UX design insights from evolutionary biology

by Joseph Knelman

While UX research draws heavily on understanding user demographics, behavior, and context through segmentation and persona studies, might UX research uncover generalizable principles of design applicable across these divides?

In the design of built spaces, the concept of biophilic design, generated from the work of biologist E.O. Wilson and Stephen Kellert, incorporates humans’ evolutionary tendency to find delight (and actually respond in health, happiness, and productivity) to particular aspects of the natural world.

From evolving over hundreds of thousands of years in natural environments, the human brain is evolutionary wired to have affinities with certain principles of space.  Most basically, including natural elements both as physical material and through design forms can transform experiences and actually improve happiness and health in built spaces. More abstract concepts of space also are generalizably desired by humans.  For example, studies have shown that across different cultures,  landscapes such as Savannas are perceived as ideal environments.  These landscapes provide “prospect and refuge”  a clear view of resources but also shelter form the elements, a favorable landscape in which humans actually began their evolutionary story.  Today, one can imagine how a bay window provides this same element of space– prospect of a cityscape/natural environment that one resides within, but the shelter (and maybe a good book and cup of tea) from the elements of that place.

Biophilic design explores many elements that intersect with design, biology, and cognitive science.  These principles for building spaces that can delight humans based on evolutionary affinities for the natural world, can also be employed in UX design:  http://www.uxbooth.com/articles/design-lessons-from-evolutionary-biology/

Read more here on how biophilic design can be applied to building user experiences:  “While user experiences are empowered more than ever by expanding technological capacity, biophilic design provides insight into how UX design could tug on basic human evolutionary affinities that underlie our health, happiness, and productivity to deliver delightful user experiences.”