What is Neuroaesthetics?
And why does it matter to new community development?
Interior design trends come and go—as is the very nature of a “trend.” From the ever-popular farmhouse style in the last few years, to modern minimalism that crops up from time to time, these aesthetics are touted by designers and style influencers alike as the “design trend” of the year. It’s time we look beyond trends and focus on timeless design practices that are important enough to stick around.
No matter your personal style, there is no denying that interior design can make you “feel” something, which is why we gravitate to certain aesthetics. How we design our homes and personal spaces has an effect on our emotions. According to “Designing Emotion: The Future is Feeling,” a report on WGSN, “As mental wellness and empathy become areas of focus for consumers, designers are finding creative ways to invest in emotions and the experiences that explore or express them.”
As we continue to grapple with the effects of the global pandemic, from the economy and inflation to the housing market, how we feel at home is more important than ever. Homes are our safe haven, a space of respite from the chaotic world around us. “Interior design can have a profound impact on mental health,” according to Interiors Revitalized. In the same way that the right design can create a calm and serene environment that promotes relaxation and healing, the wrong design can negatively affect our moods and even cognitive function.
This idea of an emotional response to interior design is part of an emerging field of scholarly study that bridges the connection between science and design. Neuroaesthetics is “an emerging field dedicated to understanding the neural processes that are triggered when viewing art, architecture and design,” defined by the WGSN report, “Neuroaesthetics.” In other words, Neuroaesthetics is the study of the intersection between neuroscience, psychology and aesthetics.
The report further states, “Among other findings, this approach demonstrates that exposure to artistic qualities, such as beauty, stimulates the brain's reward system.” What we find beautiful creates an emotional response, bolstering the idea that our interior spaces can impact our mental and physical health.
Creating spaces that positively impact our mental and physical health, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing and functional, is part of a growing interior design practice.
For example, biophilic design is an important principle in the science of interior design. Beyond adding plants into your home, implementing biophilic design includes access to natural views, thoughtful indoor/outdoor connection, and natural light. According to the American Psychological Association, “Access to the outdoors through windows, doors, indoor/outdoor connection boosts mental wellness, helping us to feel calmer, happier.” Spending time in and around nature triggers a physiological response that lowers stress levels.
Interior designers, architects, and builders have a responsibility to create homes that fulfill these needs; to make spaces in which we thrive, emotionally and physically.
There are numerous other examples of the benefits of adopting an approach to design rooted in neuroaesthetics, which is what this educational resource will explore.
Continue learning about neuroaesthetics and the science of design here at www.byangelaharris.com.