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Your ideal working environment

I'm sure everyone has their own preference when it comes to their ideal working atmosphere, and I'm curious to see what everyone else prefers.

When I'm at home working, I usually turn down the lights, or turn them off completely. I always need some sort of ambient background sound, so I typically turn on some music. I've found that deep-bass trance/electronica works the best as far as staying focused. If I listen to my regular music, I have a tendency to get distracted when the songs change, whereas some techno (go go iTunes radio!) can be an endless beat and keeps me focused.

Anyone else have a similar preference? Turning on a movie, music, etc? I know I can't be the only one.

Replies

  • Microneezia
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    Microneezia polycounter lvl 10
    The teaching company audio lectures..

    nothing like a haxor Harvard education to back me up in case the dope smoking artist thing falls through.
  • glib
    Music if I'm doing something that requires some thought (ie. early planning stages of a model): full library if I'm not in a rush, drum and bass if I am. Once I'm into the meat of the project and humming along, usually have a video of something running (right now I'm working my way through the sopranos). I like as much natural light as I can get, it tends to keep me more focused and motivated.
  • Joshua Stubbles
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    Joshua Stubbles polycounter lvl 19
    Someplace dark (always have the lights off at work), music in my ears and a tasty beverage at all times.
  • Firebert
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    Firebert polycounter lvl 15
    ryan fucking adams
  • cyborgguineapig
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    cyborgguineapig polycounter lvl 14
    The one with a lot of really hot chicks working in it
  • System
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    System admin
    Very loud music to get me started and pumped up... normally electronic something but more often than not drum and bass. Once i get focused though I forget my surroundings anyway so light on or off is of no real bother.

    Anyone else paused music to talk to someone only not realise they havent turned it back on about 15minutes later?
  • John Warner
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    John Warner polycounter lvl 18
    I'm starting to think that i just dig on a close circle of friends fiending on something. for me, it's all about being creative and empowered.. creativity is key.
  • motives
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    motives polycounter lvl 18
    when its past 6pm and everyone has gone home and its quiet at the office and noone is bugging you with moronic questions. awesome.
  • Ruz
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    Ruz polycount lvl 666
    has to be deathly quiet on the whole for me . don't like it too dark neither.
  • Rik
    Jackwhat wrote: »

    Anyone else paused music to talk to someone only not realise they havent turned it back on about 15minutes later?

    Happens quite a bit actually, especially when I'm really focused. Kinda suck though since it interrupts my moment of Zen
  • jouste
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    jouste polycounter lvl 14
    there was one point where was doing some storyboard work for an indy flick, its back when i smoked and lived off coffee and beer. it was me, an easel, a continuous flow of joe, and piles of cigarettes.

    music would be playing and the house was empty of the band that lived there along side me. i've been hard pressed to find a more perfect work environment but i still get by.

    really interesting question and some cool answers.
  • adam
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    adam polycounter lvl 20
    I used to think it was when I was single, smoked a lot of pot, and could be left alone to my own devices to get artwork done. I was also younger and felt I didn't need inspiration.

    Now, to be honest, I work in my 'perfect' environment. Surrounded by awesome people (sup jouste?) and work on fun things. If I were to make one complaint, it would be to be able to have complete ownership over the work I do. But, for me right now, such is life.
  • bounchfx
    I love where I am honestly, it's an awesome environment. but preferably I think I work best with lights ON for sure (dark and I get tired, lol - I can still work in the dark though!), and headphones with either music/movie/tv some kind of ambiance to keep my mind moving. love it.
  • Ajax
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    Ajax polycounter lvl 19
    I've worked in tons of different spaces, but it seems I'm most creative and efficient when able to close the door, turn down the lights and not be interrupted. Having interaction with others is important though, as I will burn out and not focus if left like that for too long. Being able to control the times I am interruptible is a huge boost though (9-10am and 3-4pm are good times for me to be interrupted).
  • Mezz
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    Mezz polycounter lvl 8
    When I'm home alone, I work best if I go through CDs at a time, especially one I'm really into. If I have a random shuffle, I get bored of the music more easily. If I don't need as much of my full attention on the work, having a movie on really helps keep me interested and focused on my work.

    My FAVOURITE working environment though is to have a bunch of people I get along with around me, having an interesting conversation that I don't have to be a part of but can just listen in on. (Like when I was in my class at school) This somehow is the best way to keep me focused and happily working away.
  • System
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    System admin
    Come to think of it i've not really experienced working with others very much but i'd probably end up favoring it. I feel quite comforted when if I know im working along side someone and I can stop show them/see what theyre doing etc, keeps me more inspired and less likely to end up... here?
  • |Buddy|
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    |Buddy| polycounter lvl 11
    The one with a lot of really hot chicks working in it

    Working with wood all day long ain't fun.

    trust me.
  • Mental_Hernia
    |Buddy| wrote: »
    Working with wood all day long ain't fun.

    trust me.

    Working with wood, eh?
  • Sandbag
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    Sandbag polycounter lvl 18
    I come up with 90% of my best ideas and work in one of two situations:

    12-6am, alone, headphones on listening to metal.

    Hanging out with a bunch of friends talking about random nonsense then quickly forget about it as we move on to another random topic.

    Neither one of these are totally ideal situations to be in all the time...But what can you do. I also have come up with the tune and words for almost all of the best songs I've written in the shower.

    As for a work environment though, I like to be surrounded by friends who are better than me at art. I like to be as sponge like as possible and absorb everything I can.
  • Microneezia
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    Microneezia polycounter lvl 10
    Sandbag wrote: »

    12-6am, alone, headphones on listening to metal.

    I change my answer to this
  • warby
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    warby polycounter lvl 18
    -no direct light sources nothing that could be reflected on the screen really
    -i hate the buzzing that computers or pretty much every hardware makes so i need either music or something else that is louder like rain drops on windows "awesome" !
    -i work best in the 8-2 in the morning time block
    -i hate cubicles or anything that would imply office culture i want to be somewhere cozy when working so at home is the best.
    -and indeed something to eat in arms reach preferably something healthy also something where the the temperature state doesn't matter (nothing that would melt or has to be eaten hot)
    -i also like to have a movie on it doesnt distract me at all really :)
  • Mongrelman
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    Mongrelman polycounter lvl 18
    Cool people around and we can all talk freely
    Natural light in the room
    Nice weather outside (I live in the UK, so this is guesswork
    AC that works properly (again....guesswork)
    A good amount of free space
  • Mars
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    Mars polycounter lvl 18
    I just started a new job today. So far so good. The team is great. I get paid very well, and it's going to be the biggest, best project I've ever worked on. I share an office in a nice building, next week I move down a floor to an office with a window. I've got great equipment. I get to work with someone whom I've had a ton of respect for ever since I first saw his work over a decade ago. I seem to work best when I have to rise to the level of people who I preceive to be better than me.
  • JacqueChoi
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    JacqueChoi polycounter
    iedeeal workn envirnonment

    hookkers n blow
  • Mark Dygert
    5:30am-10:30am is my most productive, most of the lights off, except a small monkey lamp. When people start to show up I'll put my headphones on just so people are less likely to disrupt me, I don't actually listen to music any more. When I stopped my productivity and creativity focused to a laser beam and I've done some of my best work in next to complete silence. I pick back up in the afternoon, sometimes it makes it hard to go home when I'm on a roll. But if I manage to pull myself away I'm excited to get back in asap.
  • Wahlgren
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    Wahlgren polycounter lvl 17
    Well. My ideal working environment. Hmm. Well i´ve been thinking about this for awhile because right now i have a horrible working environment at home which = no work at home = i suck monkey balls (generally).

    Used to sit in a dungeon but got forced out of it... and got used to the light so thats a no biggie for me but here´s a few things i need.

    Lots of space. I really dont enjoy feeling cramped and closed in. Some headphones on with some tunes in them. Better than listening to 20 other guys sitting around you hehe. I usually work better with a movie etc running in a small window in a corner somewhere (Music doesnt cut it). Don´t know why. I guess it´s related to that "doodling makes people focus and learn more"-research thingy.

    But yeah. Huge desk, lots of screens, big space. Solitude. oh yeh!
  • ebagg
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    ebagg polycounter lvl 17
    A shock collar programmed to kill me if I try to open porn.
  • rawkstar
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    rawkstar polycounter lvl 19
    at work:
    in the corner facing the wall, headphones on, listening to some history/fantasy audiobook making some cool shit.

    at home:
    alone in a room, going back and forth between the pc and the drawing table, drawing standing up, pacing. listening to some soundtrack on a loop, lately its been the bourne identity ost (super badass)

    just in general i find art is more introverted, so i like doing it on my own, alone, i'm not much for doing art in a group of people, you kinda can't help it at work, but at home i like to be in total isolation, i think that really helps eliminate distractions and helps you figure out what it is you want to do.
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