The intersection of creativity and teamwork in the sciences

Innovative scientific discoveries require two things – collaboration and creativity. As designers, we understand the importance of creating spaces that encourage openness and interaction, stimulating intellectual curiosity and creative exploration within scientific workplace and academic environments.  

Creativity begets innovation  

Research in neuroscience has demonstrated that creativity and innovation involve distinct mental processes. Creativity refers to the generation of ideas, while innovation involves the execution of those ideas to make them feasible. It is crucial for organizations to design their workspaces to facilitate both. To foster creativity, it is essential to expose the mind to a wide range of ideas from diverse disciplines. Architectural strategies can include shared co-working spaces, glass walls into labs, digital and physical displays, gathering spaces for speakers and events, even interdisciplinary shared maker spaces where ideas and activity are on full display. All of these have the potential to set in motion creativity and subsequent innovation. 

Once the mind is filled with information, it requires a relaxing, supportive environment that facilitates unexpected connections between data points and encourages the emergence of new ideas. While a relaxing and supportive environment can vary depending on the person, prioritizing natural daylight, open views, and inspiring interior environments enhances personal well-being, relaxation, and creative thinking. A variety of work environments, including quiet rooms, lounge spaces, and stimulating collaboration areas, allow individuals to take a break and let their minds wander, often leading to breakthrough ideas. 

At the Harvard Pagliuca Life Lab, a building dedicated to entrepreneurship for life science ventures, innovation was the main driver in the design and planning. Write-up areas typically located within lab spaces were separated onto different floors in effort to increase movement throughout the building, and amplify awareness, communication and collaboration between the various teams. The co-working space on the first floor takes a non-traditional approach to the write-up space, featuring a range of seating options for focused work, open and enclosed collaboration spaces to suit different team styles and privacy needs, quiet rooms for relaxation and reflection, and social spaces for events. The design aesthetic of the building blends industrial elements with a refined, professional atmosphere, creating an inspiring environment for aspiring startup companies. 

Studies have shown that movement can increase creativity by as much as 60%. To support this idea, we’ve created outdoor walking paths at both the commercial life sciences Triangle 54 building in North Carolina and the University of Houston Health Sciences Buildings. These paths offer a refreshing break for the mind and body, providing a mental reset that can stimulate innovative thinking. Additionally, we’ve incorporated sensory furniture into our designs, such as yoga balls, hammocks, and the Herman Miller Spun Chair. These features provide alternative outlets for releasing physical and mental energy.

An ecosystem of activity 

Interdisciplinary and teamwork-based approaches are emerging as key trends in the field of science, driven in part by the growing complexity of scientific problems that require cross-disciplinary expertise. The increasing availability of data and computational tools requires the integration of experts in data science.  

Successful life science companies and academic programs result from organizations that support research and product development, and also create an interdisciplinary culture inclusive of a myriad of work styles and methods. As we look ahead to the future of scientific workspaces, we can expect to see an increasing differentiation between lab work areas, write-up spaces and dedicated project areas, with more spaces for collaboration, focused work, socialization, and relaxation. This reflects the activity-based planning (ABP) trend that has become commonplace in recent years in workplace design. 

At the Harvard Pagluica Life Lab, the activity-based planning approach ensures movement around the building, increasing chance encounters, and mixing between teams, while also maximizing flexibility of the open plan labs and co-working spaces. Experiments can continue uninterrupted in the labs upstairs, while other team members can utilize the collaboration workspaces on the first floor to analyze data and develop business plans. This approach facilitates a dynamic and flexible working environment that supports interdisciplinary teams and fosters innovation.  

Cultural blueprint 

A company or institution’s culture is the foundation upon which all other elements are built, and its physical infrastructure must reflect this culture. An innovative culture values creativity and adaptability and is empowered by the design of its space. Successful design can significantly remove barriers to knowledge work, collaboration, and holistically support the individual to be their most creative and productive selves. Innovation thrives in the right environment.