Human Spaces — Latest Posts

14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Presence of Water

March 9, 2016

Water – from crashing waves to trickling streams, wading pools, and water fountains – enhances the experience of a place. Pattern 5: Presence of Water The Presence of Water biophilic design pattern has evolved from research on the health and wellbeing benefits associated with access to water, including reduced stress, lower heart rate and blood…

Biomimicry & The Biomimetic Office Building

February 17, 2016

An Interview with Michael Pawlyn, Architect & Author In The Biomimetic Office Building, lighting takes its inspiration from the translucent four-eyed spookfish and a spindly-legged cousin of the starfish, the brittle star, both deep ocean dwellers. The building’s glazed glass exterior nods to a mollusk’s iridescent shell, while our own double duty spinal column is…

A Focus on Nature: The Attention Restoration Theory

January 21, 2016

Spending a long period of time on a task that requires intense focus and concentration can be mentally exhausting for the human brain. Within modern day working environments, we are required to remain attentive during different tasks and activities throughout the day. However, working under pressure, or for a vast period of time can increase…

Ecological Valence Theory and the Use of Color in Design

December 23, 2015

Why do we prefer certain colours to others? Why do some colours make us feel happy and energised while other colours make us feel agitated or sad? The Ecological Valence Theory Object and colour association – a concept that Palmer and Schloss have called the “ecological valence theory” – contribute to our natural colour preferences…

A Tribute to Mentors

December 22, 2015

Tell me who you run with and I’ll tell you who you are.  This was one of many words of wisdom from a group of highly successful business men and women who spoke on a panel at an American Marketing Association Atlanta Chapter event moderated by Interface’s own CMO Jo Ann Herold. The topic? “A…

14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Complexity & Order

December 14, 2015

Complexity, as one of the more abstract biophilic concepts, has gained quite a bit of traction as a welcomed design challenge. We talk about the objective of the Complexity & Order pattern (#10) as a means for creating a visually nourishing environment, based on an understanding of the symmetries, fractal geometries and spatial hierarchies that…

Q&A: The Role of Floors in Wayfinding

December 3, 2015

With the success of their recent architectural and interior project – the University of Wollongong Science Teaching Facility – Graham Bell Bowman (GBB) Interior Designer, Rene Deoberitz, reflect on the science of wayfinding, and the importance of flooring within the space. What were the overall design objectives for the Science Teaching Facility at UOW? The…

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Mindy O'Gara

With a passion for design and learning, Mindy O’Gara blends both of these talents into her daily role as Director of Product and Learning Experience at Interface.

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