# The Science of Sensory Design: How Engaging Five Senses Transforms Modern Workplaces
The best office furniture and ergonomic solutions might not be enough anymore. What if the missing piece to workplace satisfaction lies in something far more subtle—the way our spaces engage our senses?
Italian design firm Il Prisma has been asking this question, and their research-backed approach to LinkedIn's European offices reveals fascinating insights about how sensory design impacts employee wellbeing and productivity.
## Beyond the Measurable: Why Senses Matter
While we can easily quantify desk counts, temperature levels, and noise volumes, the impact of color psychology, ambient scents, and material textures has traditionally been left to aesthetic intuition. Il Prisma's architect Elisabetta Pero recognized this gap: "Our research proves that sensorial design improves concentration and learning. It's all about turning on the senses at work, not turning them off."
The firm decided these intangible qualities deserved scientific scrutiny. Using electroencephalograms (EEG scans) and eye tracking technology, they measured how different sensory environments affect brain activity, specifically monitoring states that enhance work performance: attention, focus, learning, memory recall, comprehension, and calm.
## The Experiment: Neutral vs. Sensorial Environments
Il Prisma's study compared two distinct spaces:
**The Neutral Room**: Basic meeting space with white conference table and uniform lighting
**The Sensorial Room**: Featured fragrant cedar bookcases with rough textures, varied wooden chair designs, a curtain made of leaves, strategic blue lighting, and even food elements
Participants performed problem-solving tasks in each environment while researchers monitored their neurological responses.
## Surprising Results: One Size Doesn't Fit All
The findings challenged assumptions about sensory-rich environments. While the sensorial room excelled for individual tasks requiring memory and concentration, it proved less effective for collaborative problem-solving sessions.
"The sensorial room might be better for sitting down to write a long memo, but it may not be as ideal for group problem solving," Pero explains.
Key discoveries included: - **Blue and green colors** promote calm, relaxed brain states - **Natural wood materials** enhance focus and learning - **Multiple sensory inputs** can overwhelm during collaborative work - **Individual tasks** benefit significantly from rich sensory environments
## Real-World Application: LinkedIn's Italian Office Transformation
At LinkedIn's Milan office, Il Prisma applied their "emotional grammar" research to create five distinct spaces, each representing iconic Italian locations:
**The Cellar**: Features cedar wood, wine service, and ambient music—perfect for private meetings and intense concentration
**The Tailor's Shop**: Deliberately muted sensory elements with fabric and metal textures that don't distract during problem-solving sessions
**The Theater, Restaurant, and Garden**: Each designed with specific sensory profiles to support different work modes
This ecosystem approach allows employees to choose environments that match their current tasks and mental states.
## Practical Takeaways for Design Professionals
The research reveals that modern workers "prefer places that are no longer antiseptic and standardized, but customized and with strong connotations." Here's how to apply these insights:
### **Consider Task-Specific Design** - Create varied sensory experiences across different zones - Use rich textures and natural materials for focus-intensive areas - Keep collaborative spaces more sensory-neutral
### **Leverage Natural Elements** - Incorporate wood textures for concentration zones - Use blue and green color palettes to promote calm - Add natural scents through materials like cedar
### **Design for Choice** - Provide multiple environment options within one workspace - Allow employees to self-select based on their current needs - Consider how different personality types respond to sensory stimuli
## The Bigger Picture: Rehumanizing Commercial Spaces
Il Prisma's research, published in their book "Now We Work" (now used as a textbook in European universities), represents a shift toward evidence-based sensory design. Rather than relying solely on aesthetic preferences, this approach uses neuroscience to understand how our environments truly affect us.
For commercial design professionals, this research offers a compelling framework: spaces that thoughtfully engage multiple senses don't just look better—they perform better for the people who use them daily.
The implications extend beyond individual comfort to measurable business outcomes. When employees can choose environments that support their cognitive needs, concentration improves, learning accelerates, and workplace satisfaction increases.
## Moving Forward: The Science-Informed Design Process
As our understanding of neuroscience and environmental psychology grows, the opportunity to create more responsive, human-centered workplaces expands. Il Prisma's methodology demonstrates that the "intangibles" of design—those sensory elements we've long considered unmeasurable—can be quantified, studied, and optimized.
The future of commercial design lies not just in beautiful spaces, but in spaces that understand and respond to human neurological needs. By engaging all five senses thoughtfully, we create environments where people don't just work—they thrive.
