Abstract
The human eye is the primary receptor for all perceptions related to the design of a space. Design professionals can identify the human’s understanding of a space through the occupant’s visual cues and perception. This research explores design and non-design students’ ability to identify environmental settings that promote community-oriented spaces using eye tracking. Prior research at the University of Oregon, led by Megan Knight, analyzed first-year students’ experiences in freshman dormitories regarding community and sense of belonging from an interior perspective. This study was conducted under McMillan and Chavis’ sense of community theory, which includes four elements: membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection. This pilot study analyzed higher education students’ visual perceptions of community-oriented design through two-dimensional images of spaces. Twelve first-year students from design and non-design majors voluntarily participated, measuring every eye fixation and time allotted. After viewing each scene, participants were asked to rate the scene on a five-point Likert scale according to how well the scene promoted community and provide an explanation of the rating. The data was then visualized and studied with corresponding fixation and heat maps. Findings indicated that design students had a more fluid visual comprehension of scenes and architectural elements, while non-design students showed trivial fixation clusters in active areas. Both groups focused heavily on the center of scenes, following perspective lines before diverting attention to individuals within the scenes. This study contributes to understanding how design students perceive community through design and suggests avenues for further research.
Presenters
Milagros ZingoniDirector, School of Interior Architecture, University of Tennessee, Tennessee, United States Abbie Simon
Student, Interior Architecture, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Thinking, Learning, Doing: Plural Ways of Design
KEYWORDS
Community, Eye Tracking, Perception, Design
