Concurrents – Environmental Psychology: Cognitive Science and Workplace Design
With conference presentation season in high gear, it’s useful to keep 10 important things cognitive scientists have learned about workplace design top-of-mind: Design affects job satisfaction, and that in turn influences job performance. Workers read the environments provided to them for clues about whether or not their employer values them. Employees interpret management design decisions in the context of their organizational, national, professional and other cultures, and respond based on those analyses. When people are doing something that requires focus, they should be in a relaxing environment. When whatever they’re doing doesn’t require their full attention, perhaps because they’ve done it many times before, an invigorating environment is great. Being able to see or hear other people makes an environment energizing. Biophilic design, or applying the same design principles that Mother Nature does in places where we feel comfortable, enhances worker performance. Biophilic design is much more than letting natural …
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