Talks & Workshops

How can Design Psychology be used to create authentic, fulfilling places for designers, clients and users? Dr. Israel introduces this new field, defined as “the practice of architecture, planning and interior design in which psychology is the principal design tool.” She gives examples of how Design Psychology is applied to real projects including residential, institutional and corporate projects. Participants complete hands-on exercises from the Design Psychology Toolbox that they can apply to the everyday practice of creating homes, communities and public places.
(One hour lecture accreditation for IIDA, ASID, AIA, IDC, IDEC certification)

How can you use Design Psychology to create home, community and/or healthcare settings that enhance healing? Dr. Israel discusses the important role environmental design can play in creating an oasis in the face of stress, illness or following personal or catastrophic disasters. Through “hands-on” exercises, she illustrates how attendees can determine the personal, nurturing associations they/their clients have with color, fabrics, furniture and special objects. Case study examples provide insight into ways such a “Design Psychology Blueprint” can be used by designers, healthcare professionals and homeowners seeking to create a healing oasis by design.
(One hour lecture)

In this time of personal/economic stress and crisis, let’s create ‘homes we can believe in!’ Dr. Toby Israel, discusses ways to “design from within” as Home Therapy helping people re-invent/revitalize both their sense of self and home. In this interactive talk, inspiring case studies illustrate ways Home Therapy helped those facing life-stresses create authentic, nurturing places. Audience members learn how to design homes of flexible size, configuration, color, materials and memory that not only look good but support positive growth and change.
(One hour lecture)

If everyone loves the idea of high performance eduational facilities, why don’t we have them? In this hands-on lecture you will learn about the consequences of non-high performance educational facilities in contrast to the characteristics and benefits of ‘healthy’ and ‘smart’ educational facilities. Replacing myths with facts, case studies will demonstrate that high performance need not cost more. Leave with your own ‘action plan’ to gain support for and take steps toward creating high performance buildings in your region.
(One hour lecture)

In this hands-on workshop, participants learn how to use a variety of exercises from the “Design Psychology Toolbox” to explore their own and their client's intimate connection with place. By mastering exercises exploring past, present and future sense of place, participants learn how to successfully “design-in” social and psychological space-use requirements. Those taking this workshop gain a meaningful and rigorous programming method that they can use the next day in their own architecture, planning and interior design projects.
(Four hour workshop accreditation for IIDA, ASID, AIA, IDC, IDEC certification)

Dr. Toby Israel presents a series of seminars, workshops and public lectures “in residence” at institutes and university departments of interior design, architecture, planning and psychology around the USA and abroad.