of space and architecture – the way i.e.

color, light or material can be combined

in order to create a uniform belief around

or experience of a room.

susan

— Deep aesthetic experiences

are not about taste. Beauty is totally in the

eye of the beholder. Still, we know some-

thing about the effect of, let’s say, color and

tactility, on us. The research reveals how

these are neuroaesthetic ingredients that

artists, architects, craftsmen, designers

and other professionals can put together

to create something elevated, in order to

serve a purpose or solve a problem.

Adaptability as a tool to make our

personal mark

A thing to remember about personal

thumbprints in aesthetics and arts is that

the same thing will not work for every-

body. Frequently, we are designing spac-

es for a group of people that might be

highly diverse and interchangeable, be

it a home shared with family, a bustling

restaurant, or an open office accommo-

dating a varied range of tasks. Look to

adaptability and modularity, two ele-

ments that enable us to impart a sense of

identity on our immediate surroundings

by bringing that authentic self to a space,

even for the briefest of moments.

susan

— If you did a study into people’s

offices, you will find in every single one a

piece of them - be it a pillow, plant or picture.

We always bring our identity into a room, no

matter how generic the space is. The more

that is allowed, encouraged and honored, the

more authentically whole we are, the more

we bring ourselves into what we do. When it

is not the case, the energy to restrain simply

takes away from creativity and productivity.

Light’s potential to ease, invigorate and sharpen

Susan emphasizes how spaces are really about purpose,

an emotional or human component that brings a tangible

vibrancy to a room. It is where ‘form follows function’

and ‘form follows feeling’ intersect, producing compel-

ling results, transcendent spaces that can elevate wellbe-

ing, work flow or learning.

susan

— We are doing more research on and under-

standing why things such as light have such an impact

on us. Like, why does up-lighting make us feel awe?

We know that sunrises and sunsets affect us profound-

ly, and that there are certain hues throughout the day

or even the year that greatly influence body and mind.

Bringing our natural landscapes inside helps us stay on

a circadian rhythm, to follow our physiological day and

ultimately, stay in sync.

For instance, if you want to promote a stimulating

learning environment, you might consider ways to intro-

duce elements shown to improve focus like more exposure

to daylight.

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Encouraging and designing

for adaptability allows us to

adjust our surroundings to

better express our identity.

We adapt our surroundings

to our needs in even the most

generic space.

An abundance of natural

light keeps us in tune with our

circadian rhythms, with the

benefit of heightening our

focus and learning in a space.