Cultivating Comfort: Exploring the Connections Between Scandinavian Design & Wellness

The look and feel of one’s environment, be it built or organic, has great influence on mood, behavior, and general comfort. Through exploratory qualitative research, this study intends to explore the presence of wellness features in Scandinavian Design throughout the growth of the Scandinavian modern movement, and how these practices may be integrated and adapted in both commercial and residential design in the United States (U.S.). What do Scandinavian designers perceive as the essential traits of the Scandinavian design style, and what relationship, if any, exists between these traits and the concept of wellness? To answer this question, the researcher made use of a purposive sampling method based on exploratory qualitative research methodology, conducting three in-person, semi-structured interviews and extracting themes based on thematic coding. During data analysis three primary themes were identified: sustainability, materiality, and community. The data reported in this study provides some insight into Scandinavian designers’ perceptions of their own practices, and begins to connect these factors to a more global approach to architecture and design.