The Hidden Infrastructure of Innovation: What Makes Some Spaces More Creative Than Others?
For decades, we’ve believed that creativity hinges solely on the people in the room — the thinkers, doers, and disruptors. But Paul Keursten, CEO of Workshop17, challenges this narrative by shifting our focus to something less obvious but equally powerful: space.
In The Hidden Infrastructure of Innovation, Keursten unpacks what truly fuels creative output — not ping pong tables or motivational posters, but the design decisions that shape how we feel, think, and interact.
“Where we work shapes how we think. It influences our focus, our interactions, even our emotional states.”
Keursten asserts
Drawing from neuroscience, behavioural design, and organisational psychology, the piece explores how subtle cues like lighting, layout, and noise levels can enhance — or suppress — innovation. Open-plan offices, once the darling of the collaborative workspace, are exposed for their flaws: the erosion of privacy, the rise in disengagement, and the silent epidemic of people mentally checking out.
Instead, Keursten champions zoned, flexible environments that respond to the ebb and flow of creative energy. Whether it’s a quiet zone for deep work, a relaxed nook for spontaneous conversations, or a dynamic area for brainstorming, these intentional spaces help build the trust and comfort necessary for innovation to thrive.
Beyond layout, the piece highlights emotional cues — does a room feel safe? Inviting? Empowering? These factors often determine whether ideas are freely shared or quietly withheld.
Workshop17 is a living example of this thinking. From solo entrepreneurs to large teams, their spaces have always aimed to blur the lines between silos and foster meaningful collisions — the kind that spark real innovation.
This approach also reflects an understanding of neurodiversity. Keursten stresses that creativity doesn’t come from forcing everyone into the same mold, but from offering choice, autonomy, and inclusion. Features like adjustable lighting, private booths, and recharge zones aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities.
Post-pandemic, the pressure is on for workspaces to justify their relevance. As people become accustomed to the comfort and flexibility of working from home, shared spaces must earn their attendance. That means being more than functional — they need to be human.
Innovation, Keursten reminds us, doesn’t just require talent. It requires trust. And trust is not just built by leadership styles or team structures. It’s built by environments that say: you belong here.
Find out more:
Website: www.workshop17.com
Email: info@workshop17.co.za
Phone: 021 205 9000
Follow Workshop17:
- Instagram: @workshop17za
- Facebook: Workshop17
- X: @Workshop17za
- LinkedIn: Workshop17
- YouTube: @workshop17
