Spacesmith on Nonprofits Improving Wellness Through Design at Rooftops Conference, March 5 March 1, 2021
In a discussion on the influences of seen and unseen aspects that shape design decisions and affect human behavior, Ámbar Margarida, principal of interior design at the architecture and design firm Spacesmith, will present, “Improving Health and Wellness Through the Design of Your Space,” a live, online program focused on nonprofit organizations as part of The Rooftops Project & New York Law School. During the free, virtual event, set for Friday, March 5, 2021, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. EST, Margarida will detail how evidence-based interior design principles contribute to positive behaviors in the built environment for nonprofit and human service organizations. Increasingly, for instance, studies show that connecting people to natural elements by amplifying biophilic design concepts in a space produces beneficial outcomes, such as increased feelings of calmness and positive distractions. “Design is a powerful tool for enhancing positive behavior and attitudes in the workplaces of all organizations and especially nonprofits,” says Ámbar Margarida, CID, IIDA, WELL AP, LEED, who is published widely and has shared her expertise with nonprofits and trauma-informed design during the 10th annual Rooftops Conference in New York City in 2020. “Incorporating design strategies that connect people to nature within a space is one way to reduce everyday stresses, promoting calmer feelings, better working relationships and higher productivity.” Research, like that of the WELL Building Standard, for instance, notes the impact that different environments have on people’s levels of stress, for better or worse. "Designs that shape what people see, feel and experience in supportive ways do more than provide a great outdoor view or comfortable ambience,” says Margarida, who recently wrote an essay on how lighting has the power to impact mood and behavior . “Careful attention to the way an environment’s design influences people in favorable ways also can elevate their central nervous system for greater benefits.”