Prompt: Socially Engaging Objects and Environments

An environment or object, in many ways, is a prompt, which has the duality of being both a thing and an action that incites and inspires.
-Tamie Glass in the Introduction of Prompt

Fueled by an increasingly interconnected world, the desire for engaging experiences plays a more critical role in the built environment than ever before, particularly at the scale of the interior. Constructed spaces—in their entirety or through the employment of a single product or piece of furniture—can promote social interactions, encourage changes in behavior, shape perceptions of use, or challenge accepted cultural norms.

As a thought starter for designers, Prompt by Tamie Glass delves into the significance and importance of the built environments in which individuals occupy for approximately 90% of their time. How does a space’s design help shape people’s behaviors and emotions? How does a space connect to individuals and in turn connect individuals to each other?

Throughout her book, Glass offers a curated selection of high- and low-tech examples that express timely and timeless concepts. Ranging from a light switch to art installations and fully realized buildings, the projects illuminate psychosocial principles and specific strategies for harnessing the power of design to impact the human experience.

Tamie Glass, Associate Professor at School of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin

Tamie Glass, Associate Professor an der School of Architecture der University of Texas in Austin