1. Unlimited Writable Surfaces
You can never install too many surfaces to scribble on. Dry erase paint and whiteboard surfaces can provide a piece of scrap paper in the size of an entire wall. But don't limit yourself to simply vertical surfaces. Utilize ceilings, floors, and even furniture. In this case, more is more.
2. Reduce Furniture
The White Room should be a space of movement and activity. Cramming the room with seating limits the amount of action that can take place. Stools are ideal, as they are casual and encourage upright active postures. Other pieces of soft-seating can also be added for comfort.
3. Compact Spaces
Small rooms allow teams to utilize the potential of The White Rooms. If the space is too large, ideas get lost. Tighter rooms make sure solutions and theories are easily approached and re-visited. An ideal White Room would be about 10' x 14' or even 8' by 10'.
Special Thanks to Make Space by Scott Doorley & Scott Witthoft
I think it is really interesting that while the girls at DesignChek wrote a post on the importance of color, you chose to remind us why white cannot be neglected either. I agree that sometimes white is the best and only choice-out of simplicity can come creativity! I'd honestly like to see a lot more white in our studio environment.....
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this post. I love using white for the reasons listed above. White makes the perfect backdrop for brainstorming. When I think about a brainstorming space that would allow myself to fully brainstorm, I envision a white, blank space so that nothing will influence my idea generation.
ReplyDeleteexcellent post... i often use white in my designs to contrast areas of colors... the points you bring up in favor of using white in design are excellent
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Claire. White space can be so powerful, in and of itself. Although it can be viewed as a project unfinished, it can also be seen as a blank canvas with limitless possibilities. The power of white space is severely underrated.
ReplyDeleteGood point Abbey. While a white space may seem "unfinished" to many, it is actually just waiting for a person to make it personal. The space gives opportunity to be lived in, worked in, added to, and modified. In the end, the space will seem inspiring and creative, all with a white backdrop.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the color white is underrated, however I also think white is one of the hardest colors to control and utilize in a space without it being too much and too little.
ReplyDeleteI agree white is a color that is overlooked in lots of design, but being able to control how and where you use it can have a huge impact on the space you are using it in.Using white for writing spaces to have unlimited surface area to write on is becoming a huge trend in higher education for collaboration.
ReplyDeleteOne of the points that you made that I think is so important for us is keep in mind is that the space dedicated to brainstorming, or a white room, should be kept fairly small. If the space is too large, not only can people feel that their ideas are lost, but people can feel overwhelmed by all of the blank space and then the ideas might not flow. So it is a balancing act to keep the white space in check. But I am a huge fan of whiteboards and like to use them when I have access to them.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I agree white is underrated. This concept of the White Room would have been fun to utilize in our recent studio project as most of us did try to implement writable surfaces.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post Claire! I think the tip of keeping the spaces compact is really smart. It's easy to lose vision and your train of thought in a big space. the point about reducing the amount of furniture is also key. These kind of spaces are meant to be bare essentials that provide the tools for you to create. The part I do laugh about is someone drawing on the ceiling though :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Info! I was re-reading your post - the info about the size of a "White Room" is VERY helpful. I never really knew what size it should be - I have a tendancy to make them too big. Interesting observation that if the space is too large - ideas get lost.
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