The transformation of the office from the standard bullpen configuration to today's dynamic, flexible and open floorplans has required new design methodologies that incorporate tools and technologies that are readily available to interior designers. Moreover, the increased use of teams in the workplace challenges interior designers to create environments that accommodate group and individual tasks. This two-phased research study explored the use of a web-based pattern language as a new tool for designing and evaluating teaming spaces. Pattern language is a design formulation methodology developed in 1977 by Christopher Alexander and his associates. It consists of a series of interrelated physical elements combined to create a framework for design solutions. A web-based pattern language for teaming environments was created by this researcher and evaluated by an e-mail questionnaire sent to a sample of expert design professionals. The feedback from the survey was used to revise the existing language and was the tool used for phase two. This phase tested the pattern language against an existing teaming environment by having the researcher evaluate the space determining the inclusion of each pattern. A focus group was also surveyed and the results of both evaluations were compared for similarities. The results of phase one showed that of those design professionals surveyed, the majority believe pattern language could be a valuable design as well as evaluation tool. Phase two results showed similarities between the responses by the researcher compared with those of the focus group. In summary, pattern language may be a useful tool for the design and evaluation of teaming environments. / Master of Science

Yes / Tranquillity characterized by a pleasant but calming environment is often to be found in natural environments where man-made noise is at a low level though natural sounds can be relatively high. Numerous studies have shown a link between such restorative environments and hospital recovery rates, stress reduction, longevity, pain relief and even how the brain processes auditory signals. In hospitals and primary care facilities there is a need to improve patient waiting rooms as current designs are largely based solely on medical need. There are often long waits in such spaces and patients are coping with the stress and anxiety caused by their medical condition. Attention should therefore be given to creating ‘‘restorative environment” as a component to their medical treatment. The study describes the effects of introducing natural sounds and large images of natural landscapes into a waiting room in a student health center. Using self reported levels of anxiety and tranquillity it was possible to assess the impact that these targeted auditory and visual interventions had in affecting the quality of the patient experience. Following the changes results show that levels of reported tranquillity were significantly improved but there were smaller change in reported reductions in anxiety.

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No description available.

This study was designed to investigate the need for a communication tool to support child development professionals, design professionals, and parents in the preschool design process. Guided by the theoretical perspectives of Gardner and Bronfenbrenner, this research examined the need for a support tool in the design process, the format and content of such a tool, and the evaluation of a tool developed using the data as an organizing structure. The following research questions guided this study: (a) Is a tool or support document needed to help educate and support communication between child development professionals, parents, and design professionals in the early phases of designing a preschool facility?, (b) What are the format and content issues that need to be addressed and included in developing such a tool?, and (c) How would child development professionals, design professionals, and parents comment on the usefulness of an educational/communication tool? A multi-method data collection procedure was used to gather the data for the study. A focus group was conducted to ascertain general information from child development professionals, design professionals, and parents about their opinions and perceptions of the design process as a result of their personal experiences. Following the focus group, 13 interviews were conducted with different individuals, but representative of the same three populations. Upon completion of the interviews, the data were used as an organizing structure for the writing of a communication tool to aid in the design process of preschool facilities. The tool was then sent to 26 individuals for feedback using a questionnaire requesting responses about the need, content, and format of the document. The results of this study showed that a support tool that fostered greater communication between child development professionals, design professionals, and parents was needed. Responses to the focus group and interviews also indicated that the format of the tool should be paper-based, or in book form, and that the themes identified in the responses should guide the content of the tool. Questionnaire responses confirm that the tool developed was an appropriate document that provided important information for the respondents. / Ph. D.

Despite the building industry's commendable efforts for creating sustainable environments, numerous studies have shown buildings are not achieving the environmental goals designers and architects are predicting during the design phase. This has been attributed to a number of factors including occupants' unsustainable behavior patterns which affect the amount of energy and resources a building consumes. The effect of human behavior on sustainability has been studied by experts in various fields, it has not however, been sufficiently analyzed by interior designers. Although interior design authors have argued the field has transformed itself to an area concerned with human behavior, there currently are no established design processes or knowledge domains that can help interior designers understand and design to encourage sustainable behaviors. On the other hand, industrial designers have advanced Design for Sustainable Behavior DfSB, an area of research that intentionally uses design solutions to encourage sustainable behaviors. This research argued DfSB can help overcome the gap identified in interior design (ID) by providing ID with design strategies, design processes and precedent. As such this research focused on analyzing the current state of designing with the intention of changing behavior within ID education in order to reach recommendations for the integration of DfSB into ID. The first phase of the study involved a nationwide questionnaire distributed to ID faculty members to gauge the current state of DfSB within ID, including faculty members' attitudes towards it, barriers to integrating it, recommendations for content and teaching methods along with any ethical concerns that may arise from intentionally changing behavior through design. Concurrently, a review of top ID programs online material was conducted to identify the presence of DfSB within existing courses. This phase demonstrated faculty members hold positive attitudes towards DfSB despite their limited familiarity and knowledge of the field which was identified as one of the major barriers to its integration. Additionally, despite none of the programs indicating students are taught how to encourage sustainable behavior through design, it was apparent a foundation for DfSB exists within ID due to the presence of sustainable design courses, human factors, and some social science courses. Findings from the questionnaire spurred a group of questions that required a nuanced investigation through interviews with a sample of ID faculty. These interviews painted a clearer image of the current educational terrain and general directions within ID education. They also allowed the researcher to collate ideas for overcoming barriers to DfSB integration along with establishing recommendations for disseminating DfSB into ID education and practice in a manner that capitalizes on the resources currently available in ID and removes identified hindrances. / Ph. D.

Tea is the world's oldest and currently most popular beverage in the world. Tea drinking has long been an important aspect of Chinese culture and has evolved as an art form called the "tea ceremony". With the growing interest in Asian culture, ethnic food, and the health benefits of tea, the tea market in the United States has increased dramatically. These developments, along with the recent growth in coffeehouses/shops, indicate a potential for similar success for teashops. The purpose of this study was to design a contemporary teashop deriving design inspiration from traditional Chinese culture and teahouse design. An existing site in a university town was selected for the study. Historical factors were identified through review literature and visual records of historic teahouses and architecture. Photos of contemporary Chinese teahouses provided information on teahouse operation and layout of functional areas. Observation of four local coffee shops was completed to collect data on function and design. Data were used to determine the workable solutions for a teashop designed for an American market. Based on the data collected, a design concept and programming requirements were developed. Design solutions that were found to be suitable and advantageous to enhance the concept were incorporated into the proposed design. Interior space layout, teashop logo, lighting fixtures, and façade design were developed. The design solutions were presented through plans, elevations, detail drawings, and perspective drawings. / Master of Science

This study used Michelson's (1976) Intersystems Congruence Model and Hall's (1966) theories of proxemic zones to guide in the investigation of illumination level's influence on proxemic behavior. This study attempted to determine potential influence of the effect of bright or dim lighting conditions on the personal space requirements within the behavioral setting of waiting/reception areas. Both a quantitative approach and qualitative approach were taken with this investigation. To control for various cultural, social, environmental and situational variables as possible, illuminated scale-models were constructed of three waiting/reception area scenarios and a homogenous sample of Americans participated in the study. Subjects interacted with these models by placing scale-figures within them, and answered a series of both quantitative and open-ended questions. Proxemic recordings of scale-figure placements were performed and statistically analyzed. The quantitative results showed that under general ambient bright and dim lighting conditions, there were no significant differences in personal space requirements in the waiting/receptions area behavioral setting. Thus, lighting does not appear to be a determining factor in achieving adequate personal space. The qualitative analysis agreed with these results, noting other factors as being more important, such as, the proximity to others, presence of tables (assuming they hold reading materials), and a view of the entire space. This phenomenon means ambient illumination level does not play a large role in determining proxemic distances between individuals in waiting area settings. / Master of Science

No description available.

This "Outline of Interior Decoration" is termed "Pictorial" because as much of its value lies in its pictures as in its text. They should visually reiterate the ideas which are exemplified by the text. It is called an "Outline" because it is necessarily limited in scope. Although emphasizing only the major points of the subject, it is however intended to provide a general study of Interior Decoration for the ordinary reader or the student. It is felt that for both this Thesis will offer an artistically sound and practical guide for the decoration of the simple, small house. Some expensive furnishing units have been shown, it is true, for the purpose of establishing a quality-ideal for the purchaser who is constantly having to force herself to buy inexpensive things, and unfortunately inexpensive things are so frequently ugly that unless one keeps before the mind's eye even an unattainable goal and ideal, one's taste may retrograde. The majority of the pictures, however, show simple furnishing units. Each of the chapters deals with a fundamental principle of Interior Decoration, with which the decorator must be familiar, if he would achieve a definitely artistic effect. The application of these principles of scale, color, balance, rhythm, etc. is considered not once, but is repeated in its relation to the most important rooms of the house, and to the various furnishing units that constitute these rooms. This reiteration of principles with emphasis placed, upon their application in each room, establishes the framework upon which this thesis is built.