Transcript Chapter 7

Design Theory
Environment and Behavior
Theories to be Discussed
 Gestalt Theory
 Maslow Hierarchy
 Altman
 Sommer
 Hall
 Kinzel
Gestalt Theory
 Gestalt theory originated in Austria and
Germany toward the end of the 19th century.
Since then, Gestalt theory has has become
fundamental to several related disciplines,
including art, graphic design, web design and
interior design.
What is Gestalt Theory
 Gestalt theory focuses on the mind’s
perceptive processes
 The word "Gestalt" has no direct translation in
English, but refers to "a way a thing has been
gestellt ; i.e., ‘placed,’ or ‘put together’";
 common translations include "form" and
"shape"
What is Gestalt Theory
 Gestalt theorists followed the basic principle
that the whole is greater than the sum of its
parts.
 In viewing the "whole," a cognitive process
takes place – the mind makes a leap from
comprehending the parts to realizing the
whole.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Figure Ground Segregation
 When you look at the
environment, you look at it as a
whole picture, not separate parts.
 There are images in the
environment that people are
aware, this would be the figure.
 Images people are not aware of
make up the ground.
Figure – Ground Segregation
 The figure is what a person is
concentrating on;
 The ground would be everything else
in that environment;
 Some properties of figure ground:
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Figures hold more memorable
association than the ground.
Figures are seen as being in front
of the ground.
The ground is seen as uniformed
material and seems to extend
behind the figure.
The contour separating the figure
from the ground appears to belong
to the figure. (Goldstein, pp. 156159)
Reversible figure/ground
 There are no correct interpretations to
what the figure is and what the ground
is; it is the individual’s choice.
 People have different memories and
experiences that influence their
perception of images.
 We have seen that meaningfulness can
help determine which area we see as
figure.
 If something has meaning to
someone, it normally "jumps out" at
them, and is more noticeable
Gestalt Laws of Organization
proximity - elements tend to be grouped
together according to their nearness
2. similarity - items similar in some respect
tend to be grouped together
3. closure - items are grouped together if they
tend to complete some entity
4. simplicity - items will be organized into
simple figures according to symmetry,
regularity, and smoothness
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Law of Proximity
 The Gestalt law of
proximity states that
"objects or shapes that are
close to one another
appear to form groups“
 Even if the shapes, sizes,
and objects are radically
different, they will appear
as a group if they are close
together.
Law of Similarity
 Similarity occurs when
objects look similar to
one another. People often
perceive them as a group
or pattern.
 Our mind groups similar
elements to an entity.
 The similarity depends on
form, color, size and
brightness of the
elements.
Law of Closure
 Gestalt theory seeks
completeness; when
shapes aren’t closed, we
tend to add the missing
elements to complete the
image
 Although the panda is not
complete, enough is
present for the eye to
complete the shape.
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When the viewer's
perception completes a
shape, closure occurs.
Law of Good Continuation
 Continuation occurs
when the eye is
compelled to move
through one object and
continue to another
object.
 "tend to continue shapes
beyond their ending
points"
Environmental
Psychology
We shape our environments and then
they shape us.
The built environment
 directly influences our lives from not only
providing the basics (shelter and safety) but it
can also affect our behavior and health.
 In other words, we shape our environments
and then they shape us….
What role does our home play in our
lives?
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Shelters and protects us from physical harm
Shapes our behavior and productivity
Enhances self image
Insulates us from the stress of the outside world
Provides a feeling of control over at least a small
segment of our environment
 Contributes to our health and psychological well
being.
 Provides a setting for social interaction
 Serves as an outlet for our need for creative selfexpression.
In short…
 Our home is central to the satisfaction of the
hierarchy of human needs first proposed by
Abraham Maslow
Maslow’s Hierarchy
Needs at the lower level must
be met to some extent before
higher needs begin to
manifest themselves.
Maslow’s theory is important
to understand when relating
personal needs to the built
environment.
Environmental Psychology
 The study of the interaction between people and the
built environment. This is a relatively new area of
study, beginning in the 1950’s with a campaign to
improve mental hospitals.
 Environmental psychology is interdisciplinary
combining research of many scientific disciplines
along with design practitioners to contribute to the
body of knowledge.
What disciplines contribute to the
research?
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Psychologists
Anthropologists
Sociologists
Urban planners
Health care professionals
Interior designers
Architects
Ergonomists
A few questions that environmental
psychologists work with.
 Why are some spaces comfortable and
others threatening?
 How can we enhance our environments to
reduce stress, create more efficiency, and
minimize accidents?
Ergonomics and Human Factors
Engineering
 Ergonomists study the relationship between humans and their
work environment.
 Seating (back strain, RSI)
 Lighting (eye strain, glare)
 Computer Equipment
 Furniture (worksurface heights)
Ergonomics – Eye Strain
 Monitor distance should be
18-26 inches from user
(approximately an arm's
length)
 Neither monitor nor user
should face a window
 Monitor should be placed at a
right angle to windows or
between rows of fluorescent
lighting rather than directly
under them
Chair Ergonomics
 Height should be adjustable (in the
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range of 15-21 inches for most users)
The seat pan should have a depth of
17-20 inches
The front edge of the seat should be
rounded with a slight downward slope
to prevent loss of circulation in the
thighs. (waterfall front)
The backrest should support the
lumbar region
Armrests are optional. They should be
adjustable. Do not use while typing.
Tilt-tension and locking mechanism
Worksurface height
 Typing height is from 26” – 28”
 Writing is 29 – 30”
 Use keyboard tray with negative tilt
 Using a wrist rest can be problematic
 Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI):
 Carpal tunnel syndrome
 Tendonitis
Anthropometrics
 The study of human
body measurements
including height, weight,
reach
 Human Physiology
 Information is used by
designers to create
functional spaces
You may have heard someone say
 Their product was designed to accommodate
90% of the population for that one selected
measure.
 This means that for the selected
anthropometric measure, such as height, the
lower limit of the range is the height of a 5th
percentile female and the upper limit is the
height of a 95th percentile male.
You must know your population
 Varies by age, gender, and ethnicity
 The anthropometric range will be much
different if we are designing products for male,
professional basketball players than if we are
designing for the general public.
Areas of Research in Environmental
Psychology
 Special Needs ( Alzheimer's disease)
 Child care centers
 Schools
 Alternative work environments
 Stress in the workplace
 Crowding
 Prisons
 Low cost housing
Pruitt- Igoe
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St. Louis Missouri Housing
Project , 1956 - 1972
33ea 11-story high rise
buildings consisting of
2,870 apartments.
Total failure of design.
The structure did not “fit”
the users who lived there.
In 15 years, the buildings
were totally run down.
This disaster made people
start to look at user data
and behavioral attitudes.
Personal Space
 Iwrin Altman
 Robert Sommer
 Edward T. Hall
Personal Space
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Personal Space: An area around a person
that expands or contracts due to individual
needs and social circumstance. Will vary with
personality type. (introvert, extrovert)
Irwin Atlman
 A pioneer in the field of environmental research
 A social psychologist who studied how people use
the environment to shape social interaction in terms
of 4 behavioral concepts
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Privacy
Territoriality
Crowding
Personal Space
Privacy
A process by which a person makes him or
herself more or less accessible to others
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Can you think of some examples?
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Doors
Walls
Window treatments
Porch location
Changing rooms
Territoriality
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Territoriality: A primal instinct, it is the concept of
making space with “ownership” either real (your
home) or perceived (your desk area). We feel
safe and in control in our own territories.
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How do people mark their territory?
 Fences
 Closed doors
 Signs: No trespassing, Do not enter
 Nameplates
 Personal items (plants, pictures)
Crowding
 Leads to psychological discomfort.
 Varies by culture and personality type
 We can tolerate crowding on a temporary
basis as in an elevator or crowded dance
floor, but will become stressed and even
panic if confined for a long period.
 Examples: Dr’s office, movie theaters,
shopping behavior, minimal design vs. nickknacks
Assignment for next week…
 Territory and Crowding Assignment
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Type written description of your observations
of a person or group of people marking their
territory. Cite where you were and what the
person did to claim their space.
10 points
Due at beginning of next class
Edward T. Hall
 An anthropologist that further researched
personal space and developed the research
area of proxemics
 Proxemics is the study of our personal and
cultural spatial needs and the behavioral and
social impact of our interaction with
surrounding space.
 The Hidden Dimension, 1966
4 Interpersonal distances –
Space Bubbles
 Intimate distance (0-18”) Usually a private occasion
 Personal Distance (18” – 48”) at hands length,
shaking hands
 Social Distance (4’-12’) impersonal business,
casual social gatherings, seating arrangements.
 Public Distance: (12’-25’) won’t feel obligated to
stop and talk, little personal interaction
Robert Sommer: Where do you sit?
 Robert Sommer: a psychologist who believed that
an environment should contribute to the comfort of
the individual and the efficiency of the task within a
given space.
 Robert Sommer describes personal space as "an
area with invisible boundaries surrounding a person’s
body into which intruders may not come"
 He studied seating behavior in classrooms and other
institutions and declared there to be a type of
nonverbal communication connected to where people
sit in a classroom. He found that the best students sit
in the 2nd and 3rd row.
Robert Kinzel
 Looked at the body buffer zones (personal space
bubbles) of prisoners. He found that violent criminals
had zones 4 times larger than normal and that they
had a much larger back zone. They changed the
seating arrangements in the eating area which
resulted in fewer fights between inmates during meal
times.
Key points of Environment/Behavior
Research
 In summary, environment/behavioral research focuses on
several key points.
 the built environment impacts behavior
 Behavioral responses are primal and thus, humans' basic
situational responses are deemed predictable.
 proper planning can support intended behavioral outcomes
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Great Website for ID Majors
 Check out
http://www.informedesign.umn.edu/
A word about Cultural Influences
 Culture refers to the system wherein a group
of people or society share common values or
common ways of doing things.
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What is right and wrong
What is beautiful and ugly
 These values could be passed down from
generation to generation.
Cultural differences
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Americans are very private (walls doors and locks) However, Roman culture
uses very few walls, no doors or locks. The use of these items are considered
an insult because it implies a lack of trust.
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In Poland, one sits quietly and does not interact. In the US, there is pressure to
interact and to be more extraverted. (Bless-you)
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Personal distance in the Middle East, South America and in southern Europe
are much smaller than the US. They are more comfortable touching and
embracing without any threat or discomfort.
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People in parts of Asia and South America prefer to sit on the ground with
crossed legs. They would most likely chose this option over a comfortable chair.
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The American kitchen is the heart of a home, but in Peru and in Poland, this
space is considered one of the most private spaces.
Our attitudes affect the way our homes
are designed….
 How we eat, bath, relax directly affects the design of our home
 American homes are multi-functional with single purpose rooms.
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Master bedroom suites
Formal Dining Rooms and Living rooms
Large open kitchens with keeping rooms
Spend more time at home.
 Japanese homes are much different. They have multi-functional
homes with multi-purpose rooms
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Sit on the floor (social) and eat on the floor in the same room
Use sliding panels for adaptive use of space
Use soaking tubs
Can you think of an example of a cultural
difference between the “deep-south” and
larger metropolitan areas relating to
space and interior design?
Next Class
 Chapter 1
 The Design Process