EDITORS CHOICE
DOES FORM ALWAYS TRUMP FUNCTION ?
Those involved in the planning , design and construction of buildings , whether for use as living accommodation or working environments are acutely aware that aesthetic consideration is key for both interior and exterior design .
It is common and natural to be drawn to beautiful designs as they immediately provide a feeling of tranquillity , peace , and relaxation and that is so important in today ’ s crazy , pressured world .
Within many new build projects , the battle lines are often drawn around wall and ceiling clutter typically being light switches , thermostats , alarm panels , sensors and speakers . The intention is that the property must look a certain way which often removes the control of the creature comforts that a modern property owner still desires .
It is a hugely common misconception and a mistake made by many that these hurdles can be overcome by hiding controls away and using a modern-day smart phone , job done and on paper it looks perfect . The looks of these type of projects are stunning and can be real pieces of art . However , unlike art these properties need to be lived in and a poorly thought out user experience will tarnish even the best aesthetic design over time as this is where the secondary sensory feeling comes from , the pure joy and simplicity of using and interacting with the property .
APP OVERLOAD
Research is showing that “ App Overload ” is killing productivity as it creates a sudden mini distraction to a primary thought process . Although it ’ s great fun to be able to control your lights and turn the heating up and down from your sofa this should never be a primary form of control . A similar issue occurs on wall touch screens that have confusing user interfaces or try to provide too many options . Touch screens also carry an unintended fear factor to visitor or guests as they don ’ t want to trigger something unintentionally . It really kills the atmosphere giving your guests an induction on how to change the temperature of their room or letting them know which apps they need to download .
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