CALM COLLECTION – stress-reductive acoustic ceiling tiles

by science design lab – a collaboration between 13&9 and fractals research for fact design

The Calm Collection merges acoustic ceiling tiles with fractal visuals to help reduce stress in indoor environments.

Research shows that the experience of seeing certain types of fractal patterns induces the same eye movements that occur when we view a natural landscape. This perceptual experience activates a stress-relieving response in our bodies, nurturing a sense of calmness and improving concentration. By combining natural fractal patterns with quieter acoustics, the Calm Collection helps you actively support well-being and productivity in your spaces.

The ScienceDesignLab partnership has led to the generation of a wealth of natural fractal patterns that can be embedded in interiors to nurture stress reduction. According to ScienceDesignLab, “The aim is to generate further patterns in the form of the Fractal Library that will find applications with architects, interior designers, and product manufacturers in diverse environments such as workplace, public, educational and healthcare facilities. We hope that through this commitment to fractal design, we will encourage well-being and improve diverse task performances through concentration restoration.”

DESIGN METHOD
The success of the design strategy lies in the development of software operated both by the scientists in Eugene and the designers in Graz. At times, this allowed patterns to be developed on a 24-hour schedule – when designs were completed at the end of the Austrian day, the patterns were sent over at the start of the Oregon day. It is also worth emphasizing the expertise of the three teams – the “design police,” the “fractal police,” and the “manufacturing police” ensured that there were no weak links as the designs progressed towards their completion. As with all great inter-disciplinary endeavors, creativity was an emergent phenomenon beyond the capabilities of the individual teams.

The design of the collection centered on the fact that natural scenes display ‘fractal composites’ whereby individual fractal objects (branches, water, clouds, etc.) visually merge to form the overall fractal pattern. To visualize the compositional principle underlying these fractals, the team explored the analogy of individual fractal trees combining to generate a fractal forest. Fractal trajectories called Lévy flights were used as the basis of the designs and these flights featured a fractal mix of trajectories with many different flight lengths (Figure above). Much like a bird dropping a seed whenever it lands, the seeds then grew into fractal trees at the locations between the flight trajectories. A second motivation for the ‘bird flight’ composition strategy is that we know eye movements follow fractal trajectories when viewing fractal patterns. These designs therefore placed the tree locations using the same fractal statistics that the eye adopts when viewing them.

CALM BRANCHES
Inspired by glimpses of trees overhead, Calm-Branches creates a visual landscape that helps reduces stress through natural fractal patterns. The design is built from a three-part line, repeated, re-scaled, and rearranged with scientific precision. The resulting surface prompts the same eye movements as a canopy of crisscrossing branches.

CALM CLOUDS
Inspired by a cloud-dappled sky, Calm-Clouds creates a visual landscape that helps reduce stress through natural fractal patterns. The design is built from a small square that is repeated, re-scaled, and rearranged with scientific precision. The resulting surface prompts the same eye movements as drifting clusters of clouds.

CALM WAVES
Inspired by the dynamic patterns of rippling water, Calm-Waves creates a visual landscape that helps reduce stress through natural fractal patterns. The design is built from a small line that is repeated, re-scaled, and rearranged with scientific precision. The resulting surface prompts the same eye movements as the quiet glimmer of a watery surface.

CONFIGURATION
The acoustic tiles are available in unique shapes and four easy neutrals. Just fold and drop into your ceiling grid a 9/16” or 15/16” tee-grid to instantly improve your space. Simply by changing their configuration in the grid, you can create an unlimited variety of calming patterns. The product is also available as a wall tile.