To better understand how architects and interior design professionals engage with biophilic design principles, GrowUp Greenwalls launched a Biophilic Design Scorecard. The goal of this assessment was not to test expertise, but to identify knowledge strengths and gaps within the industry, acknowledging that design professionals are increasingly expected to integrate biophilic strategies while balancing tight timelines and evolving project demands.
The results show a strong overall understanding of biophilic design benefits and implementation, paired with notable gaps in foundational knowledge. This suggests that while biophilia is widely applied in practice, it is not always fully understood at a conceptual level, creating opportunities for clearer, more accessible education.
Key Insight:
The vast majority of respondents demonstrate at least a working understanding of biophilic design. However, only two-thirds reached a “high” knowledge level, indicating room for deeper clarity and confidence, especially around fundamentals.
What this tells us:
Foundational understanding is the weakest area across the assessment. While many designers are applying biophilic elements intuitively, fewer have a firm grasp of:
Supporting data:
The question asking what the literal meaning of “biophilia” is, had the lowest correct response rate at 66%.
A more technical question surrounding natural analogs (one element of biophilic design) scored 76%.
Interpretation:
Biophilic design is often approached visually or stylistically, rather than conceptually. This gap can limit how holistically biophilia is applied across materials, spatial planning, and sensory experience.
What this tells us:
Design professionals have a strong understanding of why biophilic design matters, particularly its impact on health and wellbeing.
Supporting data:
Interpretation:
The industry clearly recognizes biophilia’s role in wellness, especially in healthcare and workplace environments. Slightly lower scores around mental health benefits suggest an opportunity to better communicate the cognitive and emotional outcomes of well-designed biophilic spaces.
What this tells us:
This is the strongest category, indicating that designers feel confident applying biophilic principles in real-world settings.
Interpretation:
Designers excel when biophilia is framed as an integrated, experiential strategy. This reinforces the idea that professionals are comfortable doing biophilic design, even if they’re less confident articulating the theory behind it.
Understanding the theory behind biophilic design is just as important as knowing the solutions themselves. Every space is unique; what works beautifully in one office or hospital room may not translate to another. Designers who grasp the underlying principles of biophilia can adapt and substitute strategies while still achieving the intended benefits.
For example, if a room cannot accommodate a view of nature, a designer might use natural analogs, materials, or multisensory elements to create similar positive impacts on well-being. This flexibility ensures that biophilic design remains effective, intentional, and tailored to each project, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Benefit: Knowledge of the “why” behind biophilic strategies empowers designers to problem-solve creatively and confidently, even in challenging spaces.
Learn more about the benefits of biophilia in Biophilic Architecture: A Practical Guide to Human-Centered Design.
Understanding biophilic design isn’t just “nice to have”, it has a practical, measurable impact on the spaces architects create and the outcomes their clients and occupants experience.
Read: Why Biophilic Design is Essential for Today's Architects & Interior Designers
Designers who understand biophilic theory can go beyond surface-level solutions, creating spaces that truly enhance occupant wellbeing. Strong conceptual knowledge allows them to prioritize elements that deliver the most benefit, such as views of nature, natural lighting, and multisensory materials, rather than relying solely on trends or aesthetic choices.
Practical examples:
Benefit to designers:
A strong conceptual understanding of biophilic design elevates designers’ authority and influence. Clients and project teams increasingly expect clear explanations of design decisions, and being able to articulate the rationale behind biophilic strategies demonstrates expertise.
Professional credibility also extends to collaboration within project teams. Designers who understand biophilic principles can guide engineers, project managers, and contractors in implementing strategies correctly, ensuring that design intent translates into tangible benefits.
Finally, communicating expertise effectively can help firms differentiate themselves in competitive markets. As wellness, sustainability, and evidence-based design become standard expectations, designers who can combine practical implementation with theoretical understanding are more likely to be sought after for high-profile projects, secure repeat clients, and position themselves as innovators shaping the future of design.
Practical examples:
Benefit to designers:
Bottom line: Mastery of both the principles and the benefits of biophilic design transforms designers from implementers into trusted advisors, capable of guiding clients toward spaces that are not only visually appealing but also healthier, more productive, and aligned with human needs.
Designers with deeper knowledge of biophilic principles can intentionally create spaces that support both physical and mental health. While many understand physical benefits, like improved recovery rates in hospitals, mental and emotional outcomes are less commonly applied.
Practical examples:
Benefit to designers:
Knowledge of biophilic principles allows designers to make informed, intentional choices that maximize impact even when constraints arise. Rather than trial-and-error, designers can select materials, layouts, and sensory elements that achieve the desired outcome efficiently.
Practical examples:
Benefit to designers:
Biophilic design is no longer a trend, it’s a baseline expectation in modern architecture and interior design. Designers who understand both the theory and application of biophilia are better positioned to adapt to evolving standards and client demands.
Practical examples:
Benefit to designers:
Deeper biophilic knowledge empowers architects and interior designers to:
GrowUp Greenwalls makes biophilic education accessible, practical, and actionable, helping busy professionals bridge the gap between knowledge and real-world application.
GrowUp Greenwalls makes biophilic education accessible, practical, and time-efficient, helping busy architects and designers bridge the gap between knowledge and application. By understanding the “why” and the “how” behind biophilic principles, professionals can:
In order to provide the resources necessary for architects and designers to grow their practice, GrowUp Greenwalls offers free online continuing education courses that cover biophilic design concepts as well as implementation tactics. Individuals belonging to the following organizations will get CE units for attending: AIA, BOMI, IWBI, GBCI, IDCEC (CIDQ, IDC, IIDA, ASID).
Sign up for a free online course today.
Curious how your biophilic design knowledge compares to your peers? Take the GrowUp Biophilic Design Assessment now and discover your score.