A huge part of interior design is understanding how our environment shapes the way we feel. Experimental science is playing an increasingly important role in this field and is providing valuable insight into how we can use design to create spaces that are conducive to our well-being. In this article, we explore the connection between experimental science and interior design and how it can help us create healthier, happier homes and workplaces.
What is Neuroaesthetics?
Simply put, neuroaesthetics explores the effect that beauty and art have on the human brain and our sense of well-being.
Neuroaesthetics in practice
Google Design Studio, Muuto, Reddymade Architecture + Design Studio, & Johns Hopkins University’s International Arts + Mind Lab collaboration on an experiment at Salone del Mobile
Experiment consisting of three-room installation. Each of the three rooms incorporates design, artwork, colors, textures, lighting, sounds, and scents to exude a distinct personality- from soft and intimate, playful and bright, to natural and neutral.
Exhibit visitors received a wristband that captured data on heart rate, skin temperature, and motion as they passed through each room. At the end of the exhibit, an algorithm created with the help of Johns Hopkins’ Arts + Mind Lab summarized how visitors reacted to each of the rooms. Guests received a print-out of the watercolor from the room that they were most at ease in along with information on the elements within the given room.
Through research on the way the human visual cortex interprets and responds to stimuli, researchers are learning about the neurological elements of design and color psychology. By understanding how the brain processes color and different design elements, designers are able to create interior spaces that are more conducive to learning, productivity, and relaxation.
Professor and neuroscientist, Semir Zeki, has long advocated for the use of neuroaesthetics in interior design to create spaces that are more conducive to mental comfort and productivity. Zeki's research on the visual cortex has provided invaluable insights to designers to help inform their practice. This research has been used to determine which colors, textures, and shapes are most conducive to providing a calming and productive atmosphere.
In conclusion, neuroscience is revolutionizing the field of interior design and allowing us to create more meaningful and purposeful spaces that evoke the emotions we want from the people who use them. By applying scientific evidence to our understanding of how the built environment impacts our emotional and mental states, we can design interior spaces that are tailored to the specific needs and desires of the people using them. This is an exciting development that has the potential to revolutionize the way we design spaces and will have a positive impact on our lives for years to come.
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