{"id":95712,"date":"2022-05-18T13:52:18","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T13:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/?post_type=metro_viewpoint&#038;p=95712"},"modified":"2022-05-18T13:54:26","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T13:54:26","slug":"an-mit-study-shows-design-can-increase-engagement","status":"publish","type":"metro_viewpoint","link":"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/viewpoints\/an-mit-study-shows-design-can-increase-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"<strong>An MIT Study Shows Design Can Increase Engagement<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-sandow-article-header article-header\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-header\" style=\"object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-1024x620.jpg\" alt=\"Graphics showing paths through the campus and potential crossing points\" class=\"wp-image-95713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-1024x620.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-768x465.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>COURTESY MIT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group article-header_intro none\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"article-date\" aria-label=\"Post Date\">May 18, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n<h1 class=\"size-large wp-block-heading\"><strong>An MIT Study Shows Design Can Increase Engagement<\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column article-header_meta is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<p class=\"summary size-regular\">A group of researchers at MIT found that the right level of crowdedness led to more chance encounters and more frequent communication across disciplinary boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-sandow-byline byline size-regular\"><span>By: <\/span><a href=\"\/tag\/james-mccown\">James McCown<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"social-share\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmetropolismag.com%2Fviewpoints%2Fan-mit-study-shows-design-can-increase-engagement%2F\" target=\"_blank\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\" \/><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmetropolismag.com%2Fviewpoints%2Fan-mit-study-shows-design-can-increase-engagement%2F\" target=\"_blank\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\" \/><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmetropolismag.com%2Fviewpoints%2Fan-mit-study-shows-design-can-increase-engagement%2F&#038;description=%3Cstrong%3EAn+MIT+Study+Shows+Design+Can+Increase+Engagement%3C%2Fstrong%3E\" target=\"_blank\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"> <path d=\"M12 0c-6.627 0-12 5.372-12 12 0 5.084 3.163 9.426 7.627 11.174-.105-.949-.2-2.405.042-3.441.218-.937 1.407-5.965 1.407-5.965s-.359-.719-.359-1.782c0-1.668.967-2.914 2.171-2.914 1.023 0 1.518.769 1.518 1.69 0 1.029-.655 2.568-.994 3.995-.283 1.194.599 2.169 1.777 2.169 2.133 0 3.772-2.249 3.772-5.495 0-2.873-2.064-4.882-5.012-4.882-3.414 0-5.418 2.561-5.418 5.207 0 1.031.397 2.138.893 2.738.098.119.112.224.083.345l-.333 1.36c-.053.22-.174.267-.402.161-1.499-.698-2.436-2.889-2.436-4.649 0-3.785 2.75-7.262 7.929-7.262 4.163 0 7.398 2.967 7.398 6.931 0 4.136-2.607 7.464-6.227 7.464-1.216 0-2.359-.631-2.75-1.378l-.748 2.853c-.271 1.043-1.002 2.35-1.492 3.146 1.124.347 2.317.535 3.554.535 6.627 0 12-5.373 12-12 0-6.628-5.373-12-12-12z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/><\/svg><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"mailto:?body=https%3A%2F%2Fmetropolismag.com%2Fviewpoints%2Fan-mit-study-shows-design-can-increase-engagement%2F&#038;subject=%3Cstrong%3EAn+MIT+Study+Shows+Design+Can+Increase+Engagement%3C%2Fstrong%3E\" target=\"_blank\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M12 12.713l-11.985-9.713h23.97l-11.985 9.713zm0 2.574l-12-9.725v15.438h24v-15.438l-12 9.725z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column empty-header-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group none\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"size-regular\">It has become axiomatic among architects and interior designers that spaces in all categories of buildings should enable and facilitate human interaction. This is especially true in academia, where spontaneous and unplanned \u201ccollisions\u201d are thought to increase engagement, especially among people within different educational disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">A new study by <a href=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/profiles\/mariam-kamara-could-profoundly-change-design-pedagogy-everywhere\/\">The Massachusetts Institute of Technology<\/a> adds some empirical evidence to support this previously anecdotal design paradigm. The <a href=\"https:\/\/dusp.mit.edu\/news\/design-driving-collaboration\">study<\/a>, entitled \u201cSpatial structure of workplace and communication between colleagues: A study of E-mail exchange and spatial relatedness on the MIT campus,\u201d looked at email traffic among faculty, researchers and staff and found, among other things, the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Physical proximity does matter for workplace collaboration<\/li><li>People are more likely to communicate via email after running into each other at a campus eatery than in a crowded corridor<\/li><li>Email exchanges occur more often among researchers whose workplaces are connected through indoor halls rather than outdoor paths<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">\u201cProximity matters,\u201d says Andres Sevtsuk, associate professor in MIT\u2019s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and co-author of the new paper, wherein data was gathered just before the COVID-19 lockdowns. \u201cProximity will increase the chances of encounter and social exchange,\u201d he continues. \u201cStudying how spatial relationships may influence social ties has been of interest to scholars of the built environment for a long time. We\u2019re interested in taking this idea of spatial relatedness further and examining its more nuanced aspects that have not been well-covered in prior research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" style=\"object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MIT_infinite_corridor_01.jpeg\" alt=\"Interior view of corridor\" class=\"wp-image-95714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MIT_infinite_corridor_01.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MIT_infinite_corridor_01-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MIT_infinite_corridor_01-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption>MIT&#8217;s &#8220;Infinite Corridor&#8221; connects several buildings on the main part of campus and was a key location for the study. COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">A database of anonymized email exchanges between pairs of different \u201cresearch groups\u201d (a sub-departmental academic affiliation) was collected in February 2020 and compared with the spatial locations of these research groups\u2019 offices. The study documented the precise three-dimensional locations of 1023 offices in 28 buildings in the central part of the campus, where MIT\u2019s famed \u201cinfinite corridor\u201d system provides indoor walkways between all buildings. The study also took into account the routes between offices including corridors, staircases and elevators, as well as outdoor walkways that go through courtyards and streets between the buildings<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">The campus eatery, described by Sevtsuk as equivalent to the ancient concept of the <em>agora<\/em>, or marketplace, loomed large in the study. \u201cWhat if eateries are more crowded than less crowded?\u201d he continues. \u201cWe have an estimate of how crowded each eatery is and we found that actually in the case of eateries, crowdedness can further increase the probability of email communications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">Rounaq Basu, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and another co-author of the study, introduced the concept of \u201cencounter probability.\u201d That is an instance when the spaces under study are neither too sparse nor too crowded. \u201cYou want a sweet spot between an empty, scary alley and a concert venue,\u201d he says. \u201cWhat we found is that the right level of crowdedness matters. There is a medium level of crowding that is more beneficial, as opposed to extremes\u2014too many or too few.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">The study\u2019s abstract delved further into this subject:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">&#8220;The key innovations presented in the paper include a novel approach to analyzing encounter probabilities during a participant\u2019s journey to work; estimation of potential crowdedness in building corridors; and a similarity estimation in amenity access for different workers. Our analysis suggests that these types of spatial relationships go beyond simple distance between workers\u2019 offices and affect email communications among workers. The results provide limited evidence that spatial planning may be used strategically to encourage social, cultural and economic exchange or knowledge-spillovers within buildings and campuses.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-1-1024x620.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-1-1024x620.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-1-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MITgraphic-1-768x465.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Mapping the spatial terrain of the campus allowed researchers to calculate how probable certain interactions between faculty were. This was crucial to linking physical proximity to volume of email communication. COURTESY MIT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">Given that the study falls under MIT\u2019s School of Architecture + Planning, what is the advice of the studies\u2019 authors to architects and interior designers wanting to design vibrant, interactive spaces? &nbsp;\u201cIt would be interesting if planners and architects paid more attention to putting together departments that are on the surface unrelated,\u201d says Basu, \u201cbut that form the opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration. For example, we in architecture don\u2019t get the opportunity to talk to people in chemistry even though there may be similar ways of thinking that could be mutually beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"size-regular\">The study concludes that &#8220;planning environments to encourage greater interaction across different groups may offer a pathway to bridge siloed social networks and encourage information exchange between otherwise unlikely parties. Variable spatial designs can also generate different serendipitous encounter probabilities along their circulation routes. Manipulating or allocating such spatial qualities strategically could potentially help organizations promote visibility, interaction and knowledge spillovers between key stakeholders.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"comment size-regular\">Would you like to comment on this article? Send your thoughts to: <a href=\"mailto:comments@metropolismag.com\">comments@metropolismag.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"tag-cloud\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/tag\/academic-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Academic Study<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/tag\/james-mccown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">James McCown<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/tag\/mit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">MIT<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n<ul class=\"tag-cloud\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/topics\/architecture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Architecture<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/metropolismag.com\/topics\/interior-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Interior Design<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"post-cards__wrapper is-condensed-default columns-3 single-row\" data-type=\"metro_viewpoint metro_profile metro_project 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