Exploration into lighting dynamics for the design of more pleasurable luminaires

Abstract

In this paper a study is described that shows how user perception studies can potentially provide designers with guidance into how to design pleasurable lighting effects using dynamic lighting. The advent of the LED within the lighting industry has been the driving force behind this study since the lighting designer is now faced with many new and often unexplored parameters that this lamp type can offer. One aspect of this complexity is the simple means of including dynamics within a single luminaire. To explore this topic, a luminaire was specially constructed to test with users different lighting dynamics that would represent different moods.The key conclusion from the study is that there are certain lighting dynamics that were perceived as being significantly different from one another and were categorized by the participants as being of a similar mood in the high to low arousal spectrum. These findings showed that there is potential for lighting designers to apply such sequence types and be more confident that their end users will perceive the luminaire as they originally intended.

Communicating Directionality in Flying Robots

“…Similarly, research in abstract luminescent displays [23] and lighting dynamics [18] indicates that light can evoke high-level social and emotional responses. However, to date no work has explored the design of directional signals for flying robots, which requires a consideration of viewing angles, an ability to convey movement in multiple dimensions, the potential for signal occlusion, ambient lighting conditions, and cultural connotations of display properties such as color.…”

Illumination Aesthetics

“…Harrison et al surveyed the design space of point lights in modern devices, notably linking common actuation behaviors ("On w/ Bright Flash") to functional evaluations ("Notification") [10]. Light has been shown to afford emotional reactions and interpretations in objects such as luminaires [12]. Design work in this space has also explored light as an active patina, assigning visual light patterns to recorded user interaction history and activity with a tabletop surface [8].…”