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People above the age of 60 need three times more light than a 20-year-old to perform the same tasks. Providing high light levels with limited amount of glare in eldercare environments enables the residents to function and negotiate their living space with confidence. This study acquired quantitative measurements of light levels in two independent living facilities (ILF) as well as measured the perceptions of the residents regarding their visual environment in these facilities. The results indicate that the quantitative light levels in the ILF were low and inadequate for proper function by the residents in the space when compared to the suggested recommended lighting practice for senior living (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, 2007). However, the residents rated the lighting as average to good or comfortable. The study raises several questions about the positive responses of the seniors as well as provides tips to facilities management on improving the interior lighting quality of their facilities.

Job turnover is often preceded by burnout, a psychological syndrome involving prolonged response to stressors on the job (Maslach & Leiter, 2008). This phenomenon is measured along a continuum ranging from job engaged to full burnout. Higher levels of burnout can result in turnover, excessive absenteeism, and numerous physical and emotional symptoms among employees. The purpose of this study was to assess levels of burnout among practicing interior designers, and identify both individual and situational factors relative to burnout. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-GS) was used to measure burnout and a Job Satisfaction survey gathered basic demographic and situational (job-related) information from practicing interior designers (N = 130). The voluntary and anonymous surveys were distributed via US Mail and the response rate was 52%. Results revealed that study participants were experiencing a moderate level of burnout. However, when compared with other professions, interior designers rated highest in cynicism and second only to nurses in exhaustion, as measured by the MBI-GS. Statistically significant correlations and regressions were found between burnout and the individual factors of age and years of professional practice as well as the situational factors of workload, control, reward, and fairness. The results and implications of the study are relevant to both interior design practitioners and academics and the discussion calls upon these communities to reconsider discipline-based traditions and expectations that may exacerbate burnout to keep practitioners healthy and positively engaged in the profession.

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This study examined the impact of the spectral composition of two artificial light sources, illuminance level, and hue on measures of visual contrast. Saturation‐based color combinations were created within the four hues of red, yellow, green, and purple‐blue. In a repeated measures experimental study, 47 volunteers rated the four hue combinations along several dimensions of visual contrast. The results suggested that saturation contrasts involving yellow hue were evaluated more negatively on visual contrast than any other hue, whereas contrasts in the green hue were evaluated more positively than any other hue. Furthermore, significant interaction effects between hue and light source on all measures of visual contrast were found. This finding supports the notion that depending on the hue range involved, spectral composition of the light source can have an impact on visual contrast. The findings are discussed in terms of future research and implications for design in interior environments.