Short answer
Integrate sensory design principles into workspace planning to enhance the perceived quality of work and foster employee well-being and engagement.
- Field
- Classic Design
- Source
- tripleC Communication Capitalism & Critique Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society (2017)
- Method
- Historical analysis and case study.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Mid-20th-century office design, exemplified by the work of Florence Knoll and Robert Propst, strategically employed sensory elements to imbue information work with a sense of pleasure and potential for personal growth, thereby shaping modern desires for aesthetically pleasing workspaces. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in tripleC Communication Capitalism & Critique Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society. Using Historical analysis and case study., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate sensory design principles into workspace planning to enhance the perceived quality of work and foster employee well-being and engagement.
Postwar Office Aesthetics Cultivated Pleasure and Self-Transformation in Information Work
Mid-20th-century office design, exemplified by the work of Florence Knoll and Robert Propst, strategically employed sensory elements to imbue information work with a sense of pleasure and potential for personal growth, thereby shaping modern desires for aesthetically pleasing workspaces.
tripleC Communication Capitalism & Critique Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Office interiors were designed to 'enchant' the work sphere and transform worker subjectivities.
- 02Designers like Knoll and Propst marketed office spaces by emphasizing the sensate qualities of information work.
- 03These communicative practices linked sensory experiences (visual, aural, tactile) to pleasure and the prospect of self-transformation.
- 04This approach laid the groundwork for the modern attachment to beautified and aesthetically pleasing workspaces.
Application
Design takeaway
Integrate sensory design principles into workspace planning to enhance the perceived quality of work and foster employee well-being and engagement.
How to apply
When designing or redesigning workspaces, consider how visual aesthetics, material textures, acoustics, and even scent can be leveraged to create a more engaging and positive work experience.
Project actions
- 01When researching classic designs, look beyond just the form and consider the historical context and intended user experience.
- 02Analyze how designers used materials, color, and layout to communicate a particular message or evoke specific feelings.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a historical perspective on the psychological impact of office design.
- +Highlights the role of marketing and communication in shaping perceptions of design.
Limitations
It can be challenging to definitively quantify the 'fantasy' or 'pleasure' associated with a workspace, as these are subjective experiences.
Reliability & validity
The historical nature of the research relies on interpretation of past materials, which can be subject to bias. Validity is strengthened by focusing on specific designers and their documented practices. Reliability would be enhanced by corroborating findings with broader industry trends of the era.
Think critically
To what extent do contemporary office design trends continue to leverage 'fantasy' and 'pleasure' to shape worker perceptions, and are these strategies always beneficial for worker well-being?
Design Principles
"The aesthetic and sensory qualities of a designed environment can significantly influence user perception, emotional response, and subjective experience of a task or activity."
Understanding the historical evolution of workspace design reveals how aesthetic choices are not merely superficial but are deeply intertwined with the psychological experience of work. This insight is crucial for contemporary designers aiming to create environments that foster productivity, well-being, and employee engagement.
What This Means for Your Design
Back in the day, designers made offices look and feel nice to make working with information seem more exciting and like a way to improve yourself. This is why we care so much about how our offices look now.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to support arguments about the psychological impact of design choices in your own design project.
- 2.Reference the historical context of workspace design to justify your design decisions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The historical analysis of postwar office interiors by Knoll and Propst reveals a deliberate strategy to imbue information work with an aura of pleasure and self-transformation through carefully curated sensory experiences. This approach, which marketed workspaces by emphasizing visual, tactile, and aural qualities, established a precedent for the modern emphasis on aesthetically pleasing and emotionally resonant work environments, highlighting the profound link between design and subjective worker experience.
Source
tripleC Communication Capitalism & Critique Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society
Office Interiors and the Fantasy of Information Work
journal · 2017
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about postwar office aesthetics cultivated pleasure and self-transformation in information work?
- Integrate sensory design principles into workspace planning to enhance the perceived quality of work and foster employee well-being and engagement. Evidence: tripleC Communication Capitalism & Critique Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society (2017).
- Why does "Postwar Office Aesthetics Cultivated Pleasure and Self-Transformation in Information Work" matter for design?
- Understanding the historical evolution of workspace design reveals how aesthetic choices are not merely superficial but are deeply intertwined with the psychological experience of work. This insight is crucial for contemporary designers aiming to create environments that foster productivity, well-being, and employee engagement.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Integrate sensory design principles into workspace planning to enhance the perceived quality of work and foster employee well-being and engagement.
- What were the main findings?
- Office interiors were designed to 'enchant' the work sphere and transform worker subjectivities.. Designers like Knoll and Propst marketed office spaces by emphasizing the sensate qualities of information work.. These communicative practices linked sensory experiences (visual, aural, tactile) to pleasure and the prospect of self-transformation.. This approach laid the groundwork for the modern attachment to beautified and aesthetically pleasing workspaces.
- What research method was used?
- Historical analysis and case study..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from tripleC Communication Capitalism & Critique Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or redesigning workspaces, consider how visual aesthetics, material textures, acoustics, and even scent can be leveraged to create a more engaging and positive work experience.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on a specific historical period and key designers, potentially overlooking other influences or regional variations in office design.