Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Date of Submission

2025-07-30

Advisor

Dr. Tehzeeb Sakina Amir

Committee

Aliya Iqbal Naqvi

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

workplace aesthetics, organizational psychology, workplace design, employee wellbeing, design psychology

Abstract

Workplace aesthetics, natural light, colors, spatial layout, and personalization, are increasingly becoming recognized the world over for their influence on employee wellbeing. Yet, in Pakistan and broader South Asia, such considerations need to be more researched and implemented in organizational design, particularly in traditional or resource-constrained companies. This study investigated how Pakistani employees perceived workplace aesthetics and identified the elements they found most impactful. It also examined how these aesthetic perceptions related to three dimensions of wellbeing: psychological, work, and life satisfaction.

A mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 107 participants using validated instruments from Barton & Le (2023) and Zheng et al. (2015), assessing aesthetic need, perceived aesthetics, and wellbeing. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and independent-samples t-tests were conducted in SPSS. Qualitative data comprised nine interviews and participant-submitted photos, analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis and Gillian Rose’s visual methodology.

A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between aesthetics and wellbeing scores, indicating that more positively perceived workplace aesthetics were associated with greater employee wellbeing. The qualitative findings revealed that natural light, calming colors, greenery, and personalization were consistently valued, while dim/harsh lighting, enclosed spaces, and clutter led to people feeling discomfort in their environment. The findings highlighted that employees valued aesthetic aspects and linked them to their emotional and psychological health.

Pages

141

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