By understanding human psychology, Elma Milanovic fitzgerald Interior designers say they can create environments that promote comfort, productivity, and a sense of connectedness.
As an interior architect, I have always been fascinated by the relationship between psychology and the spaces we live in. This further increased my interest in this field and further strengthened my interest in communication and understanding people. Observing behavior and taking time to understand thought processes became an essential part of my journey. It became clear that effective communication required not only expressing one’s own thoughts and ideas, but empathically considering the perspectives of others. Understanding human psychology enables her interior designers to create environments that promote comfort, productivity, and a sense of connectedness.
Designing Conversations as Catalysts for Workplace Evolution
The pandemic-affected social dynamics pose great challenges to how we work and socialize, but have provided opportunities for deeper conversations as humanity adapts to this changing society. These conversations are leading to the evolution of the workplace. The design community, well armed with data gleaned through decades of workplace research, understands that introspection is essential to innovation, and is at the forefront of these conversations. We strive to guide our clients through a process rooted in re-establishing culture and reimagining work environments that foster a sense of community and engagement.
design with empathy
Achieving impactful design requires shifting the focus from the designer’s perspective to that of the user, recognizing that the spaces we design are meant to be experienced and used by others. To do. To truly understand the client’s needs and desires, it is important to go deep into the client’s process and culture. This approach allows the designer to tailor the solution precisely to the client’s individual requirements.
Designing with the user in mind requires actively listening to gain meaningful insight into their operational protocols, needs and challenges. This allows us to better understand diverse backgrounds, personalities, work styles and preferences, and create an inclusive and intentional environment. Through empathetic design, we can transform spaces into engaging and inspiring environments that foster connection, belonging, and fulfillment, resulting in increased engagement and productivity.
understand different personalities
Additionally, personality type studies are closely tied to workplace performance. A well-known is the Myers-Briggs scale, which classifies personality into 16 different types based on Carl Jung’s psychotype theory. The most important idea is that we all have different preferences in how we interact with others. For example, on a simplistic level, introverts perform better in quiet environments and often prefer to produce in spaces that offer privacy and more acoustic isolation, whereas Extroverts can thrive in more social and active environments. This allows designers to leverage their understanding of these personality types to recommend balanced workplaces that result in different environments that serve different needs.
Overall, it boils down to controlling stimuli. After COVID-19, people are returning from quiet home environments and facing hyperactive workplaces that can cause overstimulation and poor concentration. In every office, we strive to create a variety of working environments and support open office environments and balanced spaces. These range from meeting rooms for 2-3 people to individual telephone rooms to wellness rooms.
Designing solutions that promote privacy and focus can have a significant impact on individual well-being and productivity in the workplace. Incorporating sound barriers and visually distracting elements such as partitions, screens, and strategically placed furniture at eye level create a sense of personal space. This allows individuals to focus on their tasks without distraction, minimizing the feeling of being constantly monitored or exposed. These design solutions not only improve focus and productivity, but also contribute to an overall more comfortable and pleasant work environment.
A space that fosters positive behavior and thinking
Remote work has become increasingly prevalent as a result of the pandemic, requiring employers to rethink their approach to workplace design and prioritize the physical and mental health of their employees. With the intention of providing more thoughtful and purposeful spaces focused on enhancing the human experience and well-being, the designer introduces his WELL standards focused on creating healthy and sustainable spaces. played an important role in this change.
When designing a workspace, amenities such as wellness rooms, maternity rooms, and spaces dedicated to activities like yoga can have a big impact on mood and behavior. These areas act as spiritual sanctuaries, providing individuals with moments of serenity, clarity, and resetting in the midst of a busy workplace, balancing moments of active mind and relaxation, resulting in productivity. improve. Creating a supportive environment where people feel able to use these spaces without judgment is essential to fostering positive behaviors and mindsets. This allows individuals to prioritize their mental and physical health, leading to a more productive and fulfilling work experience.
