Evaluation of Visual Performance and Perception in Office Workspaces with Varying Lighting Designs in Indonesia

Abstract

The design of artificial lighting systems in office workspaces in Indonesia generally refers to the 350-lx illuminance standard. However, these standards do not fully reflect the actual visual needs of users, particularly when it comes to visual performance and visual perception. This study aims to determine the optimal level of desktop lighting and the optimal lighting ratio between the desktop and the surrounding area in achieving the visual comfort of the office workspace. This study uses a quantitative method through visual performance and visual perception experiments. Visual performance data was analyzed through homogeneity test and ANOVA test, while visual perception data was analyzed using the Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) method. The results showed that the best visual performance was achieved at the desktop illumination level of 200 lx, while the highest visual perception was obtained at the desktop and surrounding illumination ratio of 1:2. MDS analysis confirms that the most visually comfortable lighting conditions are achieved at a desktop lighting level of 200 lx with a desktop–surrounding ratio of 1:2 (200 lx : 400 lx). These findings provide empirical evidence for the development of office workspace artificial lighting design guidelines that are more responsive to user needs, beyond conventional lighting standards.