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Make Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration
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First published December 30, 2011
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September 24, 2025I picked this up looking for practical ideas to make my environment better support my creative work, and it really delivered. I loved how scrappy and pragmatic the material in this book was—really had the feel of "reports from the trenches", from people who have been living with these problems for years. I felt inspired and energized reading about these spaces.
The specific problems the authors are solving don't totally match my own: a lot of the solutions are about making a limited space work for lots of different teams working on lots of different projects, changing regularly. Still, my space is limited, too, and a lot of the practical ideas still seem to apply.
Many of the ideas feel pretty ambitious to me (a software person): I'll need to get hands-on with some power tools. The authors often give loose instructions for how to fabricate some solution, then write "ours are fabricated for us by Steelcase" 🙄 🙄 I'll do my best!
The specific problems the authors are solving don't totally match my own: a lot of the solutions are about making a limited space work for lots of different teams working on lots of different projects, changing regularly. Still, my space is limited, too, and a lot of the practical ideas still seem to apply.
Many of the ideas feel pretty ambitious to me (a software person): I'll need to get hands-on with some power tools. The authors often give loose instructions for how to fabricate some solution, then write "ours are fabricated for us by Steelcase" 🙄 🙄 I'll do my best!
June 13, 2014
This book, created by the Stanford d.school, is an amazing source of design inspiration. While it tends to be geared more towards open office spaces and college environments, there's plenty of ideas and resources for educators as well. Make Space tells the d.school's story - it's need for flexibility and economy when being shuffled all over campus, what worked and didn't work for their collaborative spaces, and how they finally figured out how to get it right.
Interspersed throughout the book are projects and action steps that you can take to immediately change your space. There's so many practical ideas, and the stories throughout the book give you a better sense of what students need in collaborative spaces, even if they don't know it themselves. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to change up their learning or work space.
Interspersed throughout the book are projects and action steps that you can take to immediately change your space. There's so many practical ideas, and the stories throughout the book give you a better sense of what students need in collaborative spaces, even if they don't know it themselves. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to change up their learning or work space.
February 3, 2012
An excellent resource for thinking about, planning and setting up spaces that encourage participation, collaboration and creativity. Everything from design and creative process "templates" through to DIY woodwork construction of tables and office furniture for mobile set-up/take-down areas, writing, sticking up. Lots of illustrations, photos and stories that will inspire!
June 26, 2016
Very inspiring book full of lessons from experimental/ iterative creative space design at d.school. Besides many insights, situations to design for and space studies there's build instructions for DIY furniture. I just wish the instructions where a bit more specific or detailed, because I feel like building better workspace(s) now.
November 13, 2019
Wow! What was the last book you read that had something mind blowing on every page? If you can't think of one or it's been a while then make Make Space by David Kelley your next read.
I honestly don't know what else to say beyond this.
Most design thinking books are cagey or covetous or their knowledge. I figure this is a result of them effectively acting as small advertisements for the author's expertise or design services. The result is a text that espouses the benefits of a design thinking methodology and demonstrates its successes, but hardly offers information on how to go about conducting the process. Make Space breaks the mold and cuts loose. Every page offers clear and precise recommendations on how to configure an environment around playful, creative, and collaborative practice. Also, unlike other texts, Make Space has zero qualms about sharing their failures. These passages are illuminating, because Kelley clearly states the intention of the design, the resultant prototype, the field observations, reflection, and assessment. All of this acts as a wonderful demonstration of their process.
I exaggerate how wonderful this book is, but only slightly. There are a few 'pallet cleanser' pages with nothing but an image or a color and a title. Some proposed projects aren't that great, but at least they still act as distillations of the Stanford d.school's approach to fostering a creative and judgement-free environment for its students. More controversially, the four case studies found in Make Space range from "Oh, that's pretty neat, I suppose" to "Was this written by an alien?" For the latter description, I'm thinking specifically of the one on Palomar5 in which the writer explains the value of smoke breaks exclusively in terms of worker productivity. It's enough to awaken the dormant Marxist in any reader.
All this considered, I regret reading the book cover to cover in a 36 hour period. I'd recommend reading it over a longer period of time and referencing it often.
I honestly don't know what else to say beyond this.
Most design thinking books are cagey or covetous or their knowledge. I figure this is a result of them effectively acting as small advertisements for the author's expertise or design services. The result is a text that espouses the benefits of a design thinking methodology and demonstrates its successes, but hardly offers information on how to go about conducting the process. Make Space breaks the mold and cuts loose. Every page offers clear and precise recommendations on how to configure an environment around playful, creative, and collaborative practice. Also, unlike other texts, Make Space has zero qualms about sharing their failures. These passages are illuminating, because Kelley clearly states the intention of the design, the resultant prototype, the field observations, reflection, and assessment. All of this acts as a wonderful demonstration of their process.
I exaggerate how wonderful this book is, but only slightly. There are a few 'pallet cleanser' pages with nothing but an image or a color and a title. Some proposed projects aren't that great, but at least they still act as distillations of the Stanford d.school's approach to fostering a creative and judgement-free environment for its students. More controversially, the four case studies found in Make Space range from "Oh, that's pretty neat, I suppose" to "Was this written by an alien?" For the latter description, I'm thinking specifically of the one on Palomar5 in which the writer explains the value of smoke breaks exclusively in terms of worker productivity. It's enough to awaken the dormant Marxist in any reader.
All this considered, I regret reading the book cover to cover in a 36 hour period. I'd recommend reading it over a longer period of time and referencing it often.
June 15, 2017
As someone that works in a collaborative workspace, this book was a real game-changer. A synergistic ecosystem pivot. A way to think that's different. I can't wait to apply my learnings. On a slightly less snarky note, there were lots of cool designs for using everyday materials for brilliant solutions in co-working spaces.
July 29, 2017
I recommend this often to anyone looking to develop a makerspace in their schools. GREAT ideas (many we have used easily and successfully). Unless you are tapped into a mega-donor, this book is essential for how to engage in making without the superfund to do it.
June 14, 2017
Great book for thinking about designing learning/meeting/collaborating spaces and the materials in them.
August 23, 2017
Lots of great ideas, mostly for DIY's, but I was able to share a couple of great ones that got implemented in our workspace.
October 16, 2018
design thinking, as a space.
January 6, 2016
Libraries and many corporations are transforming some of their traditional office or public space into this "collaborative" or "maker" space right now. If you are on one of the teams to evaluate/design/implement such a project, be sure you and your team has this book. There is something for everyone involved in creating and operating a collaborative space in this book.
The authors are faculty members of the Design Institute of Stanford (d.school). This book is like a combination of manual and "lessons-learned" from its own experiences of moving several times within a handful of years. The design of this book is also unique. Like a reference book, it is not designed to read from beginning to end; on the other hand, it is not like an encyclopedia where entries are arranged from A-Z. There are five types of entries: tools, situations, design templates, space studies, and insights. Each entry occupies either one or two pages, related entries are listed at the end. So an entry on space studies can have a couple "links" to insights; and situations have links to tools or design templates.
Tools and design templates are very useful to the designers and people who will actually build components of the space. The insights, space studies and situations can give the non-architect/non-designers on the team background concepts and ideas. An example is the space study on TED conference: more than the 18-munite presentation style, the TED conference calls for a total collaborative environment. So the design idea is "a network of places intended to connect people based on different behaviors." So there are large auditorium as well as small lounges, some for people who would take notes or blog with keyboards, while other spaces encourage people to talk while listen. The 45-minue brakes are also designed for audience to exchange comments, thus create a sense of belonging rather than shorter breaks making attendees hurrying to the next session. I have not been to any big conferences during the last couple of years, I wonder how much of these space ideas have been adopted by other conferences.
The pathos of this book, and for designing collaborative space are "collaborate across boundaries", "show, don't tell", and "bias toward action." But the authors also emphasize "balance", any of the insights or principles are "robust enough to be defended, but not so precious that cannot be re-evaluated." For example, their idea of bias toward action does not meat to not-thinking; what is important is reflections after action, evaluate and gain deeper understanding of the problem and solution.
My library has gone through a major remodeling five years ago (2010), and a minor upgrade last year (2015). Reading this book, I find myself thinking, "Oh, this is what we did right," or "Wish I had known this sooner." Highly recommend this book.
The authors are faculty members of the Design Institute of Stanford (d.school). This book is like a combination of manual and "lessons-learned" from its own experiences of moving several times within a handful of years. The design of this book is also unique. Like a reference book, it is not designed to read from beginning to end; on the other hand, it is not like an encyclopedia where entries are arranged from A-Z. There are five types of entries: tools, situations, design templates, space studies, and insights. Each entry occupies either one or two pages, related entries are listed at the end. So an entry on space studies can have a couple "links" to insights; and situations have links to tools or design templates.
Tools and design templates are very useful to the designers and people who will actually build components of the space. The insights, space studies and situations can give the non-architect/non-designers on the team background concepts and ideas. An example is the space study on TED conference: more than the 18-munite presentation style, the TED conference calls for a total collaborative environment. So the design idea is "a network of places intended to connect people based on different behaviors." So there are large auditorium as well as small lounges, some for people who would take notes or blog with keyboards, while other spaces encourage people to talk while listen. The 45-minue brakes are also designed for audience to exchange comments, thus create a sense of belonging rather than shorter breaks making attendees hurrying to the next session. I have not been to any big conferences during the last couple of years, I wonder how much of these space ideas have been adopted by other conferences.
The pathos of this book, and for designing collaborative space are "collaborate across boundaries", "show, don't tell", and "bias toward action." But the authors also emphasize "balance", any of the insights or principles are "robust enough to be defended, but not so precious that cannot be re-evaluated." For example, their idea of bias toward action does not meat to not-thinking; what is important is reflections after action, evaluate and gain deeper understanding of the problem and solution.
My library has gone through a major remodeling five years ago (2010), and a minor upgrade last year (2015). Reading this book, I find myself thinking, "Oh, this is what we did right," or "Wish I had known this sooner." Highly recommend this book.
September 23, 2016
An inspiring and well organized assortment of ideas to pump up existing design learning spaces or make new ones. I will be referring back to this book for a long time.
February 7, 2012
At first, I was a bit confused with the layout of this book. The book definitely lacks flow and just jumps from one idea to the next. Picking up the book to read from cover to cover, you end up scratching your head saying, "What am I doing here. What am I even reading here."
Then, you decide to pick up the book for ideas, inspiration, starting points. And suddenly, it makes sense. You suddenly see the ideas flowing from the pages and you see what is being done and immediately start thinking, "Now, where can I use this? Could this solve my problem here?"
This book has ideas. Ideas. Ideas. Ideas. It also contains much of the practical nuts and bolts of said ideas. Use foam cubes as short term seating that can be stacked interestingly and also used to build temporary divides in the room should those be needed. Great idea. And here's how you make that happen. Brilliant!
Now, not all of the projects or ideas are simple DIY projects. Yes, the basic gist is in the book, but there are some skills and some items I just don't have on hand to make some of these ideas a reality in my home. (AV carts, plexiglass, translucent polycarbonate, etc.) However, the book does include resources for where I can find such things. So, I'm not just left looking saying, "Oh that's nice." But saying, "It may be a bit out of my comfort zone, but I could acquire these parts and make that. Maybe."
It is definitely more geared toward business type spaces, but you could incorporate many of these ideas anywhere. Church. Home. School. Wherever. If you've got space issues or even are just trying to think outside of the box, this book is a good place to start to get your brain churning and moving to more unconventional solutions. (Plus, the pictures are pretty inspiring.)
Then, you decide to pick up the book for ideas, inspiration, starting points. And suddenly, it makes sense. You suddenly see the ideas flowing from the pages and you see what is being done and immediately start thinking, "Now, where can I use this? Could this solve my problem here?"
This book has ideas. Ideas. Ideas. Ideas. It also contains much of the practical nuts and bolts of said ideas. Use foam cubes as short term seating that can be stacked interestingly and also used to build temporary divides in the room should those be needed. Great idea. And here's how you make that happen. Brilliant!
Now, not all of the projects or ideas are simple DIY projects. Yes, the basic gist is in the book, but there are some skills and some items I just don't have on hand to make some of these ideas a reality in my home. (AV carts, plexiglass, translucent polycarbonate, etc.) However, the book does include resources for where I can find such things. So, I'm not just left looking saying, "Oh that's nice." But saying, "It may be a bit out of my comfort zone, but I could acquire these parts and make that. Maybe."
It is definitely more geared toward business type spaces, but you could incorporate many of these ideas anywhere. Church. Home. School. Wherever. If you've got space issues or even are just trying to think outside of the box, this book is a good place to start to get your brain churning and moving to more unconventional solutions. (Plus, the pictures are pretty inspiring.)
September 4, 2016
Scott Doorley and Scott Witthoft are engineers and professors at Stanford University who wrote this book. They have been at the forefront of the makerspace movement since 2007 and developed an insightful, research-based book about how to incorporate makerspace, hack space, fabLabs into classrooms, businesses, and workspaces. The wisdom they have to impart is valuable for everyone, especially those who want to make the most functional, innovative space available to collaboration. They share tons of tools such as DIY furniture, lighting, and collaboration techniques. They developed the IDEO and d.school there for the expression of cultural values and they value innovation as a “team sport”. They experiment with how space plays a pivotal role. Its development is based on actual interactions and applications with their students and their curriculum in the educational setting and developed this kind of space and how it has changed the way people think, collaborate, and create. This is a great read and a game changer.
February 7, 2017
I wasn't too impressed with this book when I first thumbed through it. It was when I had time to slowly read and digest small bits at a time, reflecting and thinking it through that I realized what a gem this book is. It changed the way I look at space and made me more aware of its effect on people. A treasure to have when designing learning / collaborative spaces.
November 18, 2016
This quote from the Book says it all "space is the body language of an organization". As an entrepreneur of a growing business going from my dorm room to a offices in multiple the idea and understanding of how space physically can shape culture in your organization is absolutely critical. I highly recommend all my fellow entrepreneurs read this book and see how they can incorporate making and hacking into not just their product design and digital work but also their physical space. Def worth buying the physical copy as it makes a great reference guide that will withstand the test of time. For me this book represents an analog anthology of designing workspaces.
December 28, 2019
Most helpful resource for designing 'working' spaces! Especially if multiple people use those spaces. I picked it up for my office, and then it gave me so many ideas for how we could make classrooms (graduate level) more functional.
The book is a combination of theory and frameworks to help you reflect, mixed with actual solutions (including lists of where to buy materials) that Stanford's d.school uses and instructions for building. I doubt I'll do anything in here exactly as they suggest, but seeing their process and parts helps resource me to come up with a custom solution for my workspace's needs.
The book is a combination of theory and frameworks to help you reflect, mixed with actual solutions (including lists of where to buy materials) that Stanford's d.school uses and instructions for building. I doubt I'll do anything in here exactly as they suggest, but seeing their process and parts helps resource me to come up with a custom solution for my workspace's needs.
December 9, 2015
This book is plenty with ideas to reorganize your work place. Some are cool. Some seem useful for making a more creative use of the space. But, maybe I am too conservative or I think my organization is. The fact is that I find most of them very difficult to carry them out.
I think this book might be useful to new start-ups or organizations with a highly creative people. Most of the ideas would find a hard resistance to apply in rather bureaucratic organizations like mine, I'm afraid.
I think this book might be useful to new start-ups or organizations with a highly creative people. Most of the ideas would find a hard resistance to apply in rather bureaucratic organizations like mine, I'm afraid.
December 6, 2013
This book is a fairly great read if you want to have ideas on how to shake up your work space productively. While many of these changes do not require much in the way of resources, I would recommend only reading this book when you have a significant amount of space that can be experimented with immediately. I look forward to employing what I learned in this book at home and in the community.
January 21, 2013
This is a great recipe book for those looking to create or improve makerspaces, studios, collborative spaces, or anywhere else creativity and project development needs to happen. I'm already thinking of ways to apply this to my own small space.
May 1, 2013
Excellent livre qui présente des idées concrètes pour aménager des espaces de travail collaboratif. On y retrouve même des plans pour construire certains éléments de mobiliers à peu de frais. À découvrir!
August 11, 2016
This book gives great ideas for creating collaborative work spaces. Some can be applied to school spaces, but more of the ideas are applicable to adult work spaces. The book does inspire the readers, however, to think "outside the box" about they can make their own space more collaborative.
September 26, 2014
This book describes the physical space needed for a collaborative environment (and includes instructions on how to actually build white boards and cubes to sit on). It doesn't get into the social environment that makes these function well. It looks trendy and I suspect it won't age all that well.
June 22, 2012
was really inspired by this book, just for figuring out how my home workspace should be organized
September 9, 2013
Awesome book that made me think about how can I design and organize spaces to generate better ideas and experiences!
October 1, 2013
Absolutely fantastic! I am looking forward to attending an Innovative Conference and hearing speakers from the dschool. Environments support communities and their ideas and thinking!
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October 29, 2013دليل رائع جدا .. كيف تجعل مكان عملك محفزا للإبداع؟!
November 4, 2013
Loved this book. Used some of the quotes, ideas, and examples in a space proposal for my group at work. Fun to also read some of the history of the evolution of the space at the d.school.
January 2, 2014
Interesting ideas for me. I sought this title out as I was going through a small renovation project in the house to create a make space for my family.
February 7, 2015
A reference book to go back to from time to time
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