What is a Think Tank and how to integrate it correctly into office design?

Have you ever dreamt of discussing the most important decisions taken by your company’s management? The truth is that many employees do so through Think Tanks. But what is a Think Tank and where does this term come from?

The concept we have just presented is the closest thing to a think tank; a meeting in which workers and managers discuss and reflect on different issues that affect them, in order to provide joint solutions and improvements. It is well known that there is strength in numbers, and this is what the new Think Tank concept aims to summarise.

Without a doubt, it is one of the trendiest spaces in modern office design. Therefore, in today’s article, we are going to talk to you in depth about how to integrate them correctly in an office; what you will need to create a practical and functional design in which to have these reflections in a group, as well as the accessories or furniture you will need to adapt a Think Tank space to the style of your company. Let’s get started!

A Think Tank is a group of experts who meet with the aim of analysing, researching and debating problems and issues of public interest. These groups are usually made up of scientists, academics, politicians, practitioners and other experts in different areas.

These professionals work together to produce reports, studies and recommendations on different topics.

The term Think Tank originated during World War II, when the US and British governments created groups of experts to analyse and discuss military strategies and problems.

Since then, the concept has been extended to other areas and has been used to refer to any group of experts who come together to reflect on and produce solutions to problems of public interest.

In order to integrate a Think Tank in an office, it is essential to take into account the layout of the space and the adaptation of the necessary furniture to encourage reflection and dialogue. Some aspects to consider are:

1. Location

It is important to choose a quiet area away from noise and distractions. A meeting room or a co-working area is a good option.

2. Furniture

Comfortable tables and chairs adapted to the activity of reflection and discussion are necessary. In addition, it may be useful to have a whiteboard or screen to display ideas and presentations.

3. Accessories

In order to encourage creativity and critical thinking, it is advisable to have elements such as pencils, felt-tip pens, post-its, etc. It may also be useful to have a cafeteria or an office room nearby to encourage rest and relaxation during Think Tank sessions.

In short, the integration of a Think Tank in an office requires proper space planning and the selection of appropriate furniture and accessories. In this way, meetings for reflection and debate can be held effectively and in an environment conducive to critical thinking and creativity.

When designing this type of space, it is also advisable to think about the total size and availability of the space, in order to adapt it to the number of people who need to attend this type of meeting.

It is also important to consider whether the space is private or closed off from the rest of the office space. In this way, the members of the Think Tank will be able to let their ideas flow, as well as communicate without distractions and with greater calm.

Here are some points and ideas that you can follow to create your next think tank:

Define the objective of the Think Tank: What is the problem or issue you want to address? What is the ultimate goal of the group?

Gather a team of experts: Select professionals with experience and knowledge in different areas related to the objective of the Think Tank.

Establish a meeting schedule: Decide how often the group will meet and what the format of the meetings will be (face-to-face or virtual).

Encourage participation and dialogue: Invite group members to share their knowledge and experiences, and encourage joint discussion and reflection.

Analyse and synthesise the results: Once the meetings are over, analyse the results obtained and synthesise the main conclusions and recommendations.

Share the results: Publish or share the results of the Think Tank with your team and others interested in the topic.

Certainly, a Think Tank can be of great importance for the development of strategies in a Design and Interior Design Studio. These groups can help to identify market trends and needs, as well as to generate ideas and creative solutions for different projects.

At Molins Design we have been implementing Think Tanks in our company strategy for some time now.

Since then, these meetings and reflections with the whole team have served as a valuable source of knowledge and experience for the study and realisation of each and every one of our projects. For us it is a basic and infallible tool to achieve success. And for you?