Psychological Design: How Environments Predict Our Psychology, Behavior, and Ability to Thrive | Jan Golembiewski

Every building comes with a set of expectations. Students are quiet in a library, but loud on a playground. Adults are focused in their deckchairs yet chatty on bar stools. Witnessing the limitations of conventional building design, Jan Golembiewski began to leverage design psychology to improve the lives of different groups, from inmates to the elderly. As one of the world’s leading researchers in architectural design psychology, Dr. Golembiewski works to create spaces that prioritize health and overall flourishing.

Dr. Jan Golembiewski is the director and nominated architect of Psychological Design, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Earthbuilt Technology. Dr. Golembiewski is committed to understanding how the built environment impacts human health and well-being, conducting extensive research on the intersection of design and psychology and salutogenic design.

In this episode, Dart and Jan discuss:
- A unique design approach called salutogenesis
- Designing a workplace where employees can thrive
- Salutogenic architecture 
- Balancing affordances and choices in design
- The narrative context embedded in architecture
- How money-driven architecture affects livability
- The key traits of salutogenic architects
- And other topics…

Dr. Jan Golembiewski is one of the world’s leading researchers in architectural design psychology. He is the director and nominated architect of Psychological Design, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Earthbuilt Technology. Dr. Golembiewski is committed to understanding how the built environment impacts human health and well-being, conducting extensive research on the intersection of design and psychology. Through his work on salutogenic design psychology, he creates spaces that encourage not only productivity but individual flourishing.

Dr. Golembiewski received his Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Sydney. He currently serves as an editorial board member for the Prudence Journal of Medicine and Medical Science and The Rangsit Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. His work has earned him a fellowship in the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health, and he is the only designer hired by the Schizophrenia Research Institute.

Resources mentioned:
“The Art of Transformation: Experience Design for Transformative Experiences | Claus Raasted and Paul Bulencea.” Work for Humans. August 2023.
The Battle for the Life and Beauty of the Earth, by Christopher Alexander: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Life-Beauty-Earth-World-Systems/dp/0199898073

Connect with Jan:
www.psychological.design
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vwuUGOkAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Magic, by Jan Golembiewski: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Jan-Golembiewski-ebook/dp/B07J5RNFWV 

Work with Dart:
Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.