Design awards are handed out all over the world - for how things look. Yet we experience the world in at least five senses and they all affect how we feel, think, and act. There's a great deal of scientific research on the impact of all these inputs, so it’s time now to start designing spaces with a real understanding of how to make all the sensory inputs point in the same direction, instead of clashing with one another.



Dr. Sally Augustin is doing just that. She is an Environmental and Design Psychologist and the author of several books, including Designology: How to Find Your PlaceType & Align Your Life with Design. She is a Principal at Design With Science where she applies scientific findings to advise clients worldwide on the design of places, objects, and services to create specific cognitive, emotional, and physical experiences by considering and integrating all the human senses. Dr. Augustin’s work has been featured widely in the media from The New York Times and Psychology Today to the Harvard Business Review. She also holds leadership positions at the American Psychological Association and the Environmental Design Research Association.



Dr. Augustin joins me today to discuss why the eyes are so dominant when we think about design and how we can integrate our other senses when designing a living or working environment. We discuss how the things we consider when designing an area or environment have shifted over time and why it’s crucial for designers to remember that people absorb information through all the  senses, not just our eyes. We highlight the role that space and workplace design plays on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and the ‘universal standards’ designers can implement when designing a sensory-focused shared space, like an office. We also explain how our personality traits can influence our design preferences and what designers should consider when working with neurodiverse personalities like people with depression, ADHD, and autism.






















“We have different goals for different sorts of spaces. Considering the full range of sensory experiences can make achieving those goals more likely.”
Dr Sally Augustin











This week on the Sound Business Podcast:




Why the eyes have been more dominant in work space design



Why designers need to consider the way people absorb information when designing spaces



How different spaces fundamentally impact our thoughts, feelings, and behavior



The three different attributes of color and how they impact our moods, thoughts, expectations, and cultural interpretations



Incorporating the sense of smell into your room designs



How designers can cater to varied preferences when designing a shared space



Implementing biophilic sounds when designing a public space



Striking a balance between varying personality types



Creating spaces for people with ADHD, depression, autism, and sensory disabilities




Connect with Dr. Sally Augustin:




Design With Science



Book: Designology: How to Find Your PlaceType & Align Your Life with Design



Dr. Sally Augustin on LinkedIn






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