A practical guide to designing effective digital collaboration spaces with the Cosmos Space Builder
Introduction
This guide accompanies our video tutorial on creating team spaces with the Cosmos Space Builder. We'll walk through the process of designing a functional digital workspace that brings your team together, enhances your working style, and fosters quick collaboration.
Getting Started with the Space Builder
[Video: 00:00 - 00:44]
The Cosmos Space Builder provides a clean, intuitive interface with three key components:
Top Toolbar: Contains all action buttons for creating and manipulating your space
Left Panel: Shows all objects and layers in a hierarchical structure
Centre Panel: The visual editor where you build your space
Right Panel: Properties panel that changes based on what you've selected
Understanding Area Types in Cosmos
[Video: 00:44 - 03:13]
Before building your space, it's important to understand the three types of areas in Cosmos and how they affect communication:
Spatial Areas
[Video: 00:49 - 01:18]
Spatial areas work like physical open spaces. People can only hear and see others when they're close to each other.
When to Use:
For common areas where multiple conversations may happen simultaneously
When you want natural, proximity-based interactions
In the video example, you can see how users have a square box around them representing their spatial zone. Only those within overlapping zones can hear each other.
Pro Tip: Spatial areas are ideal for creating a natural sense of presence in your digital workspace. They allow multiple conversations to happen organically within the same space—just like in a physical office environment. This makes them perfect for common areas where different team members might engage in spontaneous discussions without disrupting others. The spatial audio feature means that as you move through the space, conversations naturally fade in and out based on proximity, creating a remarkably realistic social environment.
Meeting Rooms
[Video: 01:18 - 01:47]
Meeting rooms ensure everyone inside can hear and see each other regardless of where they are positioned.
When to Use:
For formal meetings where everyone needs to participate
For client calls or team discussions
When everyone needs to be in the same conversation
Notice in the video how the entire room lights up when active, indicating that everyone can hear each other.
Entrance Areas
[Video: 01:47 - 01:55]
This is where people enter when they use the link to your space.
When to Use:
As a central welcome point
To orient new visitors
Building Your Team Space: Step by Step
[Video: 01:55 - 15:00]
Step 1: Create Your Common Area
[Video: 01:55 - 02:30]
As shown in the video, start by creating a spatial area to serve as your common space:
Select the Area Tool (A)
Choose "Spatial Area"
Draw the area for your common space
In the right panel, name it "Common Area"
Customise the floor (the video demonstrates choosing a green grass texture)
Remove walls if desired (as shown at 02:05)
Tip: Make this area spacious enough to accommodate all team members' solo desks.
Step 2: Create Your All-Hands Room
[Video: 02:30 - 03:05]
Next, create a large meeting room for team-wide gatherings:
Select the Area Tool (A)
Choose "Meeting Room"
Draw a sizeable rectangular room
Name it "All-Hands Room"
Customise walls and flooring
Make it large enough for the entire team
Notice how the video demonstrates resizing the room by dragging the corners (02:40-02:55).
Step 3: Add Smaller Meeting Rooms
[Video: 03:05 - 07:00]
Create 6-8 smaller meeting rooms for team meetings:
Draw meeting rooms of appropriate size
Customise each room's appearance
Name them according to purpose (the video shows naming rooms for different teams)
Add wall borders in different colours for visual distinction (09:40-10:30)
As demonstrated in the video (05:00-06:00), you can copy-paste rooms after creating the first one.
Pro Tip: Create meeting rooms with specific intentions and name them accordingly. This allows team members to immediately understand the purpose of a gathering just by seeing where it's happening. For example:
"Sprint Planning Room" signals a structured discussion about upcoming work
"Brainstorm Room" indicates a creative, free-flowing session
"Team Retro" suggests a reflective meeting about process improvement
"Client Presentation Room" can be designed specifically for external meetings
When team members see colleagues in a specific room, they immediately understand the context and type of meeting taking place. This contextual awareness helps set the right expectations for interruptions and engagement. Additionally, having purpose-built rooms encourages teams to choose the right environment for different types of collaboration.
Step 4: Add Solo Desks
[Video: 07:00 - 08:55]
Solo desks create individual workspaces for team members:
Add desks to your common area
Position desks in logical groups based on team structure
Add chairs to each desk
Key Insight: As mentioned in the video (07:27-07:55), solo desks are important because:
They provide a sense of belonging
They create visibility within the team
When you're at your desk, colleagues know you're available
When you're away, it signals you might be busy elsewhere
Pro Tip: One of the biggest benefits of Cosmos is the enhanced visibility it provides across teams. Position solo desks strategically by placing teams that work closely together in proximity to each other. This digital proximity means team members will see each other in their immediate view, creating awareness of who's available and facilitating spontaneous conversations. Just as you would in a physical office, arrange desks so frequent collaborators can easily spot each other, leading to more natural interactions and smoother workflow between interdependent teams.
Step 5: Create Special Purpose Spaces
[Video: 08:55 - 13:50]
Create spaces for specific activities:
Hangout Room
[Video: 08:55 - 11:38]
Create a meeting room
Add comfortable seating
Add decorative elements like plants and carpets
Enable games integration in room properties
Game Room
[Video: 11:38 - 13:50]
Create a dedicated space for games
Add game tables and appropriate furniture
Enable games in the room interactions (right panel)
Add decorative elements that signal a fun environment
Step 6: Create an Entrance Area
[Video: 13:50 - 14:13]
Create a central entrance area
Add your company logo
Add decorative elements
Position it for easy access to all other spaces
Step 7: Final Touches and Configuration
[Video: 14:13 - 15:13]
Add interaction options to rooms:
Enable apps in meeting rooms (Google Docs, Mero, etc.)
Enable games in social spaces
Add decorative elements throughout
Configure wall borders with team colours
Name all spaces appropriately
Publishing Your Space
[Video: 15:13 - 15:55]
When your design is complete:
Click "Save" in the top toolbar
Click "Publish this floor plan"
Wait for the building process to complete (about one minute)
Your new space is ready for your team!
Key Features to Remember
Setting Home Locations
[Video: 15:55 - 16:25]
Encourage team members to:
Claim their desk
Set it as their home location
Use "Go to your home" to return to your desk quickly
Conclusion
[Video: 16:25 - 16:35]
Creating the perfect team space with Cosmos is an iterative process. Start with the structure outlined in this guide and the accompanying video, then refine based on your team's feedback and needs.
The key to an effective digital workspace isn't just how it looks—it's how it supports your team's communication patterns and collaboration needs. By thoughtfully designing your space with Cosmos, you can create a digital environment that truly brings your team together.
Ready to build your perfect team space? Watch our complete video tutorial and start creating today with the Cosmos Space Builder.
In our next article, we'll explore how to create the perfect space for learning environments.
