Creating positive atmosphere and emotion in an office-like environment: A methodology for the lit environment

Abstract

This study investigated whether positive human emotion can be set as a goal through the lighting design process. The study first used a model of emotion – the circumplex model of affect – to characterise four different emotion states (liveliness, relaxation, tense and gloom). Second, five professional lighting designers were recruited and were asked to devise the concepts of each lively and relaxing workspace lit environment. A total of fifteen lighting scenarios with the intention to explore the four emotion states were configured and their emotional effect was investigated through a controlled experiment via a self-reported questionnaire with 42 participants (within-subject design). The results indicate that positive emotions of liveliness can be cued under two lighting settings and that of relaxation under three lighting settings of varying colour temperatures and light distribution. There was also a promising link between perceived atmosphere and human emotion, indicating that atmosphere could be a predictor for human emotion.