What does design do for us?

Design is creation. It is the shaping of all sorts of things—everyday objects, spaces, clothing. There are web designers, graphic designers, product designers, and more. As a photographer specialising in architecture and interior design, I am naturally fascinated by the way spaces are composed. A while ago, I was in London and was able to spend my free time focusing heavily on design. For instance, I visited the Design Museum, which was hosting a Wes Anderson exhibition at the time. The question I asked myself was: What does design do to us? How do people shape the spaces they inhabit on a regular basis? What do their offices look like? What does the design reveal

about how they behave and feel within such an office?

Design is human-centric, and design influences people. Colours play an incredibly important role in this. Why is open-plan office design not yellow or orange? Because these colours encourage us to chat. Open-plan offices are designed in muted tones (such as grey, beige, sage green, or pastels) to create a calm, professional, and productive working environment. This is pure psychology and has nothing to do

with a CEO’s bad taste. Symmetry and order soothe us because we associate them with predictability. Vintage tones (pastel pink, mint green, ochre) evoke nostalgia. Wes Anderson uses saturated, bright colours to create an optimistic or dreamlike atmosphere, even when the plot itself is sad.

In the world of design, consistency is far more important than a sheer variety of styles, as consistency builds trust and provides brand recognition. This is understandable. But what about us humans who "use" this design? Do we need consistency in design, or is it actually important to surround ourselves with different, yet excellent, design styles? Perhaps not at home, but certainly in life. My own home has its very own style, complete with stylistic breaks—and that is how my life is, too. I prefer the consistency of inconstancy. In the photographs accompanying this article, each image displays a different design language. Every design contributes to my sense of wonder and well-being. As long as I want to linger in a room, all is well—regardless of whether it is minimalist, brutalist, or designed in a decorative Oriental style. So, what does design do for us? It keeps us centred, it recharges us, and it makes us want to stay.

Photo Credits: Jeannette Matthies