
Watch your creative team grow closer with workplace boundaries
Boundaries in the workplace define limits regarding time, responsibilities, personal space, and emotional interactions. They serve to create an environment where individuals feel valued, safe, and trusted. By thoughtfully establishing and respecting workplace boundaries, creative teams can cultivate a harmonious environment that enhances collaboration, boosts productivity, and supports the well-being of all members.
Establishing clear boundaries within creative teams is essential for fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment. These boundaries help delineate responsibilities, manage expectations, and promote well-being among team members.
Some Examples of Workplace Boundaries
Time & Workload Boundaries:
- Office Hours: No work messages before 9 AM or after 6 PM unless urgent
- Rush Requests: Last-minute changes require a minimum turnaround time and require signoff by department director
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Meetings: No meetings longer than 45 minutes unless absolutely necessary, and no meetings without a clear agenda explaining precisely what is expected of each attendee
Creative & Collaboration Boundaries:
- Feedback Etiquette: Critique should be constructive and focus on the work, not the designer
- Revision Limits: Each project gets a set number of revisions before additional work requires a scope adjustment, all revision rounds must be consolidated by administrating department prior to sending to the creative team
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Ownership & Recognition: Always credit the designer for their work in presentations and final deliverables
Communication & Respect Boundaries:
- Slack & Email Policies: No expectation to respond to non-urgent messages outside of work hours
- Client Interaction: Designers should not be contacted directly for ad-hoc work, all requests must be filtered through a creative team manager
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Respect for Expertise: Non-designers should not micromanage or dictate visual solutions
Personal & Well-being Boundaries:
- Breaks & Downtime: Designers should take a lunch break away from screens—no working through it
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Overtime Expectations: No “just one quick change” after hours unless previously discussed and approved by creative team manager
Emotional Boundaries:
- No excessive emotional pressure—designers should not be expected to “read between the lines” of vague feedback.
Boundaries in the workplace define limits regarding time, responsibilities, personal space, and emotional interactions. They serve to create an environment where individuals feel valued, safe, and trusted. By thoughtfully establishing and respecting workplace boundaries, creative teams can cultivate a harmonious environment that enhances collaboration, boosts productivity, and supports the well-being of all members.