Design from 3 Dimensions Into the Fourth

Our first thoughts about design usually point to what we can see and measure. 
Length, height, width create the container for the space. Then we layer in scale, proportion, 
color, and pattern within the boundary of the space. In order to create balance and 
harmony each element is carefully considered. It is the foundation of good design and 
usually where every project starts.
But a well-designed space takes you a little bit further. Beyond how a setting looks, 
what truly makes design unforgettable is how it feels. The emotional response that gets 
evoked, whether it is a sense of peace, warmth, inspiration, or energy is not measured with 
a measuring tape. It continues to unfold throughout the day as hours pass, lighting 
changes, and the way materials interact with the human body.
As we move through the environment, this is where design enters the fourth 
dimension. For example, a porcelain tile becomes more that a surface selection. Its tone 
can invigorate a room or soften it. The textures that play within the room can ground the 
space or elevate it. A large format tile can create a sense of openness and continuity, while 
smaller patterns and layouts can give rhythm and movement to the space. All these 
choices influence the lived experience within the space, moving it past the visual outcome.
The goal for architects and designers is no longer to just create a beautiful space, 
but to create something that resonates.
Spaces that make the most impact take both the physical and the emotional 
response into consideration. They get constructed carefully in three dimensions, but do not 
become fully realized until the fourth when the design is not just seen, but felt. And that is 
where great design becomes unforgettable.