How Neuroaesthetics Brings a More Human-Centered Approach to Design

Over the past three years, the way we design spaces has changed dramatically. With the undeniable impact of the pandemic changing not only the way people think about health and wellness, but also the way they live in their homes, thoughtful, human-centered design has become paramount.

This intersection of well-being and design informs the practice of neuroaesthetics, which examines how spaces can positively impact well-being.

"It's the study of how arts and aesthetics measurably alter your brain, body, and behavior," said Susan Magsamen, founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University's Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics. "And all this can be translated into practice."

Neuroesthetics was first formally defined in 2002 as the scientific study of the neural bases for the contemplation and creation of a work of art. Over the next two decades, this definition has expanded to include aesthetic experiences beyond the arts, with scholars categorizing it as "the cognitive neuroscience of aesthetic experience".

In 2016, Magsamen founded the International Arts + Mind Lab, a center for applied research in neuroesthetics at the Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In the years that followed, she partnered with Ivy Ross, vice president of hardware product design at Google, who also held design and marketing roles at Gap Inc., The Disney Store, Art.com, and Old Navy, to conduct research exploring the concept.

Magsamen and Ross have co-authored a book on neuroesthetics, "Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us", which describes some of their research. One such study conducted in Milan featured several room layouts with distinctive features such as curved ceilings or geometric patterns designed to amplify neuroaesthetics. Study participants walked through the rooms wearing wristbands that monitored the body's physiological responses as they entered each vignette.

“Fifty-eight percent of the time, what people's bodies felt was different from their cognitive minds,” Ross said. “The lesson was that our body feels all the time. And I think we walk around in our heads so much, and you can walk into a space and say, "Oh, my friend has a living room like that – I like that." But your body is actually not comfortable in that environment."

Neuroesthetics addresses the gap between what we think we like and what our bodies actually find soothing and attractive. One of the keys to bridging this divide is recognizing that even though humans are brain creatures, our five senses play a major role in how we interact with our environment. These interactions are distinct and different for each person.

"Our neurobiology is different from each other," Magsamen said. “We know how I experience a space and what I need in a space is going to be different than what you might need. And alongside this idea that we feel like thinking creatures, it's also important to note that we are individuals."

This attention to individuality is especially important when designing inclusive spaces. Magsamen said the growing awareness and understanding of neurodivergence has begun to impact how designers and architects approach their work, especially in public spaces.

"I see more knowledge about, for example, how light can inform autistic children and adults, and how you adapt it in public spaces," she said. “You have to think about things like making sure there are opportunities for different kinds of movement in spaces, different colors, different textures. Not all designers design for that, but there are...