PLAN

A clear vision, mission, purpose and goals should be set first for the Innovation Lab’s success. Innovation Labs are not only defined by the physical space they occupy, but also by the culture and activities taking place there. It’s not enough just to have an extra space. Building a true Innovation Lab requires intense research and development of an inventive, cutting-edge atmosphere.

Other basic information such as the number of people who will use it, who are the people who will use it and the design theme are also vital in the planning process. Identifying these will give a clear and accurate function for the Innovation Lab and its spaces.

LAYOUT

When planning your innovation space, it’s always a good practice to devise a floor space layout plan in order to properly allocate the functions. Figure out how much space is needed and what tools and areas your team will require. Layouts always vary depending on the requirements and company’s purpose for having an innovation lab. In some cases the layout of a lab dedicated to product prototyping may be very different from one primarily geared towards brainstorming or other functions. It is important for the management or leadership team of the lab to be supportive and able to anticipate the basic necessities of the space.

DESIGN

For many companies, the question becomes how to go about designing an innovation lab, we understand that spatial design is crucial in fostering a collaborative environment. When designing an Innovation Lab it is important to understand its goals and align it with the design. Open layouts are especially common in Innovation Labs, encouraging movement and mixing across disciplines. To nurture a culture of creativity, it might also help to add meeting pods, writable walls and boards, open carpeted spaces, breakout spaces, customized and compact furniture, functional walls, movable partitions and even new interactive technologies!