Design For Peace of Mind

Desk ergonomics sketch by me using pencil    Ergonomics is simply how we can adapt to things done in a job to naturally help ourselves perform them better. We can do this by not using force that we shouldn't have to, adjust our natural postures, and allow ourselves to have the right movements. In doing so we can improve how comfortable we are when doing tasks or even the quality of our work.   As I am typing this I'm sitting a little awkward at my desk. I did have a separate roll-out top for my keyboard and mouse but it broke so now I have my them on the actual desktop. A couple things are wrong with this in accordance to my positions since it's been moved there. My computer is on the desk too along with my mousepad and everything. So as long as my keyboard is its all they way to the left so to speak. The way my chair fits in to the space below the desk, it's not like I can scoot my chair over to where its right in front of the keyboard. Most of the time I have m...

    Anthropometrics in car, Sketch by me using colored pencil Not only can Anthropometrics be defined as comparative measurements of the human body, it can also relate to the physical capabilities of the human body. It's the relationship between people and the things that they use. And this can mean on a quite regular basis or just occasionally. If you think of this through a design standpoint, you would probably want to measure the person you are going to be designing a space for. This is just so you can get product measurements right to ensure that people are comfortable in their setting. We wouldn't want to be testing anyone's physical capabilities in a space that they would be doing things in. Source: http://ibdesigntech.com/1-1a-anthropometrics-4/ When I think of Anthropometrics and how it has to do with people and their measurements I cant help but think of my friend Cory. Cory was 6'4" in high school so about when we were 17/18 driving around...

  Refuge sketch by me using pen     Prospect and Refuge may completely define a space or spaces for some, it is definitely something that has to do with how the person needs to feel psychologically. The Prospect-Refuge Theory is : Humans prefer edge-settings, between open and closed environments. This, again, is why this theory is so much tailored to how the individual would want to feel in a setting because some people would want to feel more secure while others wouldn't mind feeling a bit out in the open so to speak (or that's how more introverted people might put it). So lets get into it. Ah Refuge, Sweet Refuge. The floorplan to my apartment.       Refuge is the environment that is closed off from the rest of pretty much everything, and its a place that the user can go for safety, relaxation, an escape route. Its the haven that a lot of people require. I know that if I had to choose personally between a large-prospect, open-viewed,...

Our space moves with us - Sketch by Me Everyone has there own personal space or "bubble" that is with them no matter the setting, whether social or intimate. This space is centered around the individual therefore it travels with them wherever they may go. People react to environments differently, so the personal space bubble can be larger or smaller given the setting or the specific individuals that may be sharing it with them. We call this knowledge that deals with the amount of space people feel is necessary as "Proxemics". This is broken down into 4 different types of zones. Intimate space would be any interaction within a less than 2 foot space. Increasing, a 2 to 4 foot space is considered a Personal space. This is not quite intimate and would be in a setting of good friends or those who are communicating with one another. Some environments can interrupt this Personal space if it is close-quarters, leaving a negative impact. Expanding this to 12 ...

Control Theory  Control Theory is the sense of control individuals have over our world and places they may be. http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/12/tailgating-won-t-get-you-through-intersection-any-faster The Importance of Control Theory   As designers its important for us to acknowledge Control Theory and its place in everywhere we go. This theory is crucial to us because it pertains to how we feel as people knowing that we have a sense of control over our own spaces and abilities to change them. There three different types of control theories: Behavioral Control - The ability to change the environment event, Cognitive Control - The ability to change the way we conceive an environment, and Decisional Control - The ability to choose a response. All of these are key aspects for users in an environment and are present in most areas, for good reason. What It Means For Us As Designers w/ Examples   As designers we should try and incorporate...

   My design process is driven by aspects in a space that will draw the user in and bring them contentment while at the same time embracing interaction and solitude. With this as a basis for a philosophy, of course all spaces created will or will not be for the same setting and purpose. Even so, I believe this philosophy has a place within every space because most everyone wants to be in an environment that is tranquil and positive to them no matter the final end-use of it.    Healthcare settings are an inspiring factor to this philosophy. I once visited a Senior Living/Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Facility because of the current health status of my fiancée's grandmother, and I was very intrigued in the way the environment as a whole made these people that were struggling against different mental illnesses feel a sense of security and progression. The facility featured spaces for specific activities, including a whole strip of model houses. There was a stor...