How Understanding Human-Space Interaction Sparked a Workspace Reimagination
Workspace Reimagination
The rain fell in a fine mist as I hurried through the streets of London on a dreary Tuesday afternoon in October 2019. My mind was buzzing with deadlines, data and designs, the usual cacophony of an interactive designer's thoughts. But that day, something shifted. As I ducked into a small bookshop to escape the rain, I had no idea that my professional world was about to collide spectacularly with a very real, very urgent problem.
I found myself wandering the streets of Notting Hill, laptop in hand, desperately seeking a spot to finish a crucial user experience presentation. As an interaction designer, I was acutely aware of how my environment was affecting my ability to work. The bustling café in Soho had been too distracting; my flat in Muswell Hill was too isolating. I needed a space that would facilitate my task without overwhelming my senses.
That's when I stumbled upon a small, charming bookshop. As I stepped inside, my interactive designer's mind kicked into gear. The warm lighting reduced eye strain, the comfortable armchairs supported good posture, and the quiet ambience allowed for focus. Without realising it, the owner had created an optimal environment for cognitive tasks.
As I purchased my cup of coffee with my laptop in hand, ready to work, a realisation struck me: this was a perfect opportunity to apply the principles of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to physical spaces. Just as we design digital interfaces to support user goals, couldn't we design a system to match people with ideal physical workspaces?
Drawing from my knowledge of Cognitive Science, I started to analyse the situation:
- Psychology: The bookshop's calm atmosphere reduced stress and improved concentration.
- Anthropology: The cultural significance of books created a sense of purpose and intellect.
- Neuroscience: The varied visual stimuli of book covers could potentially boost creativity.
- Sociology: The presence of others, albeit minimal, satisfies the human need for passive social interaction.
This wasn't just about finding a place to work; it was about understanding the complex interplay between humans, their environment, and their cognitive tasks.
Excited by this epiphany, I spent the next few weeks conducting rapid ethnographic studies across London. I observed remote workers in various settings, from noisy pubs to sterile co-working spaces. I interviewed business owners about their unused spaces and the rhythms of their foot traffic.
Each observation and interview was a data point, helping me build a cognitive model of how different individuals interact with various spaces to achieve their work goals. It became clear that the problem wasn't a lack of space but a mismatch between available spaces and individual needs.
Channelling the spirit of Don Norman, I embarked on a journey to create a solution. I assembled a team of fellow interactive designers, developers, graphic designers, sustainability experts and interior architects. Our goal was to create a platform that would serve as an intelligent intermediary between workers and spaces.
We faced numerous challenges. How could we quantify the subjective experience of a space? How could we account for individual differences in work styles and preferences? How could we create an interface that would be intuitive for both space providers and seekers?
We turned to rapid prototyping, a cornerstone of interaction design. We created low-fidelity mockups, conducted user testing, and iteratively refined our ideas. We developed prototypes that considered factors like ambient noise levels, lighting conditions, available amenities, and even the subtle psychological effects of decor and architecture.
Our platform evolved into more than just a booking system. It became a tool for understanding and optimising human-space interaction. We explored the idea of including features that would enable users to evaluate spaces based on cognitive factors such as focus, creativity, and collaboration. This data will not only improve our matching algorithms but also provide valuable insights to space owners about how to optimise their environments.
As we prepared for our MVP launch, the global pandemic hit, dramatically shifting the world of work. Suddenly, our platform wasn't just solving a convenience problem; it was addressing a critical need for safe, flexible workspaces for local communities.
Today, as I write this from a trendy cafe in Stockholm - I'm struck by how far we've come. What started as an application of HCI principles to physical spaces has grown into a platform that's reshaping how people interact with their work environments.
We've learned that effective workspaces are not just about physical characteristics but about how those characteristics support cognitive processes and task completion. We're not just providing a service but facilitating better human-environment interactions.
As we look to the future, we're exploring exciting new directions. How can we incorporate adaptive environments that respond to users' cognitive states in real time? How can we use AI and AR to enhance the utility of physical spaces? How can we apply what we have learned to improve workspace design on a broader scale?
So, I ask you: How do you interact with your workspace? Are you aware of how your environment affects your cognitive processes and task performance? Whether you're a business owner with a space to share or a worker seeking the perfect environment, I invite you to join us in this exploration of human-space interaction.
I believe that we can create a dynamic in which every workspace is a carefully crafted interface between human cognition and the physical environment.
And I can’t wait to bring you all on a journey with us.
