements to ensure long-term comfort.

In addition to desks, tables and chairs your office will need shelving, cabinets, file systems and bulletin boards. Consider closed cabinets and open shelving, white boards and cork boards (maybe even a black board!) as well as fabric-covered storage boxes in a coordinating color and pattern – or in a natural woven material. Keep your desk top simple; be sure to avoid clutter and avoid unnecessary piles of miscellaneous paperwork getting out of control! A large wall calendar and white can be advantageous for project planning/management. Clipboards also allow easy access to notes and papers associated with particular projects. Great work comes from well organized work environments!

Next: Efficiency! →

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