Harnessing creativity with the Biophilia and Cathedral Effects

You know those screensavers that come loaded on our Macs (or Bing, and now, Google.com)…the ones with all of the nature scenes? Well, up until recently, I had always assumed that the rights to use those stock images were relatively inexpensive and easy to come by, and that was why they were provided. Although there may be some truth to this practical explanation, I’ve developed an alternate theory that today’s computer scientists—along with centuries of artists, writers and philosophers—have harnessed the restorative power of natural environments and the Biophilia Effect.

Over the course of the past few decades, empirical research findings have indicated that exposure to nature promotes emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being,¹ described as the Biophilia Effect. At first it was thought that the benefits of the Biophilia Effect could only be recognized with living plants in one’s environment, but actually just the mere imagery—whether window views, realistic posters, or once again I’ll suggest our screen savers—seem to do the trick.²

As designers, we can use the Biophilia effect to our advantage in environments where concentration and creativity take place (e.g. schools and universities), or healing and recuperating, like hospitals:

Boston Methodist Hospital, in Michigan (left) and Alberta Hospital (right).

Another interesting characteristic of the images above is the use of ceiling height. In 2007, a study called The Influence of Ceiling Height: The Effect of Priming on the Type of Processing That People Use (PDF) was published that showed a correlation between the height of a ceiling and cognition: high ceilings tend to promote abstract thinking and creativity, and low ceilings promote concrete and detail-oriented thinking.³ I think this is important information for organizations to consider when building office space for their creative staff. Although I can understand and appreciate the preference of the people in corner offices to leverage beautiful window views and high ceilings for themselves, but it also pays to consider the benefits to the teams doing the research, development, and creative thinking necessary to build superior products.

(“The Biophilia Effect” and “The Cathedral Effect” are the 17^th and 18^th of 125 universal principles of design that I will cover this year.)

References

1. Cognition and environment: Functioning in an Uncertain World by Stephen Kaplan and Rachel Kaplan, Praeger Press, 1982.

2. The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework (PDF) By Stephen Kaplan, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 1995, vol. 15, p. 169-182.

3. Universal Principles of Design by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler, Rockport Publishers, 2010, p. 36-39.

See Also:

One of the ultimate manifestations of the Biophilia Effect, not to mention one of architectural triumphs of the 20th century, is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. (Please take a few moments to watch this beautifully animated 3D video—it is worth it.)