Furniture and Spatial Design/Interior Architecture

susanne.notoy@gmail.com

Breathe

How can I use design to help people who experience stress in the workplace?

What was the problem you wanted to work on/find a solution to?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared stress one of the greatest health challenges of our time, particularly in cities. Based on this, I wanted to study how people in open-plan offices experience stress in their everyday working lives. What are the stress factors, and what are the employees’ needs in this connection? I wanted to find a solution to how I can use design to give people who experience stress in the workplace a space for breaks.

What has inspired you?

I am inspired by how offices as we know them today are changing. At the same time as more and more open-plan offices are being built, new technology and wireless solutions allows us to work in a freer way, where we choose. Research shows that taking a walk sharpens the senses and clears the mind, and that this effect is greater if we do not return to sit down again in the same environment. This inspired me to think about solutions outside the four walls of the office, and about people’s feelings about the concept of ‘a break on a bench’. I have also explored how people use their bodies when they have the opportunity to sit in a freer manner, away from their desks. I have worked with the body's different sitting positions, which became the point of departure for the design.

What is the result?

The result is a spatial piece of furniture; a built-in bench that you can borrow via a mobile phone app. The idea is to place this bench in different areas throughout Bergen. It is intended as a place where you can sit alone, make a phone call, work without being disturbed or just take a breather. The goal is for you to be able to use the bench as part of your workday, as a break from the stress of the workplace. This piece of furniture offers you the possibility of being away from the office, but still nearby.

Why has this been important to you?

The project has been important to me because I can relate to the problem of stress. I myself need to withdraw from the open-plan office for part of my workdays. I often end up working from home. Ideally, I would like an alternative, so that I can keep my work distinct from my home life. My impression is that that my fellow students and colleagues also feel the same need. It has therefore been important to me to explore an alternative to spending your whole workday sitting at a desk.