Certainty
The need to understand where we are, what is expected of us and what happens next.
In practiceClear routes, visible landmarks and an obvious next step.
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AHFE 2026 · Paper 126
Before anyone speaks, the space has already said something.
I study how people respond to layout, lighting, sound and spatial order, then advise organisations what to change so their spaces work better for the people using them.
30+ years across design and hospitality4,500+ field observationsUnited Kingdom / China
People read a space before they understand it.
The framework
Design begins with the person, not the plan.
An attractive and functional space can still leave someone feeling uncertain, unnoticed or disconnected.
The Six Human Needs framework helps reveal what may be missing. It considers how layout, lighting, sound, materials and sequence can better support the people using the space.
This is not a new theory of human behaviour. The difference lies in how observations are collected in layers, connected and used to guide practical design decisions.
Variety
The need for change, discovery and enough difference to keep attention alive.
In practiceChanges in light, texture or view that reward attention.
Significance
The need to feel noticed, valued and treated as someone who matters.
In practicePersonal choice and details that show someone matters.
Connection
The need to belong, feel welcome and connect comfortably with other people.
In practiceSeating and shared spaces that make interaction feel natural.
Growth
The need for an environment to support learning, progress and possibility.
In practiceSpaces that support learning, exploration and progress.
Contribution
The need to take part, give something back and feel useful to others.
In practiceOpportunities to participate, personalise or give something back.
A plan shows how a space is meant to work.
People’s behaviour shows how it actually works.
How clients can work with me
One framework. Four ways I can help.
I can join at the first client conversation, remain involved through design and return after completion.
- 01
Human Needs Profile
Begin with the earliest client conversations and build a structured profile of the people, priorities and human needs the project should support.
- 02
Behavioural Findings Report
Review a project or completed environment and provide a written report explaining what was observed, what it may mean and what should be explored next.
- 03
Project Guidance
Work alongside the client and project team, from the early design stages through completion, helping decisions remain connected to the people who will use the space.
This can include returning after completion to observe the space in use and guide any adjustments.
- 04
Talks and Presentations
Introduce the Six Human Needs through the lens of design using clear ideas, practical examples and real observations.
A useful next step
Not sure where I could be most useful?
Tell me briefly about your project, and I will reply personally to arrange a suitable time.
About David
A designer who stayed to watch what happened next.
I started by designing spaces. Over time, I became more interested in the people using them.
I began working in Hong Kong in 1992 and have been based in Shenzhen since 2007. My design work has included offices, shops, apartments, individual rooms for private clients, showrooms and clubs, including jazz venues.
My observational research is broader than my project portfolio. I study how people respond in hotels, hospitals, dental clinics, airports and other public and private environments.
Over time, I became less interested in whether a finished space matched the drawing and more interested in what happened when people began using it.
Where did they stop? What did they misunderstand? What helped them feel comfortable enough to move forward?
Training as an English Butler-Valet taught me anticipation and service. Wing Chun taught me to notice movement, balance and response. Co-founding Penny Black Jazz Club gave me a living environment in which to observe how atmosphere, service and spatial choices affect human connection.
I now bring these experiences together as a Design Behaviour Specialist, helping clients and project teams understand how their decisions may affect the people who will use the space.
- 1992
- Began working in Hong Kong
- 2007
- Moved to Shenzhen
- 2015
- Established D.Mac Designs in Shenzhen
- 2015
- Hotel Resources Magazine cover feature
- 2017
- Certified English Butler & Valet
- 2023–2024
- Wing Chun competition champion and certified instructor
- 2026
- AHFE paper published and accepted for presentation
AHFE 2026
Paper 126Conference paper
Designing for the Six Human Needs
A Behaviour-Centred Framework for Emotional Connection in Physical Spaces
The paper presents a practical way to connect human needs with observable behaviour and physical design. It considers environments including hotels, hospitals, classrooms and airports, where people often need to understand what is happening before they can move forward with confidence.
View the paper- Date
- Friday, 24 July 2026
- Session
- 15:30–16:30, Istanbul time
- Format
- Online presentation
- Affiliation
- D.Mac Design, Shenzhen
Library
Social media is where David shares his posts.
The Library is where the thinking is organised.
The Library brings together David’s public writing, selected field notes and practical resources. Here, you can follow how his ideas develop and connect. His complete research archive, methods and unpublished framework development remain private.
The archive is being prepared.SectionWhat it containsAccess
Posts
An archive of posts shared across David’s social media channels.
Articles
Longer, developed pieces about design and behaviour.
Field Notes
Original observations, patterns, evidence and developing ideas.
3–2–1 Design Newsletter
The regular newsletter and its complete archive.
Resources
Cheat sheets, worksheets and practical tools.
The mission
To help the world understand that environments shape people, and that better environments create better lives.
If you are planning, reviewing or improving an environment, David would be pleased to hear what you are trying to understand.
David will reply personally to arrange a suitable time.