Quality of Light: Interior design

Whether an office’s light source is natural, artificial, bright and blue, or dim and yellow, the type of light that employees are exposed to not only impacts mood and physical health but also affects productivity and creativity.

Lighting that is too dim can strain your eyes and make you feel drowsy and tired. Too-bright lighting, on the other hand, can be harsh on your eyes and make your brain work harder causing fatigue and trigger symptoms of migraines.

The colour and temperature of office lighting should vary based on the function of the space. In general, warmer yellow or orange lights tend to be better for relaxing, whereas cooler blue and white lights are good for working, waking up, and concentrating. If possible, the lighting temperature and colour should vary based on the time of day. In the morning, light should ideally be brighter and cooler, to help employees stay alert and concentrate. As the day goes on, the lighting should be warmer, helping employees to wind down. 

As a photographer I pay particular attention to the lighting of any space, appreciating the quality of light in the intensity and temperature. I recently revisited the SAS office project that I photographed for Morgan Lovell which is featuring on Office Snapshots online resource for the global office design community. The space delivers an unparalleled customer experience whilst offering a dynamic and multi-functional environment for their London staff. There is a state-of-the-art reception complete with adaptable mood-lighting, ‘experience corridor’ and Innovation Hub used to showcase their products.

My photography brief included capturing the space in a range of different colour temperatures.