Definition
Poles
Each HES element is a spectrum, not a category: the Low and High poles describe how it presents at its two extremes, while the Reference marks the typical, everyday middle. The poles map variation across the range — neither end is inherently better or worse.
Environment is accidental and disruptive: clutter, sensory irritants, repeated micro-frictions that erode performance.
Environment is intentionally engineered: distractions reduced, access optimized, sensory parameters tuned to the person and the task.
Good local adjustments without stable system maintenance.
Measure
Measuring Methods
Empirical Anchor
Notes
Citation
Human Elements System. (2026). Environmental Design (HES Passport D129, v1.2.4). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/D129
@misc{hes_D129, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Environmental Design}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport D129, v1.2.4}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/D129}} }