Waiting is something we all experience, but rarely think about. Whether we’re queuing for coffee, sitting in a hospital waiting room, or waiting for a response to a job application, waiting is a moment we all share. But what if waiting itself reveals something deeper about our society? It isn’t just about passing time; it’s often a political act. The way we wait and where we wait can reflect who holds power, who has access, and who doesn’t.
In many parts of the world, waiting in line also happens in contexts of poverty, displacement, or crisis. Refugees in camps or people seeking asylum in different countries often experience waiting as a form of silence, a pause that represents uncertainty, powerlessness, and marginalization. In contrast, those in more privileged positions often experience waiting in comfortable, organized environments like airports or exclusive healthcare clinics. This disparity highlights the way social systems are structured and how public spaces can reinforce inequalities.
Transitional Spaces and the Impact of Design
The spaces where we wait are not just functional areas, they have a strong influence on our emotional and psychological state. The design of a waiting area can either intensify the stress of waiting or help alleviate it. In healthcare settings, for example, well-designed waiting rooms with soft lighting, comfortable seating, and natural elements can reduce anxiety and create a sense of calm. In contrast, cramped, cold spaces with little thought to comfort can intensify frustration and feelings of isolation.
In fact, the design of transitional spaces – those spaces where we pass through or wait – has a powerful impact on how we experience time. Architects and designers use spatial elements like ceiling heights, lighting, and layout to guide our emotional responses. Narrow, confined spaces can create a sense of urgency and pressure, while expansive areas encourage us to slow down, reflect, and take our time. This manipulation of space to affect time and emotion is something that’s as relevant to communication design as it is to architecture.
Reimagining Waiting: More than Just a Pause
Waiting doesn’t have to be a passive activity; it can be an opportunity for connection, reflection, and even solidarity. By rethinking the design of waiting spaces, we can transform them from uncomfortable, isolating areas into spaces that invite interaction and empathy. This is especially important in public settings, where waiting often brings people together in shared, communal experiences.
For example, in public assistance centers, where people wait for food, shelter, or other forms of aid, designers could create environments that foster a sense of dignity and belonging, rather than reinforcing feelings of powerlessness. The inclusion of communal seating, interactive displays, or elements that invite participation can make waiting feel less like a time of discomfort and more like a shared experience.
Connecting Space, Time, and Experience
In both architecture and communication design, the manipulation of space and time can create meaningful experiences. Just as architects use compression and expansion in physical spaces to guide emotional responses, communication designers use pacing, rhythm, and layout to guide how users engage with information. Whether in physical environments or digital platforms, the way we structure time through pauses, delays, or moments of engagement influences how we connect with our surroundings and each other.
In the end, waiting is more than just filling time. It’s a reflection of who we are as a society, how we treat each other, and what we value. By rethinking the spaces where how we wait, we design experiences. We can start to create environments that not only ease the discomfort of waiting but also challenge the systemic inequalities that make waiting so painful for some.
Sources
de Botton, Alain. The Architecture of Happiness. Pantheon Books, 2006.
Whyte, William H. The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. Project for Public Spaces, 1980.
Lohmann, Justus P. K. The Power of the Small: The Role of Public Space in the City. Architekt Verlag, 2017.
The Spaces Between: Psychology of Transitional Spaces. Architizer, 2017.
The Politics of Waiting. The Guardian, 29 May 2010.
