Dear Readers

In this issue we cover an atypical venue—museums—with special attention to science museums. We hope you will enjoy this look at designing places and exhibits that promote learning. Our expert, Guy Newsham, gives us a guided tour in Expert's Corner of online tools to help office design. As always, we review important research covering both outdoor and interior places—in this case, from studies on how to promote walking in neighborhoods to color preferences.

I think it is significant that two of our articles in this issue emphasize an aspect of designing places for people that perhaps hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. The article on museum exhibit design and our article on new hospital paradigms both discuss the importance of designing spaces that recognize the social dimension of experience. We do most things with other people, such as go to a museum or zoo, and even our hospital visits involve a strong social component. The general public is becoming more knowledgeable about how place can affect individuals, but that recognition needs to be expanded to include an understanding of how place can encourage beneficial social interactions. It's about place and people, not place and person. Thank you again for subscribing to RDC. Together we will make a difference.