Doorervaring

Doorervaring, often written deurervaring in Dutch, is a concept used in architecture and design to describe the overall user experience of interacting with doors. It encompasses how doors are perceived, operated, and integrated into a space, including physical effort, sensory feedback, safety, and meaning within the building's layout.

Etymology and usage: The term combines deur (door) and ervaring (experience) and is primarily used in Dutch design discourse. It is not a widely standardized term in international design lexicons, but it serves as a concise label for door-related UX considerations.

Key aspects: Ergonomics of handles, hinges, and latch mechanisms; tactile qualities of surfaces and the acoustics of door movement; visibility and alignment with wayfinding cues; accessibility for people with mobility impairments; safety features such as soft-closing, anti-pinch mechanisms, and glazing for visibility; and the door’s contextual role in signaling privacy, occupancy, and flow within a space.

Applications: In architectural design, product development, and UX research, doorervaring informs the selection of hardware, materials, and placement; guides accessibility improvements in hospitals, schools, and public buildings; and supports studies on environmental psychology and user behavior.

See also: user experience, environmental psychology, wayfinding, inclusive design, human-centered design.