Considering the wellbeing of the end-user has never been more critical for designers. According to a recent Gallop survey, Generation Z, the current generation of college students, are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression at alarming rates. They are struggling with aspects of wellbeing more than previous generations at the same age.

Multi-sensory environments can provide restorative and interactive spaces for students lessening the impacts of this troubling trend. This presentation will share the findings of a research study conducted to measure the effectiveness of a multi-sensory environment on reducing perceived stress and anxiety in students. It will also describe the challenges incorporating multi-sensory environments into college campuses, highlight the benefits students experienced, and provide insight into how the space was used. Participants will learn about the myriad of options for creating multi-sensory spaces, how to incorporate elements of play, and preferred aspects of user control and technology.

This low-budget yet high-impact project was a collaboration between a global design firm and academia, highlighting a strategy for leveraging partnerships between practice and university. Our aim is to encourage the prioritization of these spaces within college campuses and share the benefits of an innovative collaboration.