The idea behind this room was to incite creativity. Attempting several different options we landed on a room covered in whiteboard, eventually I focused it more on brainstorming because I wanted this room to help the Makerspace and help boost creative confidence. I also created this room because brainstorming always takes too much time when one person writes at a time. Instead of writing down things one at a time, how about everyone writes on their own piece of wall? Well, I made that a reality with Think, the room for the brain. In this room you can write on all the walls, use the flip couch, and even begin prototyping.

This room started out as creativity, quite literally. I planned to set up the room to incite creativity, but I came across the problem of how to achieve that goal. I went through several ideas: I thought up the idea of a ball pit room, I thought to fill the room with puzzles to incite thought, and I finally came up with a “White Room” where the walls are covered in whiteboard paint. We eventually ended up working on the “White Room.” The idea for this room first came to me when looking at the use of whiteboards throughout different classes at my school, especially my business classes. What I realized is that whenever we brainstormed, or used whiteboards, we would only use the whiteboards available to us, and we would all either cram for space or put our ideas down one by one. Both of these options were not acceptable for me, so I decided to create this room. I didn’t start out with whiteboard walls, but it was one of the first options. Along the way we encountered some obstacles, most of them being the two tables located in the room, one was immobile and the other didn’t have anywhere else to go. Because of this, we decided to turn one into what I’ve come to call a “flip couch” where there are cushions located under the table which can be flipped over and turn into a seat. This was created because the room may not only be used for brainstorming, or the design thinking process, and the tables may have to be used for other events. The second table, that was mobile, I have decided to keep as a simple work table. As for now, It will either turn into a supply table, or just another “flip couch.” To create the flip couch, I drilled in a thin piece of sheet metal under the table, then took cushion and inserted magnets into them so they would stick. Then I nailed in the straps so that they would be able to flip easily. Finally, to finish the room I’ve decided to add in some extra chairs, and a rug to optimize the use of space given. Another reason that I didn’t create just a couch is because the wall behind the table is also whiteboard, and It wouldn’t be ideal to have people stepping on the cushions.

    Some things we plan on applying to the room is some form of foot support so when you sit on the table couch. We plan on using some form of elastic cord to support feet, and we’ll make them be able to slide up and down the table legs so they won’t distract you when you’re working. Another thing we’re going to attempt to implement is mood lighting, I was thinking a soft orange lighting for the room because orange is the color of creativity, and it evokes thought so it would serve the purpose of aiding brainstorming. Another potential option for the mobile table is to turn it into a prototype lab, supplying it with tools and the means to let people prototype their ideas. One last idea is the potential for hanging chairs in the room, like hammock chairs. The point of this is to be able to see the room from a different perspective, because perspective is important when it comes to creating new ideas.