Normally architects organize space to make the experience as efficient as possible. At IKEA though, however, the (almost ‘urban’) designers deliberately set out to confuse people, drawing them into buying things that are not on their shopping list. If you like to watch this phenomenon being scientifically analyzed in extreme detail, meanwhile enjoying the view of various (heat)maps, graphs, 3D reconstructions and other illustrations, then be sure to watch the recording of a talk (the IKEA case in particular starts around the 24:30 mark), by Alan Penn, Professor of Architectural and Urban Computing at The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London. (via A Visual Analysis of How People Shop in IKEA - information aesthetics)
