Psychology of Design

[jcross]

I am becoming more and more interested in the way we as people react to certain typography, illustrations, color, composition, etc. in the world around us. Anyone can tell you that signage in Mexico is different than New Zealand, but they can't tell you why. Certainly culture and history play a part in localized advertising, but I want to study universal applications. How are we as a people physically and emotionally affected by design?

I would like to know if anyone has some good reading material that explores the subject.

Also, feel free to give your thoughts.

[NilD~Sign]

thats an interest topic to consider for study

[D856C]

There are few things which test out as universal. However, there is a lot to find on my site which has something to do with human computer interaction design -- heavy in user tested elements of human psychology.

Problem is, what the tests show is usually disturbing to the conventional wisdom of graphic design.

Why Your Site Doesn't Need to be Pretty is about testing design. It's a misleading title however. Looks matter, just not the way graphic artists prefer it to.

Information Applied To Graphic Design: Color Psychology The psychology of using color turns out to be completely different from what the Color Astrology charts say. Just as newspaper horoscopes and pop psych are more popular than astronomy or psychology.