Proxemics

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 feet, the Social zone is one that can be interactive but still gives people their personal zones. And at last we have the Public zone type of any space greater than 12 feet.

 Because of Proxemics' necessity in our world it has an important place in all spaces or environments created in a design stand-point. Without placing this key personal element that is required by all, you can make those in the space over-stimulated or uncomfortable. We've all been in those situations where we had to go to the dreaded DMV or some other waiting room-type setting where there is mostly a vast amount of people given the size of the space. Or even if there isn't a large amount of people, what can make those settings seem like they could interrupt personal space? After answering this question we can also ask ourselves: What could be done differently to make it not so bad? We can list a number of different environment examples seen in our world where these negative feelings might be present and how to make efforts to resolve these feelings.  

Me on the Metro in Washington D.C.

One environment that is an example is subway, trams etc. At a vacation to Washington a couple of years ago I learned that the Metro system was the majority of peoples way of commute and there was always numerous people riding it with us. It was crowded and somewhat miserable. So, what could we do? Dividers could be used to separate people. Remember, Proxemics can be used in design to distance people and is this type setting it is a necessity for people to have their space. Along with the dividers, the seating arrangement could be placed in a way where people could be facing opposite directions instead of beside or adjacent to others. 

 Another example of an environment that may challenge an individual's personal space is seating at restaurants. I know that I've been in restaurants that have had the seating close together and having the feeling that someone in the setting can hear every word to your conversation isn't a good one. Ceiling height can have an impact on sound and on feelings of congestion, so if the ceilings were high and some sense of solitude and refuge was made within the seating these feelings of discomfort could disappear. 

 These places used as examples all have the similarity of being that of where people wait or are in a more social setting. Most of the time in the waiting situations people are forced into these types of boundaries because they have to be there, otherwise they would be distancing themselves from people more. If this is the case then why not give them the space they need that they would be giving themselves otherwise? If individuals chose to be there for social reasons, they could at least expect to be given these necessities since it is for those exact purposes in the first place. This could even add to the overall success of whatever business/facility acknowledges these needs. 

https://www.wooloo.org/exhibition/entry/65671

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