The emotive and semantic content of pattern: an introductory analysis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
13 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This article examines the emotive significance of culturally prominent patterns and sets out an agenda for their purposeful use in design. An exploratory study reviewed 16 distinct patterns and asked participants to judge to what extent a set of emotion terminology related to the aesthetic of each. The results suggest the dynamics of observing aesthetically complex pattern are both exciting and interesting. Drawing on aesthetic theory, it is also argued that discrete geometric motifs within pattern may be subjectively related to emotions such as trust and fear. Connecting these motifs with specific concepts in aesthetic perception and interpretation, it is proposed that pattern can be selectively applied by designers hoping to develop emotively attuned product aesthetics.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)115-135
Number of pages21
JournalDesign Journal
Volume24
Issue number1
Early online date15 Oct 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • pattern design
  • emotion
  • aesthetics
  • semantics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The emotive and semantic content of pattern: an introductory analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this