Category Archives: Patterns

Why eye-track the Mona Lisa? To see your brain at work!

Posted on July 1, 2019 by

Humans are pattern recognition experts. And looking at Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (c. 1503) below, listed as the world’s most viewed painting,  is a good way to see the pattern we’re most cut out to see. It’s the face, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Biology, Eye Tracking, Patterns, People-centric Design | Leave a comment

‘The Postcard Test’ in Copenhagen + beyond

Posted on March 30, 2019 by

If you want to know which buildings attract people in cities—head to the postcard rack. The postcard above is from Copenhagen by Danish illustrator, Martin Schwartz, who’s created a series that capture “the soul of a city in a single … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Planning, Design, Patterns | Leave a comment

Faces of Japan

Posted on November 13, 2015 by

Have you ever looked at a house and felt it was looking back? Did the windows, doors and threshold resemble a friendly face? Now that I’m attuned to our subconscious bias for faces, I’m on constant lookout for buildings that … Continue reading →

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Architecture that Calls to Us

Posted on September 20, 2015 by

I was heading to the beach the other day when I saw this barn at a nearby local orchard, and I knew I’d have to stop by. The barn seemed to have wide eyes that met my gaze and called … Continue reading →

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The Allure of Repeated Patterns

Posted on September 2, 2015 by

The main draw of the new Broad Museum slated to open in Los Angeles on September 22 is the eye-catching pattern on the building’s skin. Humans are captivated by repeating patterns: dots, diamonds, circles, cross hatches, ovals, stripes, spirals, scallops, … Continue reading →

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