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Susan Chung, PhD, WELL AP, ASID

Susan Chung, PhD, WELL AP, ASID

Senior Research Program Manager

HKS

Dr. Susan Chung is the Associate Director of Research at HKS. Leading enterprise programs for deep-dive research and thought leadership, she strives to link design to outcomes by integrating actionable research into design. Susan’s experience in comprehensive workplace research studies in living laboratory settings speaks to her passion for translating research into action and advocacy for evidence-based and outcome-driven design practices. She previously worked as the Vice President of Research & Knowledge at the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) leading impactful research to advance the built environment industry. Her scholarly research is focused on creative performance and its relationship with physical and social environmental conditions and received her doctorate in Human Behavior and Design from Cornell University.

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  • Are We Addicted to Our Workstations? How Design Can Improve Our Brain Health
    Contains 1 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Are we addicted to our workstations? The modern workplace has thrusted us into multitasking ad nauseum - to be and do everything, everywhere, all at once - and it is taking a toll on our health. HKS and the Center for Brain Health at UT Dallas partnered to study the relationship between brain healthy behaviors and the design of workplace environments. The study included the Center's Brain Healthy Workplace program, which provided on-demand training on brain health strategies intended to facilitate peak performance. Our research found that not only is multitasking bad for us, but our workstations are multitasking alongside us. We found that 43% of employees frequently multitasked and 60% were dissatisfied with their control over their work environment. Employees that embrace flexibility say there are different types of work they do best at home versus in the office - what is preventing us from applying this strategy to the office itself? Our dependence on the workstation prevents us from asking WHAT we need to do before deciding WHERE best to do it. Although the standard workstation offers some level of flexibility in performing tasks, it does not cater to the specific needs for individuals to reach peak performance. Is it time to break the habit and rethink workplace design for better brain health? Can brain healthy design help us break the habit? Join us as we unpack how brain healthy workplaces can unlock new potential in commercial real estate.