Overview

Theory and Practice. We experience the world based on human perception and cognition, which are well researched fields in psychology, neuropsychology, philosophy, medicine, art, etc. Yet, the science of human perception and cognition are seldom used in formal design process, as designers and design schools do not teach these subjects as core issues in design. For over five decades, we have assisted clients in design, research and testing in the areas of human perception and cognition as they relate to comfort and user satisfaction.

Orfield Laboratories Inc. is the nation’s only independent, multi-sensory design research laboratory, providing design, research and testing in Architecture and Product Development via the use of both objective and subjective measurement. Our orientation is to focus on perceptual comfort, cognitive clarity, satisfaction, and preference as user experience benchmarks.

In Architectural Design, we work in each of the sensory disciplines associated with the built environment.  This includes Acoustics, Lighting, Daylighting, Thermal Comfort, AV, and Indoor Air Quality.  In these areas we assist in defining and measuring user needs and preferences, in the development and execution of building performance standards, and in performing studies of occupancy quality and testing of subjective response to design programs.

In Product Design and Development, we research the unconscious emotions of users, define and measure user needs and preferences, and characterize possible product solutions.

We have provided consulting services across the United States and Canada, as well as to many clients in Europe and Asia.

Specialties. In architecture, we consult on many building types including offices, industrial, civic & government, schools, & higher education, healthcare, senior housing, hospitality, religious, multi-housing, retail, performing arts and sports. With a specialty in human perception and cognition, we approach each of these building types with a special focus on human comfort, performance and preference.  Many of our projects have been published in over 400 national articles about our firm and our work, and have been introduced in over 200 national seminars presented by our labs and other invited speakers.

We have a specialty in perceptual and cognitive disabilities, and their application to universal design. We have a strong interest in projects in the disability field, including aging, autism, mental illness, PTSD, SPD, ADHD, deafness, blindness, and we have in depth experience in senior housing and autism.

Philosophy. It is our belief that clients can do exceptional projects in normal budget ranges if the focus is on the user group and the budgets favor this focus. Our best clients really care about people and their needs, both practical and emotional.  Excellent projects are more about knowledge and the application of good and complex processes than about budgets.  Budgets must be highly oriented to user benefit and far less to spatial and product design.  We believe that aesthetics should be validated by user preference and user resonance (emotional response to subjective measurement).

Summary. Whether our clients are looking for single discipline consulting assistance or comprehensive research design and testing, the firm is a remarkable resource to add to the design team. Located in "Sound 80 Studios, The World's First Digital Recording Studio"(2006), as recognized by Guinness World Records, we have long ties to the recording industry, through Sound 80, our former client. And we have similarly long ties to the acoustic field through our Guinness World Record Anechoic Chamber, which was awarded records in 2005 and 2013 as the "Quietest Place on Earth", and is featured on the web on about 5000 sites at any time.