Rounded or angular? How the physical work environment in makerspaces influences makers’ creativity

Makerspaces have become some of the most important environments for nurturing creativity in the 21st century. This study proposed that a rounded versus an angular physical work environment (RA-PWE) in makerspaces has different effects on makers’ divergent and convergent creativity. The results of a survey with makers in 15 makerspaces and two experiments indicated that a rounded physical work environment (Rounded-PWE) was more likely to enhance divergent creativity than an angular physical work environment (Angular-PWE), while an Angular-PWE was more likely to enhance convergent creativity than a Rounded-PWE. The underlying process identified showed that a Rounded-PWE was more likely to activate approach motivation, while an Angular-PWE was more likely to activate avoidance motivation, in turn enhancing divergent or convergent creativity. This study makes theoretical contributions to research on PWE, creativity, and motivation and provides practical implications for managers and designers of makerspaces and other spaces. •Makerspaces are significant environments that affect makers' creativity.•The basic properties of physical work environment (PWE), namely roundness and angularity, can affect creativity.•Rounded and angular PWEs have different effects on divergent and convergent creativity.•AThe different effects of PWEs on different creativity are driven by activating different psychological motivations.