How the application of different colours and textures in a space does, affects the perception of user? Background: The seemingly paradoxical assertion will be ...
Effects of different colours and textures on user’s perception. Megha Joshi, Deakin University
Research Question: How the application of different colours and textures in a space does, affects the perception of user?
Background: The seemingly paradoxical assertion will be made that perception is not based on sensation. That is, it is not based on having sensations … but it is surely based on detecting information – James J. Gibson.
Colours and textures do affect human brain in different ways. There are lots of theories and studies done on that basis. But here, I aim to study how the user perceives a colour and texture in some space and then how he/she tends to use that space. Can these elements be used as stimuli to make the user, use the space it is intended to? Colour can be considered as an element of design. It evokes strong emotional responses and that in turn, affects the human perception. Looking at the textures, they also play as a key element of design. It gives a sense of depth, distance and emotions. Both the elements make the user read and sense the space. It plays an important role in making the ‘sense of place’. For example, in Jewish Museum, Berlin, architect has used metal faces in a space on which people walk. This evokes strong emotional turmoil in the person moving through that space. Where they are automatically driven to think about the pain Jews might have been through. The texture of the surrounding concrete walls is another stimulus that drives that force.
Fig 1: Jewish Museum, Berlin
Furthermore, light when reflected from different colours gives different tones and hues and in turn, there a sense of depth developed in the space. It can at same time, act as guidelines to guide a user to use the defined space. The reflection of light from different textures creates varied effects in a space. All this together can creates different perception in different users. But, through this research, I am looking to get a holistic approach through which different users perceive a common aspect for the defined space. Taking an example of a courtyard, just by changing the material application in floor area, in other words, texture, the use and perception of it changes. Where the material used is grass, i.e., soft texture people are going to perceive it in a different way than that to solid hard material. So analysis of different colours and textures with reference to light reflection and the way it is perceived by human eyes is one aspect of going ahead with this research. Second aspect is developing a way by which different people perceive one space in same way, as what it is meant to be. And the third aspect is how different people perceive one common space in different ways and tend to use the same space in different ways. Textures of any surface acts as stimulus for any perception. How the light is reflected, transmitted or absorbed on that surface is determined by the texture of it. The information detected, helps the user to perceive the distance and depth of the object. Gestalt psychologists describe our inclination to select and order what we see as the principle of figure-ground perception, or our tendency to regard any kind of pattern or form we see as a figure against a background. So there are disorientations when the figure-ground relationships are not apparent for a user. For example, when there is a missing flow of pattern or symmetry in different parts of a space. How does the colour and textures orient the user towards the desired? What are the conflicts in using different colours and textures in a space that creates confusion for the using the space and how it can be resolved?
colour
texture
perception
This diagram shows that colour, texture and user perception are interrelated and also how user perception is derived from the information detected through colour, texture and light.
References: http://140.194.76.129/publications/design-guides/DG_1110-3-122_sec/DG_1110-3-122_Sections/c4.pdf http://www.kritike.org/journal/issue_3/braund_june2008.pdf http://www.flickr.com/photos/doc18/51651214/ http://www.trincoll.edu/~wmace/publications/Ask_inside.pdf
I have contacted Dr. Priya Rajgopalan for my research topic. But the confirmation from her is still pending. As seen from her research profile, she has been research interests in user’s perspective in indoor environments; it might help me getting guidance from her. This would help me understand to proceed about my research area.
