5 senses to optimize work productivity

Our senses have the ability to shape our perception of the world and influence how we recall experiences. If a space was designed with all five senses in mind, would it have a positive impact on employees? Would they be happier, more productive, and more committed?

Nowadays, corporate interior designers are utilizing the power of our senses to create a work environment that inspires a range of emotional responses. By incorporating specific sensory design elements such as colors, lighting, sounds, textures, and smells, they are able to enhance the overall work environment and boost productivity.

Here's how the five senses impact employee performance and how sensory design can be strategically incorporated into the workplace.

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The easiest sense to appeal to, sight, is perhaps most obviously manipulated through the implementation of color psychology.

By using color strategically and following the basic principles of color psychology, you can promote desired behaviors: whether it's having blue walls in segregated rooms to promote tranquility, or brightly colored furniture in common public areas to boost moods. social exchanges.

An essential component of the view is access to natural light. There is a strong relationship between exposure to natural light in the workplace and the sleep, activity, and quality of life of office workers.

Natural light is essential. By increasing natural sunlight or incorporating daylight harvesting systems into workspaces, you can improve the well-being and productivity of employees or guests, while lowering your energy bill.

Introducing wall art in an office can add character and encourage discussion, while also bringing visual interest to the space and po potentially increasing productivity. Additionally, incorporating plants and natural light can create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere, while adjusting the temperature and using energy-efficient appliances can help reduce energy bills.

Sound

We all agree that sound can be extremely distracting when trying to focus attention, but sound can also be a focus element. Music or meditation produces a sound that can calm the senses and redirect concentration.

Many argue that open-plan offices are “counterproductive”, while others believe that collaboration connects people and achieves company goals quickly. So what does this have to do with sound? Well, the fact is that there is productive noise and counterproductive noise. Productive noise is usually chatter between team members about the goals of the workplace. Backfiring noise refers to distracting external sounds or internal conversations irrelevant to the workplace. An open-plan office can do both; however, there are many solutions to minimize counterproductive noise.

Human experiences derive from all the senses, not just sight. People are most effective, creative, and focused when they stimulate a variety of senses through interactions with the colors, scents, and textures that make up the physical environment.

A comprehensive and cohesive sensory experience can ignite the imagination and imbue spaces with a sense of peaceful calm or vibrant energy. In a future informative entry, we will continue studying the senses that remain to be discovered: smell, taste, and touch.