I was very lucky to win a copy of the Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces book a few weeks ago via Twitter. I know, how awesome is that! I think by now you all must realise that Twitter is something you definitely need to start getting into, if you haven’t already. Great things await you there, you just need to “work it out” for yourself – promise. But back to the book. I was so excited when my copy arrived courtesy of Ian McCallam, who is the creator of This Ain’t No Disco (It’s Where We Work). Ian’s new book is based on his popular site that showcases workspaces of advertising and media agencies from around the world. Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces features a selection of 45 creative firms’ interiors from around the world.If you are an interior designer who is in the business of designing creative workspace interiors (like me – in fact, I’m working on an ad agency fitout right now), or you are simply after some inspiration for your own office space, then this is the book for you. In it you will find lots of inspiration and fantastic examples of some of my favourite creative workplace interiors from around the world (check out a selection of images I scanned in for you to whet your palette… Mmmm, yummy). Ok, sure, there are a few massively “out there” workspace examples in this book as well. And just to make it super clear, this is in no way a criticism of the book at all, but more of a comment on the advertising agency “interior stereotype”. I mean, what is it with creative business who need to scream at the top of their lungs – “Look at us, we are soooo creative! So we have a foosball table in the middle of the office, oh and a pool table, and lots of mismatched furniture, and a bar. Yeah, we are too cool for school man.” Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love ad agency fitouts. I love them a lot. In fact – some of my personal favourite projects to date are those I have done for creative agencies (those who know me, know exactly the projects I have in mind). All I’m saying is that these interiors often scream “I am an ad agency interior!” by ticking expected boxes, they are whacky just because they can be, where the final result bears no relation to the work philosophy of the agency they are designed for. I think that workplace interiors for creative businesses ought to be intelligent, sophisticated and crafted for their specific needs and context – a building or a city in which they exist. This is precisely why I love so many fantastic examples shown in the Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces. Again, sorry, I’m off on a tangent here. I can’t help myself. Tangent is my middle name.In case you are not already convinced that you should be getting yourself a copy of this book, you can have a little browse through it right here. Check out the listing of retailers that stock the book, or bag yourself a copy from Amazon.And here’s the super fun part – GIVEAWAY time!! Ian McCallam has generously offered to give away a copy of the Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces to one lucky reader. Hooray! To be in the running, please leave a comment by midnight next Thursday 4th November. The winner will be selected at random and contacted via e-mail on Friday 5th November.Good luck everyone and have an ace weekend!x dana UPDATE – This competition is now closed. Thank you so much for all your comments, especially the super creative poems. Amazing. I swear, yellowtrace readers are the best and the coolest people ever! You guys rock! Alas, there can only be one winner and the Random Number Generator has spoken once again.The winner will be contacted by e-mail. Thank you again everyone for entering the giveaway. One day I’ll be able to reward all of you. One day.Share the love:FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPinterest 37 Responses Vicki M October 29, 2010 Looks and sounds like a “must have” book for my design library. Thanks for the opportunity! Vicki :) Reply Lena October 29, 2010 Fingers crossed! A wish has been sent that this book will make it all the way to my bedside table.And, I am happy to have discovered this blog that entered my Look Good List a couple a days ago. So much inspiration!Lena, Konfettiform. Reply linda from OEKE October 29, 2010 A pretty picture book All about creative space Put my name on the list on the super Yellowtrace(-: Reply c-los October 29, 2010 WORK POEMFriday is most certainly the greatest of days. The reasons it’s great are too many to say. But with that said, I’ll try to explain Why Friday is better than a day without rain.You see on Friday, you can work with a smile. You need only work, for a little while. For the weekend is near and then you can play. Much fun to be brought by the most generous of days.So join with me and laugh and cheer. The work week’s end is drawing near. Join with me and praise this day. I’ve said what I’ve said, and I’ve nothing more to say. Reply Ludmila {creamylife.com} October 29, 2010 I need this book! The images are just beyond gorgeous! xoxo Reply Esa October 29, 2010 Wow, that looks like a really nice book! Reply Genevieve Hromas October 29, 2010 what a tease those little images are! Reply Luke October 29, 2010 Way cool. Don’t apologise for your tangent, Dana… They always give me something interesting to read while sipping coffee in the morning! Great book, I’m definately in need of some end-of-year inspiration, pretty please :) Reply Lisa October 29, 2010 i love the “we love it loud” graphic – love the black and red colours, love the hanging lights too. It must be awesome to design these spaces – so much bigger than decorating a room in a house. Reply jules @ The Diversion Project October 29, 2010 looks like a brilliant book! jx Reply Jenny October 29, 2010 Ohhh… makes my kitchen table ( my creative space) look very lame!!!!! Reply Nathan Swan October 29, 2010 Would be a great book to have! We are currently re-furbishing our studio, Fusion, in the unpredictable weather changing land of Australia! Cheers, Nathan Reply Ryan October 29, 2010 I wish every owner cared knew the difference a well designed office can make for their employees. I guess wishes do come true. Now I just need the book to show them. Reply Ed @ Giant October 29, 2010 Looks tops! I’m too tight to buy it but if it’s free. Thanks Yellowtrace, ‘you are the man’….or not in this case!! Reply Aaron October 29, 2010 Looks like a really, really great book. Reply Tweets that mention yellowtrace blog » Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces | Book Review & GIVEAWAY!: -- Topsy.com October 29, 2010 […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by This Ain't No Disco, This Ain't No Disco, Ian McCallam, Ian McCallam, Dana Hughes and others. Dana Hughes said: Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces | Book Review & GIVEAWAY! Hooray! Thank you @aintnodisco http://bit.ly/dhD3m7 […] Reply danica October 29, 2010 this book looks amazing! i wish i could work in a space like this.really enjoy your posts, dana :) Reply Felicity October 29, 2010 Such a great looking book! It really shows a variety of spaces which have been creatively designed for the businesses needs whilst considering their sphere if work and the context of their place. Reply captain kk October 29, 2010 looks brilliant to me :) fingers crossed. Reply Pina October 29, 2010 Oooooooo – well I’m a graphic (with an interior degree also), working with industrial designers on exhibitions. This would be nice to add to my collection! Reply mahani October 29, 2010 ooohh! i need some inspiration! Reply Nancy Constandelia October 29, 2010 OMG Dana..what a fabulous giveaway ! This would inspire me to redesign and restyle my terrible, dingy office. Wish me luck xx Reply Lauren October 29, 2010 I love a good design book with lots of pretty pics!! Reply Beth October 29, 2010 ooh love it! thanks for the giveaway Reply Joe Michalski October 30, 2010 This would go great next to my Habitus and dwell pile! Reply Dave ; ) October 30, 2010 hell yeah…. Reply Vanessa October 31, 2010 Looks fab! Reply Mary October 31, 2010 Such an inspirational book! I’d love to take a closer look… Reply Heather S October 31, 2010 Thanks for the lovely giveaway! Reply laura (see hear say) October 31, 2010 i want!!! Reply Sebastiaan November 1, 2010 This book is the perfect inspiration for interior decorating my own ‘office’ space! Reply Kirsty Pryer November 2, 2010 You’ve got to be in it to win it! Book looks great – loving the giveaways, Dana. Fingers crossed. Reply Shelley Panton November 2, 2010 Hi Dana, thanks for sharing, great to get a little inspiration from other spaces .. Reply sharon November 3, 2010 amazing giveaway! :) Thanks heaps! Reply lauren November 4, 2010 Work, sleep, work, sleep, Work, sleep, work, sleep, Work, sleep, work, sleep, Work.Oh free me please with gentle ease From work, sleep, work, sleep, work! This odium, pounding tedium Of my work, sleep, work, sleep, work.Just whisk me off to lands afar From work, sleep, work, sleep, work – That grinding train of rhythmic pain Called ‘Work, sleep, work, sleep, work.’ Reply Alan Tucker November 5, 2010 OMG some of those spaces are amazing Reply This Ain't No Disco November 5, 2010 Congrats Luke on winning the book. We hope you like it! It’ll be in the post next week. Thanks everyone for leaving a comment on Dana’s fab review of the book. Follow us on Twitter (@aintnodisco) and keep your eyes on Yellowtrace – as we might just be doing another giveaway soon! ReplyLeave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ
Vicki M October 29, 2010 Looks and sounds like a “must have” book for my design library. Thanks for the opportunity! Vicki :) Reply
Lena October 29, 2010 Fingers crossed! A wish has been sent that this book will make it all the way to my bedside table.And, I am happy to have discovered this blog that entered my Look Good List a couple a days ago. So much inspiration!Lena, Konfettiform. Reply
linda from OEKE October 29, 2010 A pretty picture book All about creative space Put my name on the list on the super Yellowtrace(-: Reply
c-los October 29, 2010 WORK POEMFriday is most certainly the greatest of days. The reasons it’s great are too many to say. But with that said, I’ll try to explain Why Friday is better than a day without rain.You see on Friday, you can work with a smile. You need only work, for a little while. For the weekend is near and then you can play. Much fun to be brought by the most generous of days.So join with me and laugh and cheer. The work week’s end is drawing near. Join with me and praise this day. I’ve said what I’ve said, and I’ve nothing more to say. Reply
Ludmila {creamylife.com} October 29, 2010 I need this book! The images are just beyond gorgeous! xoxo Reply
Luke October 29, 2010 Way cool. Don’t apologise for your tangent, Dana… They always give me something interesting to read while sipping coffee in the morning! Great book, I’m definately in need of some end-of-year inspiration, pretty please :) Reply
Lisa October 29, 2010 i love the “we love it loud” graphic – love the black and red colours, love the hanging lights too. It must be awesome to design these spaces – so much bigger than decorating a room in a house. Reply
Nathan Swan October 29, 2010 Would be a great book to have! We are currently re-furbishing our studio, Fusion, in the unpredictable weather changing land of Australia! Cheers, Nathan Reply
Ryan October 29, 2010 I wish every owner cared knew the difference a well designed office can make for their employees. I guess wishes do come true. Now I just need the book to show them. Reply
Ed @ Giant October 29, 2010 Looks tops! I’m too tight to buy it but if it’s free. Thanks Yellowtrace, ‘you are the man’….or not in this case!! Reply
Tweets that mention yellowtrace blog » Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces | Book Review & GIVEAWAY!: -- Topsy.com October 29, 2010 […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by This Ain't No Disco, This Ain't No Disco, Ian McCallam, Ian McCallam, Dana Hughes and others. Dana Hughes said: Where We Work: Creative Office Spaces | Book Review & GIVEAWAY! Hooray! Thank you @aintnodisco http://bit.ly/dhD3m7 […] Reply
danica October 29, 2010 this book looks amazing! i wish i could work in a space like this.really enjoy your posts, dana :) Reply
Felicity October 29, 2010 Such a great looking book! It really shows a variety of spaces which have been creatively designed for the businesses needs whilst considering their sphere if work and the context of their place. Reply
Pina October 29, 2010 Oooooooo – well I’m a graphic (with an interior degree also), working with industrial designers on exhibitions. This would be nice to add to my collection! Reply
Nancy Constandelia October 29, 2010 OMG Dana..what a fabulous giveaway ! This would inspire me to redesign and restyle my terrible, dingy office. Wish me luck xx Reply
Sebastiaan November 1, 2010 This book is the perfect inspiration for interior decorating my own ‘office’ space! Reply
Kirsty Pryer November 2, 2010 You’ve got to be in it to win it! Book looks great – loving the giveaways, Dana. Fingers crossed. Reply
Shelley Panton November 2, 2010 Hi Dana, thanks for sharing, great to get a little inspiration from other spaces .. Reply
lauren November 4, 2010 Work, sleep, work, sleep, Work, sleep, work, sleep, Work, sleep, work, sleep, Work.Oh free me please with gentle ease From work, sleep, work, sleep, work! This odium, pounding tedium Of my work, sleep, work, sleep, work.Just whisk me off to lands afar From work, sleep, work, sleep, work – That grinding train of rhythmic pain Called ‘Work, sleep, work, sleep, work.’ Reply
This Ain't No Disco November 5, 2010 Congrats Luke on winning the book. We hope you like it! It’ll be in the post next week. Thanks everyone for leaving a comment on Dana’s fab review of the book. Follow us on Twitter (@aintnodisco) and keep your eyes on Yellowtrace – as we might just be doing another giveaway soon! Reply