Comfortregels

Comfortregels is a term used in Dutch-speaking contexts to refer to guidelines, best practices, and standards aimed at preserving or increasing user comfort in products, spaces and services. The concept covers physical comfort, such as ergonomics and seating, as well as environmental comfort, including temperature, lighting, acoustics, and air quality, and psychological comfort, such as predictability, simplicity, and the avoidance of unnecessary effort or stress.

Applications span several domains. In product and industrial design, comfortregels guide form, weight, grip, and adjustability; in transportation and architecture, they address climate control, sound levels, seating position, daylight, and ventilation; in digital design, they emphasize legible typography, sufficient contrast, intuitive navigation, and clear feedback; in service design, they aim to minimize waiting times and reduce cognitive load through straightforward processes.

Core principles commonly associated with comfortregels include reducing physical and cognitive effort, ensuring safe and reliable operation, providing clear and actionable feedback, supporting accessibility and inclusivity, and maintaining conditions that support well-being, such as appropriate temperature and lighting. They are usually implemented through a combination of standards, checklists, user testing, and iterative design.

Comfortregels are not a universal formal doctrine but a flexible framework used by designers, engineers and architects to balance comfort with usability, safety, cost and practicality. They align with broader disciplines such as ergonomics and human factors and are often reflected in national and international standards, guidelines, and best practices.