The psychology of product design

摘要

Look around you. Have you ever considered how we observe our surroundings? It is less to do with what we see when we look forward, but instead how the mind processes our environment. We know that when we are uncomfortable being too hot or too cold, concentration becomes difficult. Still, most of the time, we remain blissfully unaware of how colour, space and design channel our focus. More now than ever, society is mindful of wellbeing and how our overall health and happiness link to different aspects of our lives. The World Health Organisation now defines health; not as the absence of ill-health but as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing'. We identify the link between social, phycological and medical factors, which means that health is no longer just about the access to medical care, but also relates to the quality of our built environment. A survey by the Association of Accounting Technicians in 2018 showed that the average Briton would spend approximately 34 hours a week at work, equating to over 3,507 days over their lifetime, not to mention the 204 days overtime! For those working in offices, this means that the environment we occupy plays a significant role in our general wellbeing. The UK Green Building Council highlights the link between occupational wellbeing affecting a person and a business through productivity.