Digital innovation through analog workshops
Innovations do not happen by chance. Innovation management and the careful application of innovation methods, such as Tangible Ecosystem Design (TED), enable targeted solutions for the challenges of the digital transformation. A special creativity room, in particular, supports teams in ideation and promotes creativity in the business environment with an inspiring setting.
Many people believe that they are not creative. This is a fallacy, because creativity is not a binary quality that you either possess or do not possess. Creativity – and therefore the ability to create innovations – is the result of structured processes, the use of tried and tested methods, and the right environment. A relaxed yet stimulating environment encourages creative thinking. At the same time, many creative methods require sufficient space for sticky notes, whiteboard drawings, quick sketches, and unusual scenarios. Digital innovations are best created in analog form!
In order to provide the optimal environment for creative methods and innovative ideas, we at Fraunhofer IESE in Kaiserslautern offer our customers and partners the “Innovation Space” as an exclusive location for successful workshops. The “Innovation Space” is a creativity room that has been specially adapted to the needs of creative workshop work. This ideally designed creativity room promotes employee motivation by providing a change from the usual working environment.
Every piece of furniture in the “Innovation Space” has been specially selected for the “Innovation Space”. All furniture is either mounted on castors or can be easily moved to allow the greatest possible flexibility and adaptation to the requirements of creative work.
Projectors and projection boards in all directions, as well as flipcharts, whiteboards, and pin boards provide individual presentation options.
Almost all surfaces in the creativity room are whiteboards, including the tables. Almost 60 square meters of whiteboard are waiting to be filled with ideas.
The “Innovation Space” can easily accommodate up to 24 workshop participants. And there is still enough space for several days of intensive creative work.
In addition to workshops, interactive seminars and intensive continuing education programs also find optimal conditions in the “Innovation Space”. For this, the Fraunhofer Academy has awarded the “Innovation Space” the title of “Excellent Learning Space”
Our creativity room “Innovation Space” at Fraunhofer IESE: Ideal for innovation workshops © Fraunhofer IESE
The “Innovation Space” supports creative work in various configurations. In its standard configuration, the room is divided into four areas where different groups of people can work in the same room at the same time. Each area offers a different setting where participants can work standing or sitting, use projectors or whiteboards, or stay in an area with lounge furniture and synthetic grass to relax and reflect.
All-day workshops are often held in an open space with a larger number of participants divided into subgroups. The room dividers are placed to the side or removed from the room altogether, and each subgroup is given a table next to a large whiteboard wall. Large and medium-sized room dividers, which also serve as places to store materials (pens, cards, etc.), dampen noise in the room. Users have easy access to the whiteboard surfaces: on all walls and on the table tops.
The height of the tables is freely adjustable, and they can therefore be used by people sitting or standing and as horizontal or vertical drawing surfaces. Colors are introduced through modular equipment and lighting. Each lamp consists of ten LEDs that can be freely programmed to display any of the 4 billion possible color combinations. To match the workshop, the walls can be illuminated with rich colors to brighten the entire room with colored light.
A steel construction on the ceiling makes it easy to attach hanging fixtures such as projectors, lights, posters, hammocks, or curtains, which further increases the flexibility of the room. Mobile or portable furniture allows the room layout to be adapted to almost any desired configuration. The large proportion of reusable furniture and equipment, together with the focus on the flexibility of the room as a whole, allows the room to be set up to suit your individual needs.
Feedback from workshop participants and employees can be integrated immediately and easily by changing the positions of furniture, equipment, and materials in the room. As the users can rearrange or change the room at any time, they can experiment with different configurations and try out new ways to support creative work.
We at Fraunhofer IESE are ready to face your challenges in order to find creative and innovative solutions to the problems of the digital transformation together with you. Our tried-and-tested workshop formats on Digital Ecosystems and Innovation Engineering are the optimal way to start shaping your digital future.
In a workshop, we work with you to develop a concrete and viable concept for a platform (Digital Ecosystem).
Our BMCK is an innovative approach that helps entrepreneurs and decision makers to continuously adapt their business strategies and remain competitive.
Do you want to build a Digital Ecosystem with your company? Together, we will develop an effective network effects cycle between the providers and consumers of your Digital Ecosystem.
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE