The effect of collaborative “workshops� on creative design and innovation. Sam Asiri - 295831 MA Interior Design 2015/2016 Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354
Fig.1. Innovation framework - Factors contributing to harbouring innovation
The effect of collaborative “workshops” on creative design and innovation.
The traditional workplace is constantly changing. This change is ever accelerated by technological advances that have improved methods of communication, allowing more people to work alone in a multitude of unconventional workplaces. Working in solitude can have a positive impact on focus. Whereas working collaboratively enhances creative output. Therefore having access to the right environment for creative and collaborative working is key to successful innovation. According to the 2010 Harvard business review “Innovation is the “secret sauce” of business success” (Steelcase, 2013) The aim of this essay is to review and compare the research methods used in two recent pieces of research on collaborative working, then critically analyse the findings from each. Exploring the effectiveness of collaborative working through the form of workshops and the importance of face-to-face communication to learn from one another. The first paper is titled “When the workshop is working. The role of artists in collaborative research with young people and communities” published in August 2015. This academic journal is a qualitative piece of research. The second titled “How place fosters innovation” is a white paper published by Steelcase, who are a global office furniture manufacturing company. Their furniture is inspired by innovative research in workspace design.
Questions 1. What is a collaborative workshop and how does it function? 2. What are the research methods used in each of the papers? 3. What makes a collaborative workspace produce innovation?
Methodology • Analyse the two papers in terms of style of writing and research methodology • Evaluating innovative progress achieved in the methods described in each of the papers.
Sam Asiri - 295831 - Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354 - 2015/2016
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Fig 2. University of Portsmouth Interior design - Client brief workshop - Eccleston George
Fig 3. Eldon Production Centre - Physical Making Workshop
The effect of collaborative “workshops” on creative design and innovation.
Paper 1 – When the workshop is working. The purpose of this research journal article, which comes as a result of the all the authors’ involvement in the “Connected Communities Program”, funded by the UK arts and Humanities Research council is to contribute to academic findings on the role of workshops in collaborative research. It also seems that this paper tries to elevate the importance of participatory research as a primary method of research. Throughout the paper the term “workshop” is categorized as either a noun or a verb. As a noun is refers to a place where things are made or fixed, as a verb, to workshop is used to describe the act of working something through. (Graham, Hill, Holland, & Pool, 2015) In the paper Graham, also notes how she previously used the term “workshop” to encourage participation in her talks, to signify that the sessions was not one where the audience should sit and observe. The paper employs a number of methodologies to achieve the findings. The primary method of research is participatory in the form of workshops. The authors are applying methodologies in practice, which they experienced during a “ways of knowing” project (2012-2013), part of the Connected Communities Programme. The method used to report the findings for this comes in the form of reflective writings from each of the authors in their own tone. In the introduction the acknowledge that this form of writing is out of the ordinary, but insist on carrying it out this way as they felt is was important to draw on their personal experiences to fully portray the full meaning of a workshop. Using personal reflective writing to document and describe feelings and finding, gives a personal touch to underline the importance of these findings to the writers as individuals. However it highlights a clear distinction between writers who have a history of academic writing, to those who are more practical based. For instance, the piece within the paper, written by Steve Pool, is very descriptive of the workshop that he ran and focuses on how it happened and what took place. It does not reference any other author or text. What is interesting about his record of events during the workshops is the ability for all participants in the workshop to connect non-verbally through the activity they are partaking. They subconsciously have an understanding of how objects are being sorted without any precedent being set. This is an example of learning from experience. The other noteworthy aspect is how everyone in attendance including Steve, to learn from the experience. During the workshop, Steve unveils a new relevance to the items he brings with him, and there and then decides to add a new dynamic to the workshop. This affects the outcome of the workshop and the participants differently to any other time the workshop was run. New knowledge was imparted and disruptive innovation was created.
Sam Asiri - 295831 - Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354 - 2015/2016
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Fig 4. Draft zine of the Ways of Knowing workshop – run on 15th January 2014 by Helen Grahams. showing the process the creative workshop takes
The effect of collaborative “workshops” on creative design and innovation.
In contrast, Helen Grahams section on “Workshops in or as “research”: Place in process”, is written in a much more complex fashion. She uses six different book references, intertwining the citations with her writing. This resulted in a disjointed read, all be it informative. She ends her chapter by asking questions that could have been answered through her piece. It acts as a vehicle for further reading rather than a technique of making a point or answering a question. The other pieces from Katie Hill, and Tessa Holland, manage to find an appropriate mix of tone, description and academic references, to add to the article. Their method informs the reader but also tells a story of how they have come to the position they are in. To the reader, this combined method of writing aids in capturing the essence and nature of each of their experiences. It gives the opportunity to relate to some writers more than the others, but also enables a board perspective of the subject as a whole. The style of writing empowers the reader with knowledge and references and leaves them with a sense of excitement to explore further. Other methods of research referred to in this article included findings from Surveys and in-depth interviews on why artists engage the community through workshops. These findings were reported as part of a summary of context for the article, rather than statistics, which juxtaposes the statistical data shown in the Steelcase paper. This is a good example of how statistical data is used differently in a qualitative research to quantitative. This qualitative research article gives an overall good understanding of how workshops could function to benefit creativity and a new way of thinking. “Workshops are best conceived as places where research is subject to ontological challenge through forming and reforming of social and material relations. The key thing here is that the “work” is not something which happens elsewhere – to be written up elsewhere – but rather it is in that place and unfolding from that process” (Graham, Hill, Holland, & Pool, 2015) Workshops in any form seem to imprint on the attendees mind through experience. The experience could be positive or negative, but ultimately it stays in the mind and alters perception towards innovation. The authors summaries this by saying, “It is clear that the forms that emerge from workshops are not the same as the long form offered by writing, rather it is the sense of something holding together, something emerging – even if it is the experience of collapse, shock, affinities that crisscross[…] a knot in the stomach, a remembered movement, a meeting of eyes, a work with specific emotions” (Graham, Hill, Holland, & Pool, 2015)
Sam Asiri - 295831 - Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354 - 2015/2016
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Fig 5. Steelcases eight models of innovation
The effect of collaborative “workshops” on creative design and innovation.
Paper 2 – How Place Fosters Innovation This paper has been written as a marketing and sales tool. The target audience is corporate purchasing teams and senior management in companies. The area in which Steelcase operate requires a great understanding of how to create optimal working environments to suit a wide range of work styles and bridge a generation gap never experienced in the workplace in the past. The advance of technology has led to a new generation of worker who’s desire to be connected and collaborate is far greater than an older generation who have been in the workplace far longer but have not embraced this fast paced, fully connected work style. Steelcase approach their sales and marketing for office furniture in a way that entices the reader into understanding about why a space should work better, then informs them on how to achieve it, and uses this opportunity to suggest products to realize the desired effect. The style of writing in this paper is based on making bold statements, which are backed up by references and primary research to emphasis the point. Key phrases from the text such as “innovation is the only way to supercharge an organization” and “human creativity has always been and still remains the bedrock of innovation” (Steelcase, 2013) set the tone for the content of the paper. These positive and emotive statements show the paper is a marketing tool rather than an academic paper. This shouldn’t detract from the fact that the research carried out for the paper is extremely valuable in helping understand how the workplace can function and act as a driver for innovation. The methodology used by Steelcase to achieve the primary research include carrying out a survey of over 200 real estate practitioners to establish how effective their workspaces are at inspiring and facilitating innovation. The results, which were illustrated and then written about, showed that the use of leading questions sometimes generated conflicting answers about the same topic. To quote; “when asked if their organization has spaces that support the innovative process or groups of people who are working on innovation projects 69% answered yes. Yet 65% say that most of their overall space supports individual rather than collaborative work, revealing and impeding disconnect between intent and reality, or possibly misperceptions about what kind of spaces actually support innovation” (Steelcase, 2013) The structure of the questions and order they have been set out in, allowing for a true reflection and clear view of the reality of how spaces are being used. The results of the questionnaire might have been less conflicting had the questions clearly showed bias and that Steelcase were trying to link the type of space available for collaboration in their organization, to the way workers perceive collaborative innovation. The paper goes on to categorize and define the types of innovation that take place in an organization; “sustained innovation and disruptive innovation” (Steelcase, 2013) which leads to Steelcase devising eight models of innovation based on their research which support both types of innovation.
Sam Asiri - 295831 - Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354 - 2015/2016
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Fig 6. Example floor plan produced to demonstrate zoning of work styles in a workplace
Fig 8. Open plan in-between space to encourage innovation Fig 7. Proposed Innovation thinking room setup
Fig 9. Multiple settings in a small space to encourage movement and innovative collaboration
The effect of collaborative “workshops� on creative design and innovation.
Within each of these theoretical models, Steelcase give the theory a definition helping the reader identify themselves within a model. Then a suggestion for how a space can be designed to support this theory is made, helping visualize a space for the theory to take place. This sets up the prospect of introducing the perfect product to fit the solution, which is Steelcase’s ultimate aim in carrying out this piece of research. However this opportunity is not taken in the paper, leading the reader to feel safe that this paper is purely informative, giving Steelcase an ethical image. Ultimately the information provided in the paper backed by the research, could be seen as biased, as it rarely references anything outside of its own findings, so the wider perspective on how innovation is nurtured in the right space is lost. Nevertheless the information provided does aid in giving a viewpoint in which to relate to for further understanding and development of the ideal space for incubating innovative thinking. To conclude, each paper expresses a notion that innovation comes from collaboration. Innovation and innovative thinking comes from people interacting, engaging and contributing. Participatory workshops that push thinkers into uncomfortable and unknown areas generate freethinking and allow for knowledge to be transferred and reciprocated between the teacher and the taught. A well-designed space, which allows access to collaborative areas and the necessary tools for expressing ideas, experimenting and prototyping, enables, enhances and accelerates true innovation. By combining the results of the quantitative and qualitative research of the two papers, a fuller understanding of how human interaction generates innovation, is gained. The quantitative research gives evidence and facts to judge this notion by, where as qualitative research gives us emotional reasoning and responses to how workshops push our thinking to new levels.
Fig 10. Open plan work-space set up for optimum innovation collaboration
Sam Asiri - 295831 - Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354 - 2015/2016
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The effect of collaborative “workshops� on creative design and innovation.
Bibliography Graham, H., Hill, K., Holland, T., & Pool, S. (2015). When the Workshop is working: The role of artists in collaborative research with young people and communities. Qualitative Research Journal , 15 (4), 404-415. Steelcase. (2013). How Place Fosters Innovation. Grahams, H. (2015). Ways of Knowing. Ways of Knowing. Retrieved 17 December 2015, from https://waysofknowingresearch.wordpress.com Ingold, T. (2013). Archaeology, anthropology, art and architecture. London: Routledge.
Sam Asiri - 295831 - Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354 - 2015/2016
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The effect of collaborative “workshops� on creative design and innovation.
List of Figures Fig 1. Steelcase. (2013). How Place Fosters Innovation. Innovation framework Fig 2. George, N. (2015) Client brief workshop Fig 3. Authors own (2015) Fig 4. Grahams, H. (2015). zine of the Ways of Knowing. Retrieved from https:// waysofknowingresearch.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/1coverinthemessymiddle.jpg Fig 5. Steelcase. (2013). How Place Fosters Innovation. 8 models of innovation Fig 6. Steelcase. (2012). Retrieved from http://steelcase.otterbach.de/steelcase/main.php?g2_ itemId=715802 Fig 7. Steelcase,. (2015). Retrieved from http://steelcase.otterbach.de/steelcase/main.php?g2_ itemId=1647875 Fig 8. Steelcase,. (2015). Retrieved from http://steelcase.otterbach.de/steelcase/main.php?g2_ itemId=1646859 Fig 9. Steelcase,. (2015). Retrieved from http://steelcase.otterbach.de/steelcase/main.php?g2_ itemId=1580883 Fig 10. Steelcase. (2014). Retrieved from http://steelcase.otterbach.de/steelcase/main.php?g2_ itemId=1328118
Sam Asiri - 295831 - Research Methods Individual Essay Assignment (unit 509) Unit Code U21354 - 2015/2016
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