Designing for Focus: The Principles Behind Laminar Workspaces

Design With Intent

At Laminar, we don't just build workspaces — we engineer environments for human performance. Every material choice, every dimension, every lighting decision is backed by research on how physical environments affect cognitive function.

The Four Pillars of Focus Design

1. Acoustic Engineering

Sound is the invisible enemy of concentration. Our workspaces use a multi-layer approach:

• Mass-loaded vinyl barriers — block airborne sound transmission
• Acoustic foam panels — absorb mid and high-frequency reflections
• Sealed construction — eliminate gaps where sound can leak
• Vibration isolation — decouple the workspace from the building structure

The result: a measured STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating of 45+, which means normal speech outside is virtually inaudible inside.

2. Lighting Science

Poor lighting causes eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. Our lighting system is designed around the science of circadian rhythm:

• Color temperature: 4000K-5000K (neutral white) during work hours, mimicking natural daylight
• Brightness: 500 lux at desk level, meeting the ISO standard for office work
• Adjustability: users can dim or brighten to personal preference
• No flicker: LED drivers operate at frequencies above human perception

3. Ergonomic Dimensions

The workspace dimensions are optimized for single-person focus work:

• Desk height: 73cm (standard ergonomic height)
• Seated clearance: minimum 60cm knee space
• Visual privacy: walls extend above seated eye level
• Ventilation: passive airflow design prevents stuffiness without fan noise

4. Material Psychology

Colors and textures affect mood and cognitive performance:

• Warm neutrals — our cream and charcoal palette reduces visual stress
• Natural wood accents — biophilic design elements that reduce cortisol levels
• Matte finishes — eliminate glare and reflections
• Soft-touch surfaces — tactile comfort that signals quality

The Café Integration Challenge

The hardest part of our design process isn't the workspace itself — it's integrating it seamlessly into a café environment. Each installation is custom-fitted to the partner venue, respecting their aesthetic while maintaining our performance standards.

We work closely with café owners to ensure our workspaces feel like a natural extension of their space, not an afterthought.

Continuous Improvement

Every workspace we build teaches us something new. We collect feedback from every session and use it to refine our designs. The workspace you use today is better than the one we built last month — and next month's will be better still.

Great design isn't about making things look good. It's about making things work well for the humans who use them.