In this episode, host Marie is joined by Iva Durakovic to discuss the importance of creating a sustainable work environment at home. Iva shares insights on optimizing workspace design, integrating biophilic elements, and emphasizing personal well-being for improved productivity and overall effectiveness.
Meet Iva Durakovic
Iva Durakovic is a highly accomplished interior designer and lecturer with over a decade of experience working on award-winning workplace design projects. She holds a First-Class Honors Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree from the University of New South Wales.
Iva’s research expertise focuses on the behavioral impacts and phenomenology of high-performance workplaces, evaluating environments and their cultures to deeply understand the human factors at play across individual, physical, and organizational levels, particularly within the emergent post-2020 workplace contexts.
Additionally, she also worked as the lead on multiple projects at the Sustainable and Healthy Environments (SHE) Lab. Iva collaborates with Associate Professor Candido to blend research, industry, and work-integrated learning initiatives, fostering valuable knowledge exchange between leading practitioners, academics, and the next generation of designers.
About the episode
In this podcast episode, host Marie is joined by Iva Durakovic, an interior designer with extensive expertise in sustainable workplace design. The conversation focused on Iva’s insights and recommendations for creating a sustainable work environment, particularly for those working from home.
Iva began by addressing the growing prevalence of work-from-home setups, which requires optimizing home spaces for productivity. She emphasized that sustainable environments prioritize both physical and psychological well-being, leading to better overall performance.
Throughout the discussion, Iva shared valuable insights, such as the need to consider personal well-being and environmental responsibility in workplace design, the role of identity expression through workspace personalization, and the adaptability required to cater to different tasks and improve overall effectiveness.
Iva also touched on the significance of transition rituals to help define work and personal time, preventing burnout. She discussed the importance of biophilic design, which integrates natural elements to enhance well-being, as well as the influence of color, ergonomics, air quality, and natural light on cognitive function and comfort.
The conversation provided listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted considerations involved in creating a truly sustainable work environment, drawing on Iva’s extensive research and practical experience in the field of interior architecture and workplace design.
In conclusion
The insightful discussion with interior design expert Iva Durakovic has provided a comprehensive understanding of creating sustainable workspaces that prioritize physical and psychological well-being, with her insights emphasizing the importance of personal identity expression, environmental responsibility, and implementing well-researched strategies to unlock the full potential of work-from-home setups. By embracing Iva’s guidance, individuals can cultivate holistic well-being and professional success.
Be the first to see our next episode. Follow us on social media to stay updated:
You can also subscribe and listen to the show on your preferred podcasting platforms:
