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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
The Aroma of Cleaning Liquid Makes People Behave Tidier.
A subtle scent of cleaning liquid can unconsciously inspire tidier behaviour, showing the power of olfactory cues to shape actions and habit

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
3 min read
The Batman Effect.
The Batman Effect shows how pretending to be a hero boosts kids' focus, persistence, and problem-solving by creating psychological distance.


Callie van der Merwe
4 min read
How Façade Details Impact Our Behaviour.
Building façades shape our emotions: monotonous designs dampen mood, while engaging complexity fosters energy, connection, and well-being.

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
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
3 min read
How Shapes Impact Our Behaviour.
Curves comfort, sharp edges provoke—shapes in design impact emotions, behaviour, and how we connect, shaping the spaces we inhabit.


Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
How a Cathedral Helped Discover The Polio Vaccine.
Jonas Salk credited a 13th-century cathedral's awe-inspiring design for sparking the creative breakthrough that led to the polio vaccine.


Callie van der Merwe
3 min read
How The World Around You Shape Your Actions.
Our surroundings subtly influence decisions daily. From stores to apps, environments nudge us, shaping actions more than we realize.


Callie van der Merwe
1 min read
How Ceiling Heights Impact Our Behaviour.
Ceiling height shapes our thoughts—high ceilings inspire creativity, while low ceilings enhance focus, impacting how we experience spaces.


Callie van der Merwe
1 min read
How Mirrors Make Lifts Go Faster.
Otis added mirrors to elevators to reduce perceived wait times—showing that shifting perception can be as effective as speeding things up.


Callie van der Merwe
1 min read
How The Temperature Of a Drink Impacts Our Behaviour.
The temperature of a drink can influence our perceptions—holding a hot cup makes us see others as warm, while an iced drink makes us see the


Callie van der Merwe
2 min read
How Our Memories Impact Our Behaviour.
Our childhood and evolutionary memories shape how we respond to environments, influencing our comfort and behaviour in modern spaces.


Callie van der Merwe
2 min read
Why Design Must Be Science Led.
Neuroarchitecture merges design with science, revealing how spaces impact our minds and bodies, inspiring healthier, human envioments

Callie van der Merwe
4 min read
EnviroHacking in Practice,
Discover how EnviroHacking combines science, technology, and design to create spaces that nurture health, amplify abilities, and inspire wel

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
What is EnviroHacking?
EnviroHacking merges biohacking with design, reshaping environments for enhanced well-being. Welcome to a new era of conscious architecture

Callie van der Merwe
5 min read
Exploring ways to hack our built environment.
Discover how EnviroHacking reshapes our built environment to enhance physical and mental well-being by influencing behaviour and outcomes.
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