Human Behaviors

In the world of Interior Design, it is important to consider everyone that will be using the space. It is important to recognize that not everyone moves the same and changes may often be made to ensure that a space is made to fit the needs of everyone. There are two ways we can solve this problem: include separate accessible spaces or follow a universal design. Let's discuss the difference. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) The American with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 and is intended to protect people with disabilities from discrimination in many areas of public life (ADA). These laws can be seen in many commercial builds to ensure that disabled individuals have access to facilities the same way ambulatory individuals do. However, this idea focuses on the addition of an accessible space. When an existing space is not considered accessible, an additional facility or opening is made so that the space may be considered assessable. Although the accessible space is now incl...

There are many words we can use to describe our homes; however, I believe that a house is not really a home if it's not comfortable. How do we ensure that a home is designed to be as comfortable as possible? The simple answer is understanding ergonomics. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, ergonomics is the applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely (Merriam-Webster). In other words, it's how our bodies move corresponding to the space around us. Are the things we use on the daily like seating and counters, designed to fit our bodies? Are there certain spaces we avoid simply because they are ergonomically uncomfortable? How do we adjust to the space around us to ensure long lasting physical health? These are the questions that designers must consider when creating comfortable spaces for their clients. Measuring the body The first step in properly analyzing a person's ergonom...

Understanding how light and color coexist in the architecture and interior realm is essential to creating successful designs that fit the needs of their users. They are some of the building blocks of design and have their own positions within the design elements. Knowing the importance of these elements on their own is quite important, however I would like to discuss how they work together and how lighting specifically can drastically alter how certain colors look. Natural vs Artificial Have you ever noticed that an object could look as if it has a different color when it's under a lamp verse sitting next to a window? This is because natural light is fundamentally different than artificial light. Natural light is a full spectrum that contains all of the colors of the rainbow, including colors we can't even see like infra-red and ultraviolet. Unlike natural light, artificial light is not a full spectrum and can even vary depending on what kind of light is being used; fluorescent...

What is Proxemics? Proxemics is the amount of space an individual may feel it is necessary to have between themselves and others. These preferences can differ depending on the situation and how comfortable a person is with others to begin with. We have different preferences in intimate spaces, personal spaces, social spaces, and even public spaces where proxemics can determine and completely change our emotions and external responses. An intimate space is normally measured to be 0-18 inches, a personal space is 18 inches to 4 four feet, a social space is four to ten feet, and a public space tends to be 10 feet or more (Beck 2023). Personally, I do not wish to have someone extremely close to me in a public space the way I would in an intimate space. Proxemics Space Sketch by Warner Now that we have discussed exactly what proxemics are, it is important to note how different events can alter how we feel about the space around us. The Pandemic Covid-19 was an incredibly terrifying event th...