{"id":3367,"date":"2018-11-29T18:34:21","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T18:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/?p=3367"},"modified":"2019-04-03T16:33:15","modified_gmt":"2019-04-03T16:33:15","slug":"creative-people-creative-culture-future-decoded-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/cross-industry\/2018\/11\/29\/creative-people-creative-culture-future-decoded-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative people, creative culture: lessons from Future Decoded 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It feels good to be creative, doesn\u2019t it? Whether that means mixing up how you work, collaborating in flexible ways, or tackling challenges on the fly. I, for one, love the feeling of experimenting with new technology and seeing where it takes me.<\/p>\n

But this blog isn\u2019t just about me. At Microsoft, we believe that every person has creative potential. And that businesses need to help their employees find ways to flex their creative muscles. This is the inspiration behind our devices. And it\u2019s also a key inspiration behind our annual Future Decoded event.<\/p>\n

2018\u2019s event took place at ExCeL, London, on 31 October and 1 November. It provided two days of top level keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking, as well as an action-packed expo. If you joined us, you\u2019ll have explored exciting innovations in healthcare, transport, and fashion. You\u2019ll have watched our digital artist bring portraits to life. And you\u2019ll have danced to the sounds of the Surface DJ. Above all, you\u2019ll have learned how the latest Microsoft devices can boost creative outcomes and make people more productive. Let\u2019s recap.<\/p>\n

Modern Workplace<\/h2>\n

If you joined us, you’ll have also spotted the Modern Workplace area right in the middle of the exhibition space. The idea behind the Modern Workplace is simple: creativity isn\u2019t the preserve of the elite few. It\u2019s there inside everyone, in every business. And it\u2019s not just about being artistic. It\u2019s about having the ability to innovate faster, solve problems in a new way, and make ideas a reality. Enter the Microsoft Surface range. Read on to learn how it can help businesses unlock their creative potential and digitally transform.<\/p>\n

Stories from the Modern Workplace stage<\/h2>\n

The agenda was absolutely packed with great speaker slots, and it would have been impossible to catch them all. I\u2019ve pulled together some of my favourite stories from business leaders who have used Surface to achieve great things.<\/p>\n

How Steelcase harnesses the power of space<\/h3>\n

\u201cTo come up with great ideas, you need an eco-system of spaces that help you go through the ebb and flow of the different stages of creativity.\u201d That\u2019s Annemieke Garskamp of Steelcase. Annemieke gave an inspiring talk about how, as professionals, we are making the shift to the workplace of the future. She talked about how creativity is not just for geniuses; it\u2019s a process you can stimulate with the right space and technology.<\/p>\n

She talked about the power of co-creation too. \u201cThe best co-creation areas have lots of space. Space to walk around and use technology. Space for people to interact with each other,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

As it stands, though, Annemieke says that 61% of business leaders don\u2019t think their company\u2019s creative enough. It seems like our collective shift has a long way to go.<\/p>\n

How Glug enables communal creativity<\/h3>\n

We also heard from Ian Hambleton of Glug. \u201cSomething\u2019s changing in our industry. And it\u2019s down to new tech that\u2019s revolutionising the way people work.\u201d\u00a0 He started off by introducing the exciting new term of notworking. Ian Hambleton dreamed up the term as a way of describing the kind of networking that happens when a bunch of creatives get together in the same space.<\/p>\n

Like Annemieke, he talked about how the industry is changing. And he thinks it\u2019s all down to the new technology that\u2019s available. However, he noted that people are putting barriers in the way of their own progress. \u201cPeople do perceive barriers when purchasing new technology,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd most of those are down to lack of information and education.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Stitch empowers freelancers and employees alike<\/h3>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing lots of companies wanting to create their own co-working spaces. They\u2019re viewing it as a great way to bring creative inspiration to the table.\u201d Fran Danczak took to the stage with fellow Stitch founder Nick Gubbins to talk about the key role flexible technology plays in the modern workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people can freelance from home flexibly, companies can take advantage of diverse viewpoints and fresh pools of talent they might otherwise have missed,\u201d Fran said. \u201cThanks to devices like Surface, being creative is no longer the preserve of ad agencies,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Fran and Nick also noted how tools like Skype and Teams are fundamentally changing teamwork. And how easy, online collaboration enables spontaneous interactions. Which, in turn, breeds creativity.<\/p>\n

How Social Chain recruits the best talent<\/h3>\n

Alex Ayin of millennial-powered Social Chain shared his views on getting the right people on board for his business. \u201cThe technology a company offers can have a huge bearing on the talent they attract.\u201d In his opinion, it all starts with offering up to date technology that lets people do their best work. But it doesn\u2019t stop there. From regular staff recognition, to giving employees the chance to be as creative as they can possibly be, Social Chain knows exactly how to empower its team of 20 somethings.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, their culture of collaboration comes naturally, be that on client projects or in day to day team communication. It probably won\u2019t surprise you to learn that Alex and his team aim to always be \u201cfirst, fearless, and ever-changing.\u201d Nor that the Social Chain HQ boasts a jungle room, a train carriage, and a pack of pet dogs.<\/p>\n

Advice from our experts<\/h2>\n

The link between culture and creativity was also a hot topic for our Microsoft speakers. At the event, lots of our own people took to the stage to share insights and advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the years, Microsoft has completely changed the way people work. But our transformation isn\u2019t done, it\u2019s continuing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris Roche, Surface Evangelist<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Chris shared his top tips and tricks for turning Surface devices into creativity rock stars. First, he explained how setting up a Surface device for business use is really easy. Then he ran through a few features that can make users more productive. Did you know:<\/p>\n