The article presents an overview and analysis of the state of research in the field of design and exploitation of modern educational spaces in universities around the world, namely areas with flexible planning, called informal learning space. According to the research conducted, the general characteristic and classification were developed and the basic principles of designing this space were revealed. The study identified several problems that arise during its exploitation, which should be taken into account in the designing process. There is described the experience of educational design of interuniversity cultural centres with the application of the developed theoretical bases of designing of informal educational space.