The physical world can be a powerful resource to us in creating happier, healthier lives, yet in our pursuit of climbing the career ladder, completing to do lists and generally rushing through life there is a chance we may forget the impact of our environment. We don’t take the time to notice the impacts of how our surroundings make us feel.

Architects and designers spend years developing concepts, planning spaces, choosing colors, lighting, furniture, artwork to evoke a feeling or a memory in a person navigating that space. It is well documented that our brains hold onto memorable environmental features where we use things like plants, artwork, furniture as landmarks which can act as a useful function to encourage the flow of people, help us provide directions, or represent a certain experience.

In a world where we are campaigning for mental health awareness, creating sugar taxes to minimize the obesity crisis and lining the streets about climate change it is staggering that ergonomics and human factors, the very subject that impacts how humans interact with their environment has yet to be fully in the spotlight.The nuclear and aviation sectors for example have recognized the importance of minimizing risk from human error. In healthcare, ergonomics and human factors professionals are working in partnership with clinicians, managers and IT specialists to ensure a safe and resilient healthcare system. Whilst high hazard environments have taken notice of ergonomic strategies over the last few decades it is strange why more mainstream sectors haven't.