Understanding Theory

1. Understanding Theory Chapter 22 – Developing Design Concepts

2. Definition of Theory • Theory is a mental construct of how and why things happen, which is often used to predict future events or actions. • A design theory is a way to direct design based on a system of beliefs or philosophy. • Theory is not style. • Example: Southwestern is a style. The use of courtyards and enclosed outdoor spaces that act as a connection between public and private spaces is based on a theory of public/private continuum in architecture. • Also, the use of courtyards has a historic and cultural precedence.

3. How theory is developed • Historic precedence: to base current design on ideas and styles of the past. ie: classical revival styles or art nouveau style which is free flowing and connected to nature • Environmental design: theories that focus on the interaction between humans and their environment. It is based on scientific research. (examples: territoriality and personal space) Evidence Based Design (EBD) bases design decisions on credible research that links one or more environmental elements with desired outcomes. Often used in healthcare environments as well as educational and office design to relate design to improved wellbeing, productivity, better test scores, etc.)

4. How theory is developed • Functionalism places emphasis on providing simple, rational solutions to design problems without extraneous decoration. Architects such as Le Corbusier believed "a house is a machine for living in" reflecting a modern theory of functionality without ornamentation. Louis Sullivan believed that "form should follow function". • Theories of perception deals with understanding how people perceive the world. By understanding these theories, designers can better understand why some designs work and others do not work.

5. Gestalt Psychology • Gestalt psychology deals with human perception. It states that the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. People try to group individual bits of stimuli into a larger whole rather than seeing things as separate entities. • Grouping: similarity and proximity • Closure • Continuity • Simplicity • Figure ground

6. Social and cultural influences • Political conditions: prevailing political attitudes and policy may affect design thinking (sustainable and environmental movements) • Economic conditions: the state of the economy is often reflected in architecture and interior design. Prosperous times may promote lavish times while uncertain times will be less austere. • Cultural attitudes: the prevailing cultural views of the family, shared values, religion, fashion, leisure pursuits, sports, and the like may influence a design response. Current trends in fashion and consumer goods regarding color, material use and industrial design often reach into the realms of interior design and architecture. • Symbolism: the physical environment acts as a symbol to represent an idea of what they think it should look like. Ex: banks should be traditional • Regionalism: design that reflects the local geographic area.

7. Psychological and Social • Territoriality is a fundamental aspect of human behavior and refers to people's need to lay claim to the space they occupy and the things they own. • Proxemics was created by Edward T. Hall to describe the interrelated observations and theories about how people use space as a specialized elaboration of culture. It deals with the issues of spacing between people, territoriality, organization of space, and positioning of people in space, all relative to the culture of which they are part.

8. Psychological and Social • Personalization occurs when people arrange their environment to reflect their presence and uniqueness. • Group interaction: the environment can either facilitate or hinder human interaction. In most behavior settings, groups are predisposed to act in a particular way. If the setting is not conducive to the activities, the people will try to modify the environment or modify their behavior to make the activity work. In really extreme cases, stress, anger and other adverse reactions can occur.

9. Seating arrangements • One of the most common ways to facilitate group interaction is through seating arrangements. Studies will show that people will seat themselves at a table according to the nature of their relationships with others around them.

10. Seating arrangements • Round tables foster more cooperation and equality among those seated around them. • Rectangular tables make corporation more difficult and establishes that the person on the end in a more superior position. • Individual study carrels in a library would be used more than rectangular tables.

11. Status • Status refers to an individuals position within the environment. • A corner office has more status than an office with one exterior wall. • Use of windows vs. no windows • Higher quality furnishings and more furnishings • Office size • Status is important to address in a commercial program.