The Importance of Colour vs The Grey Cubicle

Like many North Americans - indeed, like many people worldwide - I spend the majority of my working day in a cubicle.  Light grey and illuminated by fluorescent lights, it resembles most cubicles in most offices around the world.

Occasionally I allow myself the opportunity to look up from the warm glow of a computer screen covered in spreadsheets, emails and industry specific programs and consider my environment.  I consider how I, the worker, am meant to fit within this environment of endless files and recycled air.

Cubicles used to be the bold, new corporate movement during the 1970s and 1980s.  The intention was to allow the unique ideas of workers of all backgrounds and levels to move freely about, which is actually not a bad concept.  Some places, I am told, had implemented this system successfully.  That must have been before the 'grey cubicle' stereotype and it's many associated meanings became so entrenched in our collective subconsciousness.

In the past few years many of us have started to become aware of those organisations that have elected to design a workplace not as an afterthought but as an opportunity to create a truly special, unique place, bursting with colour, creativity and potential.  We've all played a part in passing along those emails with pictures of the offices at Google or Vodafone, decked out with massive fishtanks, sleeping pods, pool tables and even slides. 

It gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, there are some corporations out there that 'get it' - that understand that they're only as successful as their masses of employees choose to be.  And then I look up at my humble cubicle walls in their honeycomb shape and remember that my employer isn't one of them.

Cubicles do encourage the push to strive for something bigger and better, even if only slightly so - what office worker doesn't envy the privacy and floor-to-ceiling windows that management have?  The interior may still be grey, but at least there is a view, plus nobody can sneak up behind you when you're playing solitaire or surfing for porn.

Unsurprisingly, however, those companies devoid of all vision and creativity saw only a way to minimize space for the common worker, thus increasing efficiency.  The accepted design resembles a mass of small, grey blocks surrounded by comparitively spacious offices, overlooking whatever there may be to overlook, which is probably more exciting than a filing cabinet.

The joke is on them, though.  I'm not efficient at all.  HA!

In all seriousness, we crave a unique and stimulating environment, don't we?  Of course, colour and fun shapes aren't the thing that can make or break a career, but many organisations underestimate the power of an environment supportive of creativity, individuality and flexibility.

Think of what colours can mean to a person.  Yellows feel warm and sunny, reds feel bold and passionate.  Greens are earthy and calm.  What does Grey mean to you?  How does it make you feel when you look at it? How do you feel when you're enveloped in Grey for 7 - 8 hours, 5 days a week (or more)?  It's not a difficult concept, but it's about money, of course.

Maybe if I work extra hard I can make my company some more money, and they'll reward me with colours!

Or not.