make sure to check my page titled eight to five for weekly updates! :)

 

On a Global Scale



    Most people will think that the profession of interior design will start and stop with the a project for a client, somebody wants something to look a certain way and the interior designer does it. But the creation of the concept does not start or end with that one project. Sometimes it is hard to see things on a bigger scale but design trends are affected globally by everyone on the world.

 

One definition of globalization says that it is the influence of increasing the exchange of thoughts and ideas across the world. Another says that globalization is the increasing of importation of products from abroad. A third definition says that it is the growth to a global or worldwide scale.

 

The more I learn about the profession of Interior Design I can see that all of the above apply. The first definition about the exchanging of thoughts and ideas is the biggest in my opinion. It is the way that design trends start with one person, but then are spread around the world. When people travel or move to different parts of the world they bring the things they like and enjoy with them. If others in the area like their idea they will start build off of it to create there own. These ideas don't just have to be spread out by happenstance they can also be spread by people wanting to share their ideas with others. Last week I sat in on a meeting with a lighting rep whose products where from Barcelona. That also goes under the second definition of the increasing of products from abroad. When ordering large amounts of furniture for certain project they are shipped from over seas.

 

Nothing that goes on in society now a days stays within just one region it travels around to other cultures. The video below is one of my favorites. It perfectly explains what interior design is and the role it plays in the everybody's life. This information is not just relevant for those of us in one region of America or even just one country, but this information holds true for everyone around the world.

 

 

 

Why Interior Design Matters

 

And How Does That Make You Feel....

Continuing the topic from the beginning of the week Evidence Based Design involves lots of research.  This research will take the designer through different fields. One of those fields is psychology, which gives an insight on how people react to certain environments.   These reactions could be for the best interest of the person or be harmful to someone. While doing some more research into EBD I found some cool facts about ho interior environments affect the behavior of people in them:

•  Food shoppers spend more money when circulation is clockwise
•  Mall Pedestrians tend to walk on the right side
• The close seats at sporting events create a  friendship with strangers
• Colors create the mood of the space (bright warm colors give excitement, whereas cooler colors give more of a soothing and calming effect)
• Dim lighting evokes a relaxed feeling
• Furniture allows for a division of rank among employees
• Less furniture allows for a feeling of openness (a therapist office does not have a big desk in the middle of the room so that the client will be more willing to relax and open-up)
• Natural lighting also a gives a more relaxed feeling

(note that the above facts were found on the following web pages and not part of my own research: http://ezinearticles.com/?Interior-Design-Psychology&id=993205, http://designbuildsource.com.au/psychology-interior-design, http://www.iida.org/resources/category/1/1/1/6/documents/sp10-ebd.pdf)

Having better understanding of how an individual uses a space and their reactions to certain types of situations helps the designer make their decisions about the outcome of the project to better serve the people that will be utilizing the space.

Interior Design is all about the health, safety and welfare of everyone individual  in a space. The research will never just stop on what is the style trend of today, but goes beyond that and continues until every aspect of a space is aesthetically pleasing while  keeping stress levels down, keeping the environment hygienic, and making layouts such as office buildings, hospitals, grocery stores, and schools easy for people to navigate. Next time you walk into a space and think that something is conveniently located or you leave with a smile on your face just remember that the designer of that space did their research to make things better for you.

More Than Meets the Eye

Evidence Based Design is a process of basing decisions about the built environment on credible research to achieve the best possible outcome. – (oxford English dictionary, 2000)

This means that by having better knowledge of how an individual uses a space helps designers to make their decisions about the outcome of their projects to better serve the people using the space. The idea for Evidence Based Design (EBD) started with healthcare. Designing a space that a person can heal in is so much more involved than a four sided box with a bed in the center. It is about making a person better mentally before they can get better physically. See the image below for some specific examples on how interior design helps with healing:

EBD does not stop there it is used with many interior spaces such as:

•  Offices
• Schools
•  Restaurants
• Shops
•  Even residences

Before design decisions are made about the space research is done do figure out how an individually can get the most out of a space. For example in a school:  

•   colors affect  child behavior;
• classroom layouts with effective teaching
• seating, furniture and operable windows actually heightened the learning experience

(the above was taken from the iida website article: The Future of Evidence-Based Design: By David Whitemyer) 

I hope no one is still thinking that interior design is all about the looks.

Universal Design

Universal Design has the same features as Aging in Place, but it covers every age range and ability. It also covers more than just residential houses, but the buildings that are accessed by the public, whether it is a shopping mall, restaurant, business, school or university.  

An interesting fact about Universal Design that I have found out about is that the idea for this concept started in the when soldiers came back from WWII and their lives where different. Many soldiers now had disabilities that they had not left home with and having a functional space that they could comfortably use became important.

Both links below go have a more in-depth history about how universal design got started:  

http://adaptyourspace.com/accessible-homes.php

http://universaldesign.ie/exploreampdiscover/historyofud

 

The Disability Act 2005 defines Universal Design, or UD, as:

1.the design and composition of an environment so that it may be accessed, understood and used

i.to the greatest possible extent,

 ii.in the most independent and natural manner possible,

iii.in the widest possible range of situations, and

iv. without the need for adaptation, modification, assistive devices or specialised solutions, by any persons of any age or size or having any particular physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual ability or disability, and

2.means, in relation to electronic systems, any electronics-based process of creating products, services or systems so that they may be used by any person. 

“An important component of Universal Design is the maintenance of aesthetics. In other words, to create something that is still visually pleasing to others despite being accessible to everyone. Function does NOT have to sacrifice beauty, and universally designed homes and public buildings can be just as beautiful and welcoming as any other design approach. Increasingly, experts are referring to the concept of Universal Design as the “wave of the future”. It is the hope of Universal Design advocates that eventually all buildings, homes, and products will be designed to meet the needs of everyone.” - http://adaptyourspace.com/accessible-homes.php

............

Continuing with yesterdays blog about Aging in place I found a site that has shows a section of a house that has aging in place design features. It covers everything that can be built in or added later.

http://adaptyourspace.com/plan.php

Aging in Place

One of the topics that I have come to know a lot about is Universal Design. A category that falls under Universal Design is Aging in Place. Aging in Place is the idea that someone can live in there house as they grow older and have the security of feeling safe and comfortable. There are many features that can be built into a house and some things that can added to an already existing house. Many people as they get older are wanting to stay in their own home and be able to be independent. There is always a sense of security that comes with familiar surroundings which can happen when someone is able to stay in their own home and Aging in Place design features allow for comfort in safety in these situations.

Aging in Place Design Features:

• Open floor plan
• Front louder appliances
• Knee space under counter tops
• Curb less showers
• Removable shower heads
• Grab bars
• Handles and faucets with lever knobs
• Having houses that have ramps or low slopes to get into them

Video showing aging in place design features in a home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8CaQ1417JI

link to internet page that goes into explanation of some aging in place design features that are becoming a trend to home owners:

http://aginginplace.com/home-modification/test-page/

I always find it interesting how simple designs can have such big effects on an individual in a space. I feel that topics such as these will always be expanding and growing and there will always be more to learn.