In Shaping the Human Experience, universally acclaimed interior designer Suraj Bhatia and Dr. Ray Lutzky, an expert professor of Human-Computer Interaction, combine their expertise to explore the powerful role of design in shaping our lives. Drawing on years of experience, they examine how our interactions with both physical and digital environments influence our physiological and psychological well-being. The book discusses the art and science of designing spaces-from interiors to user interfaces-revealing how thoughtful design can enhance and also hinder human experiences. Highlighting the intersections and distinctions between digital and physical design, Bhatia and Lutzky provide valuable insights for creating environments that truly serve to enhance the experiences of the people who inhabit them.
What Leaders Are Saying About The Book:
“What stands out most is [the authors’] commitment to empathy—reminding us that great design is never just about aesthetics or technology, but about truly understanding people. This book doesn’t just teach you how to create better products, spaces, and experiences; it reframes how you see the world and the responsibility designers carry in shaping it.”
Joseph J. Itaya, Associate Professor of Practice in Communication
University Southern California Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism
“The book’s framing of business strategy felt especially resonant: the emphasis on identifying a real human need, ensuring the capability to execute, and safeguarding the sustainability of the experience echoes the core values we uphold in practice. Through it all, our responsibility as designers remains constant: to keep asking what humans need and how they engage with the experiences we create. The authors make a compelling case for data as a grounding tool, one that invites multiple perspectives and enriches the creative thinking process by providing a firm place to stand. It revealed how research can gift us different purposes over time, ultimately deepening the experiences we design.”
Samantha Josaphat-Medina, RA, LEED, Principal
STUDIO 397 Architecture PLLC
“Shaping the Human Experience…brilliantly weaves together insights from architecture, UX design, and human-centered research to create a unified framework for understanding how we shape—and are shaped by—the spaces we inhabit. As a design scholar, I appreciate the book’s pedagogical approach to research methodologies. The authors’ mantra that ‘all feedback is a gift’ and their discussion of mixed-methods research provide students with both theoretical grounding and practical tools. The emphasis on empathy, cultural context, and ethical research practices aligns with contemporary calls to diversify and decolonize design education and develop more inclusive pedagogy.”
Audrey G Bennett, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor
University of Michigan
“This book succeeds in articulating what many of us in human-centered disciplines have understood intuitively for years: that the boundaries between physical space, digital interfaces, and human psychology have collapsed, and the future of effective design—and effective leadership—lies in understanding these domains as a single, integrated ecosystem. The chapters on qualitative and quantitative research should be required reading for every computer science and design student. Many of the errors I see in capstone and research-intensive courses come from misunderstanding the purpose, methods, and limitations of data. This book is a thoughtful, interdisciplinary, and deeply human contribution to design literature. It speaks to designers, architects, technologists, educators, and leaders with equal sophistication. Most importantly, it insists that good design is not about cleverness but about care.”
Jonathan H. Hill, DPS, Interim Provost & Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Former Dean of Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Pace University
“Bhatia and Lutzky are a dynamic duo combining creative design leadership with research-driven insight. Shaping the Human Experience is more than a guide; it is a masterclass in strategic thinking, grounded in essential frameworks and brought to life through relatable stories, personal anecdotes, and examples from my favorite topics, fashion and commerce. This book inspires students and professionals to design with empathy, data, and bold creativity.”
Liz Burow, Principal, Advisory Services
Perkins&Will
“Shaping the Human Experience provides a modern-day update to the age-old topic of human-centered design. Bringing together examples from interactive product design to building management to information design, Bhatia and Lutzky acquaint readers with the importance of design to product success and brand credibility. They consider how modern-day data-driven research methods are increasingly being incorporated into design, and why that matters.”
Wendy Ju, Associate Professor of Information Science and Design Technology
Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech