Design Informed: Driving Innovation with Evidence-Based Design

Chapter 3. The Social Sciences

Background and Context

Overview of the Social Sciences

Design matters. What architect or other design professional doesn't believe that? We only have to listen to friends and co-workers to know how much people care about the places where they live, work, and play. Many, if not most, of us also believe that design matters tangibly by affecting health, learning, retail sales, athletic performance, productivity, and other aspects of our lives. THE ENVIRONMENTS DESIGNERS CREATE ARE THE SETTINGS THAT ENABLE OR INHIBIT HUMAN INTERACTION; PROMOTE OR STIFLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; AND FOSTER OR HARM HUMAN WELL-BEING.

Architects' clients often want design to matter beyond its artfulness. The people who hire designers are responsible for providing places that will help their companies or institutions excel. They seek design that will enhance performance, whatever the measure of that is within their work context.

Designers know this intuitively. Many even market the notion of design that matters in terms of organizational outcome. "If you hire us, we will help your organization achieve...." Yet few architects understand specifically what aspects of design relate to their clients' needs; nor can they quantify that impact in a believable way that will help their client justify the cost. Often there's no basis for their assertions about organizational performance enhancement ...