behaviour
Whiter shade of pale: why the colour of the year is slightly off
Pantone’s choice of Cloud Dancer as its colour of 2026 is fine for those who just want to chill while our world collapses. Could a different shade make a difference? A neuroscientist explains
Why having a sense of control over your environment matters
New research linking worker control over temperature to better mental health is the latest in a line of studies that show the benefits of giving employees more agency in the workplace
Gilt complex: decoding the new interior design of the Oval Office
An audience with the President and his inner circle in the remodelled White House is designed to make visitors feel disoriented, mute and acquiescent. A neuroscientist explains
Close to colleagues: the benefits of sitting next to team members
Sitting directly alongside teammates at work can make a real difference to performance according to new research – and having an assigned seat matters too
How the neuroscience behind wayfinding can build belonging
Our brains work the same whether finding our way around busy offices or bustling cities, according to Tim Fendley, keynote speaker at WORKTECH London
After the return: can the office really raise levels of performance?
Bringing people back to the office is one thing. Improving productivity once there is another. A new report looks at the evidence for and against in-office working as a lever for productivity
Why moderate visual complexity lets our brains work better
New research from a Dutch research team has reopened a familiar design debate about how cluttered and visually complex a workplace interior should be. The answer: not so much
Why a lot of familiarity and a little novelty might make sense
Designing a new workplace full of novelty and innovation? Be careful what you wish for. New research suggests that people respond well to familiarity when it comes to our surroundings
