Science + Design

Is interior design the most dangerous part of space travel? Deprived environments Prolonged exposure to under-stimulating, deprived environments leads to serious health consequences. Given that round trip travel to Mars will take 1.5 to 2 years, as we plan to go to Mars, how can we mitigate the dangerous health risks of environmental deprivation through design? Designers play a crucial role in cra...

Enriched environments for aging and neural decline Let’s dive into the world of enriched environments; exploring the connection between complex, stimulating spaces and their impact on brain health. What design features contribute to neural stimulation and benefits for brain health, repair, and longevity? How might enriched environments be used in preventative and therapeutic treatment for stroke,...

Getting the Person-Environment fit "just right". You’ve heard of the Goldilocks Zone, you know, that perfect spot where everything just clicks. But is there such a thing within our built environments? In this episode, we’ll explore the person-environment fit model. We'll uncover the effects of environments that are either too demanding or too unstimulating, and why we often change ou...

The Science Behind Romantic Attraction: The Role of Places and Misattributed Arousal Our environments play a vital role in shaping experience, even in igniting the flames of romance! Research findings and real examples will shed light on the interplay between arousal-inducing built environments and the intricate dance of attraction. Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5 Images and video b...

Unlocking the Secrets of Perception Shifting Through Design using Sensory Juxtaposition. Perception is how our brain interprets sensory information. Sensory juxtaposition is a powerful design tool to amplify perception for greater impact. By juxtaposing sensory qualities like light and dark, color, room scales, and acoustic treatments, designers can make spaces seem bigger, brighter, louder. Stock...

Characterizing round buildings as Bouba, and angled buildings as Kiki, is one example of our brain making associations across the senses. Learn how designers engage this unique perceptual ability by using building form for sensory messaging! Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5 Images and video by: Freepik Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash Christian Perner on Unsplash Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unspl...

In this episode, we will answer the question: Does architecture affect our brains? Spoiler alert: the answer is a resounding YES! In just two minutes, learn about the landmark study that launched the field of Neuroscience for Architecture. Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5 Images by: Jamaal Cooks on Unsplash Jared Rice on Unsplash Milad Fakurian on Unsplash Hal Gatewood on Unsplash An...

Host Meredith Banasisk, Part-Scientist, Part-Designer, launches a new microlearning series called Science + Design. In this series, she’ll explore the latest scientific research and trends which are transforming the future of design. Stock Music provided by four_track, from Pond5 I'm at https://www.meredithbanasiak.com/ Twitter @MerBanasiak Instagram science.and.design