4 ms·

How Room Designs Affect Your Work and Mood

40 points by jaydub 17y ago

thorax 17y ago
This almost makes me want to invest in some VR goggles and play with different virtual ceiling heights, greenery, etc in different situations.
r00k 17y ago
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=building-around-the-mind&print=true http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=building-around-the-mind... One page, printer-friendly version.
- jaydub 17y ago
  I tried to submit that link, but it only redirects to the original article. Perhaps they're checking that the referrer is sciam.com to display the printer-friendly version...
gibsonf1 17y ago
Research like this can help us geek architects really create amazing experiences :)
travisjeffery 17y ago
I'm attending University right now and in the middle of my finals exam period. Over the last month or so I've been studying and working in one of the Libraries available (I have a Room-mate that plays loud video games.) It's the first time that I've ever left my room or living space to work and I'm amazed at how much more effective I've been in terms of the work and studying I've gotten done. I live pretty messily and I think the biggest difference is working without looking at so much clutter on my desk, being in a room full of others working diligently and for some reason I find working on a nice wood finish to be very productive. Experiment around until you find something that works and stick with it.
- pgebhard 17y ago
  Why can't your roommate play with headphones? As for the clutter, I definitely agree that a clear desk (and computer desktop, taskbar) helps clear the mind and helps you focus on the real work. Being around others that are hard at work does amazing things, too, I agree! Now, I just wish I didn't have just a single bedroom apartment, because I can't quite adequately separate my bedroom from my work...a desk in the living room is then surrounded by the distractions of TV and kitchen (from my girlfriend, not myself). A desk in the bedroom, while workable, is not ideal, I think.
param 17y ago
is there a cliff's notes version?
- sachmanb 17y ago
  the wikipedia environmental psychology page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Density_and_crowding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Densit...
gfrison 17y ago
I'd like to work in a tent along the beach within laptop, wifi and a counter then in the evening turn it to an cocktail bar
ajo 17y ago
I'm a graduate student, and am fortunate enough to have an office with a tall ceiling (~14 ft). I find it's good for theorizing and thinking through ideas of how to solve problems. However, when I want to get some work done that I know how to do, I tuck myself away in a corner of the library in between two aisles of books. With 8ft. ceilings and the books pressing in around me, I can be quite productive for ~2 hours, but then need to walk outside/ get up and move in order to keep working beyond that. Also, I read recently that red is good for focusing and being methodical, and blue for "thinking outside the box". I'm tempted to set up a room where one side of the room is red, and the other blue. Depending on what kind of work I'm doing, I could face one wall or the other.
- pgebhard 17y ago
  Tall ceilings would be nice. I don't understand why so many offices are cube farms with uninspiring walls and low ceilings. Windows are an afterthought. Lighting is all fluorescent...
sachmanb 17y ago
For substance, a little more than in this article, check the Wikipedia page on Environmental Psychology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Density_and_crowding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Densit...

40 points by jaydub 17y ago

This almost makes me want to invest in some VR goggles and play with different virtual ceiling heights, greenery, etc in different situations.

r00k 17y ago

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=building-around-the-mind&print=true http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=building-around-the-mind... One page, printer-friendly version.

jaydub 17y ago
I tried to submit that link, but it only redirects to the original article. Perhaps they're checking that the referrer is sciam.com to display the printer-friendly version...

gibsonf1 17y ago

Research like this can help us geek architects really create amazing experiences :)

travisjeffery 17y ago

I'm attending University right now and in the middle of my finals exam period. Over the last month or so I've been studying and working in one of the Libraries available (I have a Room-mate that plays loud video games.) It's the first time that I've ever left my room or living space to work and I'm amazed at how much more effective I've been in terms of the work and studying I've gotten done. I live pretty messily and I think the biggest difference is working without looking at so much clutter on my desk, being in a room full of others working diligently and for some reason I find working on a nice wood finish to be very productive. Experiment around until you find something that works and stick with it.

pgebhard 17y ago
Why can't your roommate play with headphones? As for the clutter, I definitely agree that a clear desk (and computer desktop, taskbar) helps clear the mind and helps you focus on the real work. Being around others that are hard at work does amazing things, too, I agree! Now, I just wish I didn't have just a single bedroom apartment, because I can't quite adequately separate my bedroom from my work...a desk in the living room is then surrounded by the distractions of TV and kitchen (from my girlfriend, not myself). A desk in the bedroom, while workable, is not ideal, I think.

param 17y ago

is there a cliff's notes version?

sachmanb 17y ago
the wikipedia environmental psychology page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Density_and_crowding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Densit...

gfrison 17y ago

I'd like to work in a tent along the beach within laptop, wifi and a counter then in the evening turn it to an cocktail bar

ajo 17y ago

I'm a graduate student, and am fortunate enough to have an office with a tall ceiling (~14 ft). I find it's good for theorizing and thinking through ideas of how to solve problems. However, when I want to get some work done that I know how to do, I tuck myself away in a corner of the library in between two aisles of books. With 8ft. ceilings and the books pressing in around me, I can be quite productive for ~2 hours, but then need to walk outside/ get up and move in order to keep working beyond that. Also, I read recently that red is good for focusing and being methodical, and blue for "thinking outside the box". I'm tempted to set up a room where one side of the room is red, and the other blue. Depending on what kind of work I'm doing, I could face one wall or the other.

pgebhard 17y ago
Tall ceilings would be nice. I don't understand why so many offices are cube farms with uninspiring walls and low ceilings. Windows are an afterthought. Lighting is all fluorescent...

sachmanb 17y ago

For substance, a little more than in this article, check the Wikipedia page on Environmental Psychology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Density_and_crowding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_psychology#Densit...