Muuto_Catalog_2022

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 something
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 everybody.
Frequently, we are designing spaces 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 accommodating a varied
range of tasks. Look to adaptability and
modularity, two elements 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 compelling
results, transcendent spaces that can elevate wellbeing,
work flow or learning.
susan — We are doing more research on and understanding
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 profoundly,
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 introduce
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.