Interior Design student Naila Hasan recently presented her research at the 2023 Interior Design Educators Council Southwest Regional Conference, where she received the award for Best Poster Presenter. She was selected to attend the conference and represent OU as a Gibbs College of Architecture Research Dissemination Travel Award recipient.
Hasan presented the results from her recent study, The Relationship Between Natural Lighting and Biophilic Elements and Children’s Behaviors, co-authored by Yeji Yi, assistant professor of Interior Design. This study investigated the impact of natural lighting and biophilic elements on children’s psychological well-being. Hasan wanted to determine the specific behavior changes caused by a lack of natural light and explore how natural light can change an indoor environment to positively influence children.
Yi and Hasan at the IDEC Conference.
Students and teachers spend 5-7 hours in the classroom on the average school day, so it is important to apply sufficient lighting practices in educational settings. According to Hasan, learning spaces with natural light encourage social interactions and make children happier and more active, as compared to spaces with less or no natural lighting. To test this hypothesis, she conducted a study of two libraries with different layouts and natural lighting conditions.
Hasan presenting her poster at the IDEC conference.
Library A had an abundance of light and biophilic design elements, featuring big glass panels and an open concept layout; Library B had a conventional, old structure with traditional windows and lacked natural light. The observational study was conducted between 2-3 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. on two separate days. Throughout the duration of the observation, Hasan documented the children’s activity, including the location and duration of time spent on the activity.
She found that children in Library A were more active, sociable and stayed longer than children in Library B. By comparing these contrasting spaces, she determined that natural lighting is very important for any learning space. As explained by Hasan, “We need to consider it as a primary element while designing. It enhances the space quality for the users, thus having an impact on psychological well-being.”
Hasan would like to thank Professor Suchismita Bhattacharjee for her support.
The Gibbs College of Architecture celebrates fifth-year architecture student Haley Praytor, who has been recognized at the national level for her design work. In early March, Haley received a Graduate Division Award of Merit for her submission to the 2025 Metal Building Manufacturers Association student design competition.
Ronald Frantz Jr., emeritus professor, has been named a 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient, the highest honor presented by Main Street America. The award was announced at the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, recognizing leaders who advance preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
