Helen Hoang

Workaholics intensive workers

what is my research

struggle to mentally disconnect from working

how it started...

Do you sometimes skip your lunch break as you feel guilty not working ? I do!

Do you feel bad if you donot finish the to-do list before the end of day and then keep thinking about it ? I do!

Then you might want to keep reading!

often misunderstood with long-hour workers and engaged workers ...

work . aholics

struggle disconnect from working to feel busy workhard

due to intrusive thoughts engaged workers

worklong

long-hour workers

intensive industries

factory continuity high demand

healthcare

demanding industries with heavy workload such as healthcare, or architecture

industries that level of continuity assembling line

which industries potentially have many workaholics ?

factory continuity requires high continuity such as line factory

computer-based fixed settings

industries that has fixed work settings (computer-based) such as software engineer

we care about this issue ?

54% prioritize work before personal life

50% work on vacations

45% skip the lunch break at work

current design solutions

design trends for resting break room

hurdles

Why these solutions are not there yet ?

heavy workload

too busy that they cannot find time for the break room

how have designers been dealing with it ? solutions

biophilic work-space nature in space

intrusive

thoughts

lingering thoughts about work make them feel guilty if not working, so they cannot fully enjoy the presence of greenery around them

fixed work settings

physically sticking to their work settings, these workers constantly on working mode or engage in their work and most likely not acknowledge the surround

untapped moment

might be the only moment these intensive workers physically disconnect from working

HOWEVER

it is also the space that people just want to quickly go in and out...

my interventions what attracts

1 . Haptic Str ings

2 . Distorted Lig ht

attracts people for brief a moment ?

3 . Multise ns ory

DAAP

To find out what attracts people in brief moment, I conducted 3 spatial interventions within DAAP which is one of the building within University of Cincinnati campus that have many students studying intensively, with many time fixed settings

haptic strings

level of attraction

after installation

3mm furry wool

fun, bold patterned wool in medium thickness to attract people’s attention while blending into the space

why exit stair ?

Exit stair in DAAP and the restroom share similarity in which they are both spaces that people have to use but do not want to spend much time there

level of

installation

tracing paper

why transitional space ?

This transitional space and the restroom share similarity in which they are both spaces are quiet and through which space people transit fast.

multisensory

2mm thick colored wool

bold colored wool strings soaked in essential oils to attract people in a multisensorial approach

why using odor ?

Odor (68.2%) is second one of the most highly concerned aspects of the public restroom (after cleanliness77.3%)

results from interventions

attract people quickly

All of these will be addressed later in my project

“ organic, soft & fun patterns that

what have I found ?

concerns

in restroom

cleanliness

odor

size of space

lighting qualilty

gender identity

my project

this topic ?

have to want to

exclusive by gender inclusive

my site

my target users

increasing cases

virus exposure stress

long hours of work

76%

burnout

healthcare staffs & why now ?

ED Staff

12 hours

long hours with night-shift

high stress level

emergency cases

30 mins

short break

disconnect from work recharge energy take a break

why is current layout not working ?

restroom by gender

amenities only 1 shower (in staff locker) offices restroom

scattered

The current layout restricts Emergency Dept. staffs to seek resting due to the pressure of transition between spaces and its lack of comfort for relaxation.

key legend

staff resting space

staff working space

public space proposed location

proposed site condition

(lounge/lockers/quiet) restroom

all-gender restroom

added amenities

natural light

what are the advantages of my new site ? proposed

This new site has more advantages than the previous one as it sits close to Public Restroom (which will benefit the plumbing line), the door (marked in red) will separate the Staff zone and Public zone, and it more convenient for transit between spaces

key legend

staff resting space

staff working space

public space

proposed location

project goals

what are the goals

re-introduce

the REST aspect back into the room

goals combined from my research, these are the goals I believe would benefit the staffs working at ED of CCH

foster restoration

foster the feeling of relaxing right at the moment the staffs enter the space

* ED = Emergency Department

* CCH = Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

that my project targeting ?

ease of maintenance

relieve the stress of cleaning, maintenance for the cleaning workers

inclusive to everyone

everyone should have access to resting

design themes

what design languages

re-introduce

the REST aspect back into the room

design themes

what does it mean ?

soft & organic soft texture & organic pattern

languages will I implement in my project ?

automatic & intuitive

simple patterned materials & Intuitive design

semi-transparent different levels of privacy & focus on acoustics

floor plan hallway

how am I space planning ?

scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

(2) entrances

symmetrical layout

symmetrical layout with (2) entrances to give users equal opportunity to access any amenities no matter which entrance they enter

levels of privacy

public toward front flexible enclosure

different privacy levels with public spaces to be open with no doors; semi-private to have smart doors; private to have solid doors with signages

intuitive design

spaces follow color scheme

system of imaginery signage

using colors and imaginary signage to foster intuitive movement through the spaces

zoning

what are my modes of experience ?

public

rest pods nap pods

grooming resting sinks stalls showers

mother’s wellness rooms

semi-private private

enlarged plan

overall plan

key

double sided sinks

automatic faucet/napkin

frameless mirror

integrated lockers

semi private 5-10 mins

overall plan

enlarged plan

smart glass door

floor-to-ceiling partition

writable surface

acoustical gypsum

key components

enlarged plan

overall plan

next to wellness’s room

solid door with signage

cloth hangers

rest pods

semi private 10+ mins

overall plan

enlarged plan

soft palette

tinted glass window

smart glass door

acoustical sheer drapery

key components

nap pods

enlarged plan

overall plan

muted-teal palette

upholstered wall panels

solid door with signage

underneath storage

key components

20+ mins

enlarged plan

overall plan

tinted glass window

upholstered wall panels

solid door with signage

comfortable lounge chair

key components

toward

overall plan

“ toward resting as people make a turn!

Workaholics intensive workers

what is my research

“

struggle to mentally disconnect from working

how it started...

Do you sometimes skip your lunch break as you feel guilty not working ? I do!

Do you feel bad if you donot finish the to-do list before end of day and then keep thinking about it ? I do!

long-hour workers and engaged workers

struggle disconnect from working to feel busy workhard worklong

due to intrusive thoughts engaged workers

intensive industries

factory continuity high demand healthcare

demanding industries with heavy workload such as healthcare, or architecture

industries that level of continuity assembling line

which industries potentially have many workaholics ?

factory continuity requires high continuity such as line factory

computer-based fixed settings

industries that has fixed work settings (computer-based) such as software enginner

we care about this issue ?

54% prioritize work before personal life

50% work on vacations

45% skip the lunch break at work

current design solutions

design trends for resting break room

hurdles

Why these solutions are not there yet ?

heavy workload too busy that they cannot find time for the break room

how have designers been dealing with it ?

biophilic work-space nature in space

intrusive thoughts

lingering thoughts about work make them feel guilty if not working, so they cannot fully enjoy the presence of greenery around them

fixed work settings

physically sticking to their work settings, these workers constantly on working mode or engage in their work and most likely not acknowledge the surround

might be the only moment these intensive workers physically disconnect from working

HOWEVER

it is also the space that people just want to quickly go in and out...

1 . Haptic Str ings

2 . Distorted Lig ht

attracts people for brief a moment ?

. Multise ns ory

DAAP

To find out what attracts people in brief moment, I conducted 3 spatial interventions within DAAP which is one of the building within University of Cincinnati campus that have many students studying intensively, with many time fixed settings

haptic strings

3mm furry wool

fun, bold patterned wool in medium thickness to attract people’s attention while blending into the space

why exit stair ?

Exit stair in DAAP and the restroom share similarity in which they are both spaces that people have to use but do not want to spend much time there

tracing paper

why transitional space ?

This transitional space and the restroom share similarity in which they are both spaces are quiet and through which space people transit fast.

multisensory

2mm thick colored wool

bold colored wool strings soaked in essential oils to attract people in a multisensorial approach

why using odor ?

Odor (68.2%) is second one of the most highly concerned aspects of the public restroom (after cleanliness77.3%)

results from interventions

attract people quickly

All of these will be addressed later in my project

“ organic, soft & fun patterns that

concerns in restroom

cleanliness

odor

size of space

lighting qualilty

gender

identity

my target users

93% anxiety 86% burnout 76% why healthcare

virus exposure stress COVID-19

healthcare staffs & why now ?

12 hours

long hours with night-shift

emergency cases high stress level

disconnect from work

30 mins

short break

recharge energy take a break

why is current layout not working ?

restroom by gender

scattered amenities only 1 shower (in staff locker)

The current layout restricts Emergency Dept. staffs to seek resting due to the pressure of transition between spaces and its lack of comfort for relaxation.

offices restroom

key legend

staff resting space

staff working space

public space

proposed location

(lounge/lockers/quiet)

(lounge/lockers/quiet) restroom

all-gender restroom

added amenities

natural light

what are the advantages of my new site ? proposed

This new site has more advantages than the previous one as it sits close to Public Restroom (which will benefit the plumbing line), the door (marked in red) will separate the Staff zone and Public zone, and it more convenient for transit between spaces

key legend

staff resting space

staff working space

public space

proposed location

project goals

what are the goals

re-introduce the REST aspect back into the room

goals combined from my research, these are the goals I believe would benefit the staffs working at ED of CCH

foster restoration

foster the feeling of relaxing right at the moment the staffs enter the space

* ED = Emergency Department

* CCH = Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

that my project targeting ?

ease of maintenance

relieve the stress of cleaning, maintenance for the cleaning workers

inclusive to everyone

everyone should have access to resting

the REST aspect back into the room

design themes

what does it mean ?

soft & organic soft texture & organic pattern

languages will I implement in my project ?

automatic & intuitive

simple patterned materials & Intuitive design

semi-transparent different levels of privacy & focus on acoustics

floor plan hallway

how am I space planning

scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

(2) entrances

symmetrical layout

symmetrical layout with (2) entrances to give users equal opportunity to access any amenities no matter which entrance they enter

levels of privacy

public toward front flexible enclosure

different privacy levels with public spaces to be open with no doors; semi-private to have smart doors; private to have solid doors with signages

intuitive design

spaces follow color scheme

system of imaginery signage

using colors and imaginery signage to foster intuitive movement through the spaces

what are my modes of experience

public

rest pods nap pods

grooming resting sinks stalls showers

mother’s wellness rooms

semi-private private

overall plan

enlarged plan

double sided sinks

automatic faucet/napkin

frameless mirror

integrated lockers

key components

enlarged plan

overall plan

smart glass door

floor-to-ceiling partition

writable surface

acoustical gypsum

key components

enlarged plan

overall plan

next to wellness’s room

solid door with signage

cloth hangers

key components

overall plan

enlarged plan

soft palette

tinted glass window

smart glass door

acoustical sheer drapery

key components

enlarged plan

overall plan

muted-teal palette

upholstered wall panels

solid door with signage

underneath storage

key components

enlarged plan

overall plan

tinted glass window

upholstered wall panels

solid door with signage

comfortable lounge chair

key components

toward grooming

“

as people enter the REST . room

“ toward resting as people make a turn!

Instructor Woltjer

end of journey