Control Over Your Environment

Not just for the client or the designer, but as a human it is important to have control over your environment and how you are involved in it. Personally, I go out of the way to make the environments around me more comfortable and just make it feel like I belong in that space. As a designer one can always reference the Foundational Theories of Environmental Psychology (Integration, Stimulation, Control and Behavior-Setting) to make that space feel just right. Control Theory is key to keep in mind when making sure the client is getting what they want. As a designer, you can manipulate certain aspects of the design while the client remains in control. James Averill proposed that the control theory should be broken into three subcategories: Behavioral, Cognitive and Decisional.

My house in Costa Rica
Walls all the way around for a private oasis or open the gate up right onto the beach

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        Behavioral Control- Ability to change the environment

o   Design environments in accordance to how people behave in that space

§  Ex: Lighting in a fancy restaurant to set the mood

§  Ex: Libraries cause you to change your behavior the moment you set foot inside

§  Ex: The way your retail space is laid out influences consumer buying behavior

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            Cognitive Control- Ability to change the way in which we conceive of an environment

o   Design environments that even in an uncomfortable situation, allows the mind to be at ease

§  Ex: Design work-spaces/classrooms to enhance collaboration and engagement instead of isolated spaces

§  Ex: Hospitals utilize white noise to keep worried minds active

§  Ex: Clubs play upbeat music to get people up on their feet

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          Decisional Control- Ability to choose how you respond

o   Design environments that have multiple outlets

Source

§  Ex: The ability to leave a scary/uncomfortable environment

§  Ex: The choice to decide level of involvement

Ultimately, the Control Theory directly influences how we respond to situations within certain environments. It affects us all daily, but as a designer, we must do our best at utilizing this theory to provide spaces that satisfy our clients’ needs and wants.