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. 56 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.
57 the more adaptability is allowed, encouraged and honored, the more authentically whole we are, the more we bring ourselves into what we do