In order to find out exactly what “multisensory design” is, one should define the concept itself: translated from English “multi” means a lot, “sensory” means sensation. In other words, it is a design that affects a person with all five senses. It is scientifically proven that the formation of thoughts depends on the emotions experienced by a person, the five human senses are capable of evoking emotions that can convince or relax. With the help of multisensory design, you can create a more comfortable living environment with predetermined tasks: office, living room interior, sales area, relaxation rooms. It can be an appeal to two or three sensations of a person, and sometimes to all five.

Getting into an unfamiliar place, a person has a holistic sense of the environment. The very first and most vivid sensations we get with the help of sight and hearing. At the next stage, the olfactory receptors begin to perceive various smells. Tactile interaction with objects makes it possible to feel the shape, relief, texture and surface temperature.

The most used sensation is vision. Most often, in the desire to convey the necessary information to a person or to evoke the necessary emotion, they appeal to the visual image. With the help of sight, we are used to assessing the location of an object in space, the distance to it, the color and shape of the object can both calm and provoke labor activity.

Sound has a great influence on the emotional state of a person. The most striking example of this is music; slow produces a pacifying, relaxing effect, and fast, dynamic is able to make you move rhythmically with it in time. The sound of rustling pebbles or the rustle of foliage underfoot has a calming effect, which is sometimes used in relaxation zones. Another example is the interior of the Kunsthaus in Graz, Vienna. In one of the several fountains installed in the room, no water is visible, but only the sound of a flowing liquid is heard. It gives a feeling of comfort and tranquility.

Taking into account the acoustic properties of a room, even at the design stage, can make working areas more comfortable. The use of various acoustic techniques can serve as an additional reference point in the interior space. Sound-absorbing surfaces are of great importance – they reduce the rumble in rooms, but smooth glossy surfaces, on the contrary, increase the feeling of dynamism, constant change in the environment, but it is important not to overdo it so that an echo does not appear, which can become an annoying factor.

It is impossible to underestimate the role of smells in the interior of the premises. Associations caused by pleasant smells make you experience positive emotions, regardless of whether a person is in a space in which a particular smell is inherent, or simply smells its aroma. As proof, we can cite the example of the opening of the Audi salon in 1950, where the smell of meadow grasses and oranges was sprayed into the interior of the salon. This created the sensation of driving in an open space through the fields and orange groves of Spain, which boosted vehicle sales.

Office workers spend over 40 hours a week in closed office spaces. The minimalist design and the absence of relaxing factors that affect the human senses negatively affect the well-being of employees of companies. Management interested in improving the psycho-emotional state of its employees creates a comfortable multisensory office design. For example, the office of Google in Israel, where each floor is thematic and reflects the diversity of cultural ethnic groups and natural resources of the country.

One of the means of multisensory design is the integration of the natural environment into the interior design, which makes the working environment more pleasant and reduces the stress level in the workplace. The presence of elements of nature, improves mood and increases work efficiency.

Each of our 5 senses plays a vital and complex role in shaping thoughts, impressions and behavior. Through strategic multisensory design, organizations can create a holistic workplace that promotes employee productivity and well-being and leaves a lasting impression on customers and guests.

If you have a desire to learn more about cutting edge solutions and the benefits of implementing an audiovisual complex for your business, consult the experts. ZIKZAK design studios.