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COOOP
3 min read
Human Behaviour, Designing For Dining.
Human Behaviour" explores Design-for-Behaviour, a people-first design approach transforming spaces into successful, community-driven venues.
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Callie van der Merwe
7 min read
Design comes last: The key to unlocking highly successful hospitality venues.
Designing hospitality spaces with neuroscience and behaviour in mind creates emotionally engaging, profitable, and highly desired venues.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
EnviroHacking 2025: Shape Your Surroundings, Shape Your Future.
2025 is the year of transformation. Use envirohacking—small changes in your space—to influence behaviour and achieve your goals effectively
Callie van der Merwe
2 min read
A Visible Briefcase Can Increase Competition.
A briefcase in sight can unconsciously trigger competitive behaviour, shaping actions even when people aren't aware of its influence.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
How Flowers Increase Social Connection.
Discover how flowers boost mood, reduce stress, foster connections, and even promote healing, transforming lives and spaces around us.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
Why Mirrors Makes Us Honest.
Mirrors heighten self-awareness, influencing honesty and behaviour by prompting introspection and alignment with personal and social norms.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
How Drunk Tank Pink Changed Prisoner Behaviour.
Drunk-Tank Pink, or Baker-Miller Pink, revolutionized prison design by reducing aggression, proving how colour can transform behaviour
COOOP
2 min read
Design Partnership Rebrands as COOOP
Design Partnership Australia has rebranded as COOOP, marking a bold step in our international expansion. With a legacy of excellence in Desi
Callie van der Merwe
5 min read
How Architecture Predicts Behaviour.
Discover how architecture influences human behaviour, emotions, and health, with insights from neuroscience and design psychology.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
Why Public Spaces Can Cause Feelings of Risk.
Disorienting public spaces can evoke anxiety and risk. Explore how design choices impact our emotions and the need for intuitive navigation.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
We Prefer the Perception of Real Over Real.
We often prioritise the illusion of authenticity over reality, valuing how things appear more than their true essence, even in design and m
Callie van der Merwe
4 min read
How a New School Design is Blamed For Poor Student Behaviour.
Can school design impact student behaviour? A look at Pencoedtre High School reveals how open layouts may exacerbate behavioural challenges
Callie van der Merwe
5 min read
Form follows Feeling.
Design goes beyond function—it's about crafting spaces that evoke emotion, influence behaviour, and enhance well-being through neuroarchitec
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
Bending Time in Restaurants. Why's this is important.
Understanding time perception is key to customer satisfaction. A seamless end to service can outweigh even the best arrival experience.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
Bars with the Correct Ambient Room Light Achieve Higher Sales and Price Points.
Ambient lighting can influence mood, taste, and spending. Discover how colour hues in bars can elevate experiences and boost sales.
Callie van der Merwe
6 min read
Why designing for behaviour in hospitality is so important.
Design for behaviour shapes hospitality spaces to enhance experience, boost engagement, and drive business success through intuitive design.
Callie van der Merwe
2 min read
How Music Volume Shapes Drinking Behaviour in Social Spaces.
Popular music at 88 dB in bars encourages faster drinking, boosting sales. Discover how volume impacts customer behaviour and bar profits.
Callie van der Merwe
6 min read
The 8 Best Seating Layouts For Successful Restaurants.
Understanding 8 seating principles can transform restaurant design by aligning with human behaviour, boosting comfort, connection,
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
Why Is Almost Everyone Drawn to the Visual Settings of East Africa.
Our innate attraction to the East African savannah stems from the "Savannah Hypothesis," linking evolutionary survival to visual preferences
Callie van der Merwe
5 min read
How a great hospitality experience is determined by 6 primary human needs.
Discover how meeting the six fundamental human needs can transform restaurant experiences, fostering deeper connections and guest loyalty.
Callie van der Merwe
5 min read
The Rule of Light in Hospitality.
Explore how circadian rhythms and strategic lighting design in restaurants can enhance ambience, influence behaviour, and elevate dining exp
Callie van der Merwe
5 min read
Why anchoring is so important in restaurants.
Discover how anchoring bias influences customer decisions in restaurants, shaping perceptions of value, price, and quality for higher sales.
Callie van der Merwe
4 min read
What are the Principles of EnviroHacking?
EnviroHacking blends science, design, and sustainability to create spaces that enhance well-being, productivity, and environmental harmony.
Callie van der Merwe
5 min read
Dunbar's number and why it is important for hospitality design.
Discover Dunbar's Number, the theory that humans can maintain 150 meaningful connections, and its impact on design, business, and society.
Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
The colour stories. Things you probably didn’t know about colour. Decoding Perception.
Discover why "the dress" went viral in 2015 and how our perception of colour is shaped by light, environment, and subconscious assumptions.
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