March 28th, 2016: Students at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have been expressing their emotions through the application of colours, shapes and design features, as part of an innovative, interactive class to explore the music-design-emotion paradigm.
The class of Design Theory and Music Appreciation & Communication students were challenged to interpret the emotions they felt after hearing three different pieces of music, by drawing designs on paper to represent their state of mind.
The class was organized by Dr. Efthymios Papatzikis, Assistant Professor of Educational Neuroscience, and Ms. Evangelia Diagkou, Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture and Interior Design.
Dr. Papatzikis provided an introduction on the way music affects human emotions, including the concept of chromesthesia, where a sound automatically and involuntarily evokes the thought of a specific colour.
He said, “It is well-known that music affects human emotions. Combining music, psychology and design provides a creative way to express feelings and emotions.”
Ms. Diagkou went on to deliver a lecture about how emotions can be expressed in design, citing famous artists and paintings from history.
She revealed, “With different colors, design elements, and shapes, a designer can emphasize different emotions and express their personal involvement with music.”
After hearing the music, members of the class went on to produce a diverse array of creative designs and imagery, to express their individuals artistic interpretations of the feelings each piece evoked.
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