The Reality of Design

Have you ever sat in a meeting or class and struggled to pay attention because you just could not get comfortable? This is likely due to the designer not factoring ergonomics into their design. Ergonomics works hand in hand with anthropometrics (discussed in my previous post ) in creating a place to "maximize the efficiency and quality of employees' work" (Brinkerhoff, 2009). Without considering this factor, people can get MSD's (musculoskeletal disorders), such as carpal tunnel and severe back pain (Lawrence, 2016). Many workplaces recognize the importance reducing strain on employees because it affects the success of their work. It is unfortunate that some spaces tend to ignore ergonomics and focus on spending as little money as possible instead. Source Some schools go with the same components that have always been used. You may have seen stories about how other schools, such as Torrey Hill Intermediate School, have adopted the use of an exercise ball as a

Whenever we look at other people, it's clear that some of us have longer legs, shorter torsos, wider hands, and so on. Believe it or not, the average of our various body measurements is applied in nearly every design choice. Without this data, known as anthropometrics, we would be uncomfortable and unhappy. Imagine having to prepare a meal on a counter top that was made in mind for someone who was 4' 9" tall. Unless you are around this height, it would require a lot of bending over and be difficult to do even simple tasks. Use of anthropometric measurements ensure that we are able to function normally. Our differences come from from factors such as race and age, but by taking the average of measurements, spaces are designed so that the majority of the population will not have issues with a space.  Source As a freshman in college, I worked part time at a daycare. While this did not exactly line up with my career plans, I did get to see how certain aspects of the

One of the fundamental things to consider when designing a space is "prospect and refuge." Prospect and refuge go hand in hand with giving someone a sense of security within a space. As expressed by Maslow in his hierarchy of needs, providing a feeling of security is one of the most crucial elements of human psychology. Dosen and Ostwald state that "environments that meet such needs will often provide people with the capacity to observe without being seen." The theory of prospect and refuge is applied in nearly every designed space in order to give us what we require. The goal of this theory is to gain a better understanding of "why certain environments feel secure." No one would willingly enter a space where they feel susceptible or at risk. The two primary ways to prevent this is by ensuring one is able to see the surrounding environment while also being protected from it. Source If you've ever been hiking and reached a clearing where you fee

I once had a principal in high school who truly believed he owned the place and everyone in it. He would strut around the hall with his chin up and hands linked behind his back. Not only that, he would be known to come into a classroom at any given time, pull up an empty chair next to a student (or even the teacher), bring one foot up in the chair, lean on his knee, and hover over his subject.  Now you may not have had an experience such as this, but we all have been in a situation where we have become uncomfortable because someone violates our personal space when not invited (like that one person behind you in line). Both of these examples involve '...the study of our use of space and how various differences in that use can make us feel more relaxed or anxious," otherwise known as proxemics (Sheppard, 1996). I will cover personal space and behavior, diversity, and territoriality in relation to proxemics in the following paragraphs. Source Personal space affects

If there is little we can do to control our environment, then do we feel as relaxed and calm as we do when we know there is something we can do to control an event? We typically have control over most things in our private home, but when we make the jump to public spaces sense of control is sometimes lost, and along with it, our comfort. This post will take a look at three different types of the control theory (behavioral, cognitive, and decisional) and discover how design ties into it all.  Source Behavioral control is defined as “…the ability to exert a direct influence or action on the environment” (Pacheco et al., 2013). Have you ever turned your blinds or closed your curtains to create a more private space? This is a way we alter our physical environment to meet our desires. This form of control becomes more difficult when entering a public setting. I have walked into many rooms wishing I could just turn up the heat but being unable to. Instead, I resort to putting on

I don't have some pivotal moment in my life where everything just clicked and I knew what I wanted to do. There is no touching story that brought me to where I am today. My life has been more of piecing together things that I have experienced into a puzzle. Except I don't have all the pieces. Nor do I know what the final product is. I know only the meaning it should reflect, and that I am continually discovering more pieces of the whole. Below I will briefly cover a few parts that I have made sense of. Source "...Given that we spend more than 90% of our life indoors, it is important to understand and act accordingly. Design of buildings...benefit from views and interaction of occupants with their natural environment"(Al horr et al., 2016). Since being outside has such a positive impact on both physical and mental health, then why separate the two so much? I want my designs to be cohesive with nature to promote the well-being of whomever enters the space.