From co-workers to friends: How the aesthetic experience of third places affects the creative process

Despite growing academic interest in third places, there is a lack of literature exploring the relationship between the way users perceive them and the creative processes that take place there. This paper addresses that gap. It explores the aesthetic experiences that participants of a network of creatives funded by the Nordic Cultural Point have in the third places where they meet and work for the project. Findings show that three aspects of the aesthetic experience - namely the feeling of emotional proximity, the feeling of being at home and the feeling of being in a bubble - help participants to overcome the fear of being judged, favor ideas and knowledge sharing and increase focus and concentration, all factors which have been recognized as essential in any creative process.