This project investigates the influence of colours on the atmosphere of various spaces, focusing on their visual and emotional effects. Colours have a profound impact, evoking different emotional responses depending on the context.
The Caring Society concept deeply resonates with the importance of prioritising the well-being of both individuals and society as a whole.
Colour as an Expression of Care
Visually, colours play a significant role in evoking emotional responses to specific environments. This project involves experiments conducted in spaces within the RCA Kensington campus that lack vibrancy, aiming to use colours to transform the overall mood of these areas. It also examines personal interpretations of colours, using a mood chart to track emotional responses on a weekly basis.
Project Members and Roles
The team consisted of a dynamic blend of talents from various programmes within the RCA community: Hanna Fastrich from MA Ceramics and Glass, Keith Gunning from MA Fashion, Lucy Bishop from MA Textiles, Mateusz Baran from MA Visual Communication, Oyinkan Omotola from MA Architecture, and Mithil Suresh from MA Design Products.
Research and Idea Shaping
Drawing inspiration from vibrant street art, colourful playgrounds, and basketball courts, the goal was to infuse creativity into ordinary spaces. Through a collective exploration of colours, the process aimed to uncover hidden depths of inspiration and unlock boundless creativity, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary.
The colour wheel was used to explore the significance and emotional connotations of each hue. Visits to the colour library on the Kensington campus further enriched the understanding of colour theory. Research also included authoritative books such as Colour and Human Responses by Faber Birren, The Psychology of Colour and Design by Deborah T. Sharpe, Colour in Your World by Faber Birren, The Little Book of Colour by Karen Haller, ROY G BIV by Jude Stewart, The Colour: A Visual History by Alexandra Loske, The History of Colour by Neil Parkinson, and several others.
Execution 1
An uncared-for space, characterised by a dull atmosphere and artificial lighting, was identified. To revitalise the area, colour was introduced through lighting. Strips of coloured material were created and placed over the light boxes, transforming the space with a dynamic and engaging visual effect.
Pink colour films were initially used, with plans to rotate the colours weekly to influence the moods of those passing through the corridor. The response from users and staff was overwhelmingly positive.
Execution 2
Green films were chosen to gauge the experience, with the reasoning that this colour would attract attention while maintaining the functionality of the thoroughfare leading to the Art Bar.
Feedback from peers indicated that the result appeared intimidating and poorly lit.
Future Focus
Key focal points were identified for future projects, emphasising the engagement of public spaces for conceptualisation and meaningful discourse. To provide a practical solution, the integration of transparent colour film blinds was proposed. These blinds offer a versatile and adaptable approach to changing the colours of a space to suit different preferences.
