Enchanted Breakrooms by Sarah McKinney
A sneak peak of Creative Spark’s interactive Breakroom Enchantments
In a past life (aka a past career), I held multiple positions working with both seniors and people with disabilities, in settings ranging from elder care facilities and senior day programs to supported living environments. Despite their differences, they almost all had one thing in common: the break room.
The break room is a universal experience—most employees encounter one at least once in their life. But not all are created equal. Too often, these areas are an afterthought, and the experience is one of necessity rather than relaxation. We might take a short break to reheat our coffee, quickly inhale our lunch before heading back to work, or scroll our phones in a brief moment of downtime.
When I was in high school, smoking was still allowed in break rooms (I know I’m dating myself here). I know this for a fact because I was volunteering at a senior care facility. My first duty? Scrub the walls until they were free from smoke residue. All I could think throughout the process was how depressing the room was. The yellow-brown walls and metal folding chairs belied the cheery atmosphere elsewhere in the building.
While these days employee break rooms are (hopefully) free from tobacco residue paint jobs, there is still a long way to go toward making them places where employees can feel truly revitalized—where they can not only recharge but ideally be inspired.
There’s extensive research on break rooms and how they affect an employee’s overall job satisfaction. If we’re looking at senior care services holistically, shouldn’t the environment where employees take a much-needed pause reflect the quality of the care being provided beyond its walls? This is the driving motivation behind my designs for what we’re calling “Break Room Enchantments” at Creative Spark. The goal is to bring the spirit of the great work happening throughout these organizations into the break room, creating an opportunity for staff to recharge, reconnect with their creativity, and feel valued. If I had experienced a place where I was encouraged to give something back to myself creatively during my downtime, I may have felt more energized and inspired to return to work. Now, as a designer reflecting on those experiences from the other side, I take great pride in creating something that can offer that same sense of care to others.
Creative Spark takes a holistic approach to Creative Aging, bringing creativity and enchantment into the break room through creative prompts, inspirational posters, tactile pillows, plant-growing kits, and more. The idea is simple: when employees have opportunities to recharge and feel cared for, they are better equipped to care for others. We all deserve more than just a break—we deserve moments that fill us up and help us keep going. How are you going to enchant your break room?
Sarah McKinney is a visual designer with a background in disability and senior advocacy and a passion for creative problem-solving. She enjoys working with people to turn ideas into meaningful, engaging experiences. Sarah holds a BFA in Photography and Printmaking from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. She has been working with Creative Spark since 2024.
Website is www.sarahemckinney.com