Last year Microsoft released its all-in-one desktop PC and digital canvas, the Surface Studio (opens in new tab). Positioned as the Windows rival to the iMac, the Surface Studio came armed with new tools like the Surface Dial that aimed to change how designers work.
This wasn't enough innovation for Microsoft though, and it's teamed up with office furniture designer Steelcase (opens in new tab) to imagine a Surface-powered office of the future. If you're used to working from home (opens in new tab), perhaps the video showcasing one of these 'Creative Spaces' (above) could coax you back into an in-house position? Or do you just need to give your studio a biophilic design (opens in new tab) makeover? (See Computer Arts' guide to learn how to run a thriving design studio).
Seeing as it's a concept film from Microsoft, the video is a slightly too perfect vision of how corporate offices work. But if you sift through the motivational music and tune out when people repeat the words "innovation" and "creativity", there are some interesting ideas on the table.
These include isolated work pods and tables that change position to meet the demands of the Surface Studio. Given that working in a creative industry requires a different pace and environment to your regular office job, it makes sense that a workspace should be flexible to meet artistic demands.
The Creative Spaces might be a step too far many, but for top studios and agencies they're definitely something to consider. Either way, they're a smart idea from Microsoft that sneakily puts its products at the centre of creative offices.
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