Episode 5: Material Comforts

With Professor Harriet Shortt, Head of Knowledge Exchange at Bath Spa University

Comfort is more than temperature or ergonomics  - it’s a sensory experience. Every surface we touch, pattern we see and texture we feel contributes to how we engage with the spaces around us. These micro-details shape our emotions, our focus and even our sense of belonging.

As our understanding of workplace comfort evolves, it’s clear that good design is not just about functionality - it’s about creating spaces that feel right on every level.

In this episode, we are joined by Professor Harriet Shortt, Head of Knowledge Exchange at Bath Spa University and a leading researcher in workplace design and organisational behaviour. Harriet’s pioneering work explores how sensory experiences - from materials to light, colour, and texture - influence well-being, identity, and inclusion in the workplace.

This episode includes:

• The Sensory Landscape of Work – why micro-details like texture, pattern, and material finish have such a powerful effect on comfort and concentration.
• Senses of Belonging – how inclusive design helps people feel visible, valued, and at home in the workplace.
• Designing with Empathy – why understanding how people feel in a space is as important as how it looks or performs.
• Curating Comfort – lessons from post-occupancy research on how sensory awareness can lead to more human, responsive environments.

Explore and watch more episodes at Flooring Matters I Shaw Contract EMEA

Season 1: The Comfort Zone produced in conjunction with Workplace Insight