RDC Blog

 Zhong and her colleagues have investigated the link between lighting levels and behavior in several studies with implications or the design of indoor and outdoor public and private spaces – anyplace where ethical behavior is desired.  Although the study was designed so that darkness did not have any effect on actual anonymity, it “increased morally questionable behaviors.”  In the experiments conducted, the darker conditions were created by removing 8 fluorescent ceiling mounted lights in a 15 x 14 foot room (4 lights in place instead of 12, no information on objective measures of these light levels) or by putting on sunglasses (no objective information on the darkness of the tint). 

Chen-Bo Zhong, Vanessa Bohns, and Francesca Gino.  “Good Lamps are the Best Police:  Darkness Increases Dishonesty and Self-Interested Behavior.”  Psychological Science, in press.

The culture we have created is now affecting our genetic evolution and influencing the ways that we interact with the world around us:  “Many genes for taste and smell show signs of selective pressure,” for example.  As humans monitor the ways that their interactions with the natural world evolve, the information collected can help us understand the place-related cultural memories (memes) that linger from our struggle for survival on the savanna.  These include the fact that we are drawn toward warm colors (think: fire), that around the world our favorite color is blue (think: sky on a pleasant day), that we enjoy experiencing dappled light, such as that found under a tree on a pleasant day, our feelings that lines or curves at particular orientations are calming or stimulating, and that we find sharp jagged shapes disturbing.  The data collected may help us understand our responses to particular smells as well as color hues, saturation levels, and brightness intensities, for example.  As Wade states, “The selective signals [have the potential] to bring to light salient events in human prehistory as modern humans dispersed from the ancestral homeland in northeast Africa and adapted to novel environments.”

Nicholas Wade.  2010. “Human Culture, an Evolutionary Force.” New York Times, March 1. 

Familiarity can be a problem.  Recent research in Cologne indicates “The brain is more active and reacts more along unfamiliar routes.  When the test persons became familiar with the routes, the activity of their brains became less; this was the case for both the experienced and inexperienced drivers.  This means that drivers drive on familiar routes without consciously orienting themselves.”  This finding has repercussions beyond road design.  Think about people traveling down a familiar hallway – changing features of the environment occasionally, or designing a space initially to minimize potential hazards in spaces people will habituate to, can minimize accidents.

Patrick Honecker. 2010 “Deadly Driving Habits.”  Press Release, University of Cologne, http://www.pressoffice.uni-koel.de.

Naps are good for us.  Recent research by Dr. Matthew Walker at the University of California, Berkeley, has shown, for example, that naps enhance the functioning of our memory and it seems an afternoon nap “sets the brain up for learning,” even hours after we wake up. Evidence indicates that people living in cultures that take afternoon siestas are less likely to die of heart disease.  Facilitating napping through the design of individual workspaces or centralized napping areas is an investment in better performance.

“Researchers Explore the Benefits of Sleep – and the Problems with Sleep-Deprivation.”  2010.  Press release, American Association for the Advancement of Science, http://news.aaas.org.

Kaiser, a principle with Perkins + Will, has integrated his own professional experiences with material from rigorous studies of effective (and ineffective) navigation tools to identify features of successful wayfinding systems.  He summarizes his suggestions, stating ”Not unlike nature, it is key to reinforce orientation, provide simple vistas, and accent the destination point to convey arrival.”  Kaiser suggests using views within and outside the building, materials, lighting, and furnishings to define areas and pathways – consistencies in materials indicate a continuing area, changes indicate decision points, for example.  Also, “To use contrasting light to accent a destination point or important intersection, the lighting in that area must be at least twice as bright as adjacent ambient lighting [30 foot-candles as opposed to 15 foot-candles] to create a visual contrast.”  Right-angled turns are suggested, because they are easier for people to understand and remember, “non-right angled turns are confusing and disorienting.” Windows near elevators are recommended so that when people exit the elevator they can quickly reorient themselves by looking at landmarks outside of the structure.  Kaiser concludes by stating that to move people through a complex facility “it is vital to develop a more intuitive architectural sign language in the design of wayfinding paths and landmarks.”

Dennis Kaiser.  2010.  “Architectural Sign Language.”  Medical Construction and Design, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 30-33.

Designers and researchers from Perkins + Will interviewed adolescent residents of a behavioral health facility on the East Coast of the United States to learn more about their facility-related place-based needs.  The researchers found that “all interviewees requested opportunity for individual ‘calm down’ spaces relating to adolescent need for privacy . . . Cool colors, such as varying hues of blue and purple, were preferred . . . suggesting resident’s need for calming spaces . . .  residents disliked imagery with strong, primary colors, child’s toys, and small-scale furniture.  Residents universally noted a desire for natural lighting . . . [preference was shown for] a variety of chair options and seating arrangements.  The resident’s preference for the varied seating relates to needs of choice and control where they sit, how they sit, and whom they sit with. . . .All furniture must be heavy enough as not to become weapons.  Nevertheless, some portability is desirable as it allows for residents to alter and exhibit limited control over their environment.”  The needs expressed by the adolescents interviewed are incredibly similar to those that environmental psychology theory would predict.

Jamie Huffcutt.  2010.  “Maximizing Healing:  Evidence-Based Design and Adolescent Behavior Health – A Case Study.”  Healthcare Design, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 16-19.

Northwestern researchers have determined why autistic individuals have unusual responses to touch-related stimuli – delayed development of the sensory cortex in the brain.  Autistic individuals exhibit “tactile defensiveness . . . they are hypersensitive to touch and sound.”  Spaces designed for use by autistic individuals should reflect these challenges.

Marla Paul.  2010 “New Clue Why Autistic People Don’t Want Hugs.”  Press release, Northwestern University, http://www.northwesternedu.

Moller, Elliot, and Maier investigated North American associations to the colors red and green, controlling for lightness and chroma.  They determined that “red was positively associated with failure and general negative words, and was negatively associated with success and general positive words, whereas green was positively associated with success words only.” The colors tested were red:  LCh[65.30/76.18/33.76] and green:  LCh[65.96/75.77/145.56].

Arlen Moller, Andrew Elliot, and Markus Maier.  2009.  “Basic Hue-Meaning Associations.”  Emotion, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 898-902. 

This research identifies the three visual attributes consumers  use to categorize the appearance of durable products:  Modernity, Simplicity, and Playfulness.  This finding is of interest to object designers and to space designers deploying objects.  Modernity relates to contemporary or futuristic appearance, for example, while simplicity links to attributes such as minimalism, and playful relates not only to playfulness but also humor. The researchers conclude, “The three attributes provide a general view on how consumers perceive durable product appearances and differentiate between different appearances.”

Janneke Blijlevens, Marielle Creusen, and Jan Schoormans.  2009.  “How Consumers Perceive Product Appearance:  The Identification of Three Product Appearance Attributes.” International Journal of Design, vol. 3, no. 3, pp 27-35, http://www.ijdesign.org.