S6 Ep8: #71 Curious About ... The Future of Work and Environments with Ali Ganjavian & Key Portilla-Kawamura (Co-founders, Studio Banana & OSTRICHPILLOW®)
Oct 16, 2024
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Dive into the transformative power of physical spaces in enhancing collaboration and community. Discover how intentional design fosters creativity through playful rituals and adaptable environments. Learn about the impact of serendipity on innovation and how hybrid spaces can encourage idea exchange and well-being. The discussion emphasizes the importance of leaders listening to their teams to create meaningful work settings. Explore how tailored environments can boost productivity and connection in this ever-evolving landscape of work.
Thoughtfully designed work environments can significantly enhance collaboration, community engagement, and personal growth in organizations.
The importance of integrating physical spaces with digital tools is crucial for fostering serendipitous interactions and enriching work experiences.
Deep dives
The Role of Place in Enhancing Work Experience
The concept of place is emphasized as a crucial element in improving the work experience. The discussion highlights how people spend significant portions of their lives at work, often more than with loved ones, raising the question of how work environments can positively impact individuals and organizations. This focus on place aims at facilitating opportunities for learning, connection, and collaboration, suggesting that a thoughtfully designed physical space can enhance community engagement and promote a sense of belonging. By prioritizing human-centric design, workplaces can be transformed from mere spaces of productivity into supportive environments that foster personal and organizational growth.
Physical vs. Digital: The Value of Serendipity
The conversation addresses the tension between physical and digital workspaces, particularly in the post-COVID era. While digital tools have enabled remote work, the significance of face-to-face interactions and the serendipitous connections that occur in physical spaces cannot be overlooked. The examples shared, such as successful interactions in corridors or informal settings, illustrate how unplanned encounters can spark creativity and collaboration. Emphasizing that not everything can be accomplished online, the dialogue promotes the necessity of intentional physical environments that encourage spontaneous interactions and unexpected discoveries.
Rituals and Play in Workplace Design
Rituals are presented as integral to creating a sense of community and purpose within workplace environments. The discussion underscores the importance of developing shared practices that can enhance interpersonal connections and foster collaboration among employees. By incorporating elements of play and experimentation into the design of workspaces, organizations can encourage creative thinking and innovation. The concept of 'workplace roulette' serves as a practical example of how engaging rituals can break down barriers and facilitate interactions between different teams, ultimately transforming workplace dynamics.
Intentionality and Evolution in the Future of Work
The future of work is framed around the idea of intentionality, where organizations need to reflect on the purpose behind physical spaces. Leaders are urged to move beyond rigid policies about remote work and instead create environments that are attractive and meaningful for employees. By embracing a mindset of perpetual evolution, organizations can continuously adapt their spaces to better suit the needs of their workforce. This approach not only enhances engagement but can also foster a sense of belonging and community, making the workplace a dynamic space for development and collaboration.
Join Simon Brown and Garrick Jones for a one-hour deep dive in our new format episode titled “Curious About... The Future of Work and Environments” with architects and design innovators Key Portilla-Kawamura and Ali Ganjavian of Studio Banana Design.
In this episode, they explore the impact of physical spaces on collaboration, community building, and serendipity. Discover the importance of intentional design, the role of play in fostering creativity, and how to reimagine office environments for diverse purposes.
Key and Ali discuss hybrid spaces that integrate learning, idea exchange, and recharging, while emphasizing rituals that shape behavior and create a sense of belonging. Tune in to learn how leaders can listen to their teams and implement meaningful changes to enhance the work environment!
About the Curious Advantage Podcast Series
The Curious Advantage Podcast series, hosted by the authors of The Curious Advantage book – Paul Ashcroft (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group), Simon Brown (Global Learning & Development Leader, Partner, EY), and Garrick Jones (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group) – explores how curiosity is a driving force for success in both individual lives and organizations, particularly in our evolving digital landscape. This podcast distills insights from neuroscience, anthropology, history, art and behaviorism to make the concept of curiosity accessible and applicable to everyone.
About The Curious Advantage Book The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com
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The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham.