As a recent college graduate working in the graphic design field, shifting into professional atmospheres with regular hours and demanding deadlines was possibly the strangest and most difficult transition I’ve made. With limited time and demanding clients, how do creative businesses host an environment suitable for artistic minds?

Companies across the nation are starting to make compelling shifts in work values, understanding the impact of a work environment on employee performance, which trickles down to client satisfaction. A recent review on HubSpot looks further into the big ideas of new “open” business environments.

1.  An open culture where there is a free exchange of ideas, information and the ability to push lots of boundaries in the office space.

2.  Recreating the workplace setting. Desk arrangements may rotate and employees are encouraged to move around and collaborate throughout the day.

3.  Here at Prime, we enjoy offsite BBQs, happy hour and bowling as well as onsite pizza parties, birthday celebrations and omelet stations. Creating a fun and relaxed environment allows minds to escape work and flow freely.

4.  Companies are introducing “themed” meeting rooms and break rooms–much like our cactus, palms, and aquarium rooms–where employees can interact and collaborate with each other and with clients in a fun, relaxed environment.

The review’s results found that workers have an easier time getting to know each other, providing a comfortable space for them to collaborate and express creativity. Employees appreciated the trust offered to them by company management and responded by doing their jobs exceptionally well.

Whether you’re an employee or an employer, be mindful of your current work environment. Here are two ideas we keep in mind at Prime to build and maintain a workspace that supports productivity, creativity and employee morale.

• Attitude trickles down from ownership and management. If management isn’t comfortable with the office environment, employees won’t be either. We are always considering new ideas to continue building a more open and interactive office environment.

• Be open to feedback from employees. Some people may love their personal office space and regularly scheduled hours while others may not. While there is nothing wrong with expecting employees to conform to an office culture, collecting feedback and suggestions can help us continue to build and maintain an open, creative work environment suitable for all employee values.

There are plenty of fun and simple ways to create a high-energy and creative work environment, whether it’s a shift in office layout or the addition of offsite and onsite activities. Get feedback and suggestions from employees and use these helpful starting points to begin building a desirable workplace!