ABOUT USA new 'lens' to understand reality
theHAPI.org uses eye-tracking and biometric tools to reveal how the built environment shapes human experience.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses biometric tools to reveal the hidden ways buildings, streets, and public spaces shape how we feel, behave, and move through the world.
Why this work matters
Most people sense that some places feel better than others but can't explain why. theHAPI.org's work makes the invisible visible. Using eye-tracking and other biometric tools, we reveal the unconscious responses people have to buildings, streetscapes, and public spaces. That evidence changes how architects design, how planners make decisions, and how communities advocate for better places.
Bridging academia and practice
theHAPI.org was founded by architects, planners, and researchers who saw a gap between what cognitive science reveals about the human experience and what gets applied in design practice. Our board includes published authors, university faculty, and working professionals who bring research directly into the field.
Conferences + Speaking
theHAPI.org hosts conferences, including the International Conference of Urban Experience + Design at Tufts University in 2019 and 2023. Our board members speak at universities, firms, and conferences worldwide.
