- Functionalist perspective: every object must be created with a function in mind. Functionalists feel as though aesthetic and functional must go hand in hand.
- The opposite of a functionalist viewpoint believes that aesthetics and functionality are separate from each other, and that they can be coexisting but not necessarily related. 
- Aesthetic duality: belief that all objects can have a function, but aesthetic value is not determined by the function/ amount of function 
- Some even argue that aesthetics is helpful in organizations to influence human/employee dignity



Syracuse University

Employees in the hospitality industry, specifically hotel employees, are known to be often under high levels of work-related stress. Backstage employees at hotels had significantly lower well-being than the front stage employees, despite their similar level of demand. This difference in well-being is highly attributed to the exposure to aesthetics. The front stage employees are always surrounded by tasteful aesthetics, meant to make people feel at home, while backstage employees are in a much less pleasing setting. This highlights the importance of a workplace that is well-organized and aesthetically pleasing. Being surrounded by pleasantries while at work can elevate employee well-being, and in turn can improve the company's functionality.

Importance of workplace aesthetics for employee well-being

Ksenia Kirillova, Xiaoxiao Fu & Deniz Kucukusta (2020) Workplace design and well-being: aesthetic perceptions of hotel employees, The Service Industries Journal, 40:1-2, 27-49, DOI: 10.1080/02642069.2018.1543411

Workplace design and well-being: aesthetic perceptions of hotel employees

Aesthetics vs. functionality, and the relaitionship between the two

- Objectivism: beauty is something that an object has and can offer to viewers of the object. Views beauty through inherent properties like symmetry.
- Subjectivism: Idea that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder coincides with. Belief that beauty is different for everyone and based o taste. 
- Interactionism: observers appreciate and enjoy objects when there is an element of relatedness. Views aesthetic pleasure as intrinsic and value positive. 
The article does not focus on just one of these outlooks, but instead feels that they compliment each other. 

Objectivism, subjectivism, and interactionalism

The better well-being that employees express in their workplace, the more likely the organization will function at a high level. Employees with solid well-being perform their jobs better, can take on more responsibility , and do better at management positions than their counterparts. Well-being is determined by various factors, but being in an aesthetically pleasing workplace is a fairly simple way to improve the well-being, and therefore job performance, of employees. 

Employee well-being and organizational success

Novelty, typicality, variety, and unity are the four design features, and are believed to have a role in affecting employee well-being in a hotel setting. Design is a prominent aspect of hotel success and a lot goes into how the interior design will make the patrons feel. Novelty was found to not affect well-being as much as the other factors. Unity and typicality allow for comfort and coherence, while a sense of variety allows for brain stimulation. These three factors are found to promote subjective well-being in hotel employees from a design-based approach. 

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