The Psychology of Light, Emotion, and Space

In a world where we know almost everything around us can affect our mood and behavior, neon signs aren’t just cool lighting; they’re essentially mood rings, but IRL.

Instead of altering your temperament with just a change in color, they completely influence the way you feel and the way you occupy a space.

But neon signs aren’t simply a way to make a statement. They blend psychology, design theory, and cultural factors to create a dynamic that can alter the way we experience both personal and communal spaces. With a cool shade of blue, a neon-filled meditation nook can help soothe both your thoughts and your soul. With the power of an attention-grabbing red, a café can draw customers in before making it easier for them to order another coffee.

The right neon sign evokes emotions, changes how we understand and appreciate the concept of space, and even influences purpose. Businesses like Yellowpop have taken note of this compelling relationship between light and feelings and now offer bespoke neon and LED spaces that do more for a space than just “looking cool.” Instead of something that’s easily overlooked, an installation like this can be attention-grabbing, memorable, and something that resonates with the heart, the mind, and the soul.

How Neon Affects Our Emotions

Light can be a powerful experience for the human mind. White light makes us feel more alert and awake, amber light makes us want to settle down, and exaggerated colors can make us physically feel more energetic. Neon signs take this up another notch by incorporating color with meaning-carrying words and shapes.

Studies in environmental psychology have indicated that color and the intensity of light can significantly impact our mood and the state of our mind. Muted neon colors, like a pale pink or pale blue, promote a sense of calm, and when placed in a private space (bedrooms, a small in-home library). It can also be quite inviting and comfortable for the viewer. Bolder colors (think electric blue, bright red) can heighten stimuli and improve focus on a specific object, place, or idea. This makes it an appealing tool for businesses to use as a mental arm-twister for their customer base in high-activity areas.

This emotional overlay can create versatility, and that’s why there’s a time and a place for neon. They’re more than just visually appealing art. They catch the viewer’s emotion, and it can help tranquilize the human mental landscape a bit. Changing your frame of mind for the moment.

Designing Emotional Spaces with Neon

When creating a space — whether a home office, art studio, or retail shop — it’s important to be in tune with the emotional dialogue you want to express. Neon signs tend to be the middle ground where visual art and emotion become one.

Personal Spaces

When used in residential settings, neon outlets convey personal emotion and can have a big impact on your overall day-to-day feelings. Imagine a neon affirmation that reads “Breathe” beams down on your home yoga mat or “Good Vibes Only” on display in your living area. These phrases aren’t only hung up on your wall to look at, they also act as a subconscious personal reminder for what your mood and headspace should strive for.

Making sure the expression you choose and its color are reflective of the space is important to note. Use a cooler lavender or green tone with a soothing mantra in resting areas or a radical hot pink or red with a piece that raises space for more intense creative problem-solving environment areas such as studios or home gyms. When hung up in the correct space, neon can offer relaxing or motivating affirmations that encourage a temporary emotional drive for while you’re in the room.

Commercial Impact

For businesses, it’s not enough to say something; you must communicate it strategically. More and more, retailers and hospitality businesses are using neon in the design of their spaces in order to evoke an emotion as soon as the customer has entered the store, restaurant, or hotel. A combination of colors or a particular style of lettering can create a mood that can do the work of marketing before the customer ever sees the products or services on offer. Silly, scrawled lettering on a neon sign evokes friendly and fun vibes, making the tiny store feel cute and approachable, while minimalistic, geometric neon sign options give the little cafe in a converted bookstore some classy, modern vibes.

A business can create one-of-a-kind neon designs to perfectly match their message and style. To ensure that each location’s neon fits in with their business’s theme, Yellowpop allows customization of both the message and the aesthetic. A display, such as of course at check-out, right by the entrance, or on the pink neon sign wall that companies place specifically so their customers can share their visit on social media, can help boost customer morale, and, in the case of the phone, create some free advertising.

The Future of Neon and Human-Centered Design

As design continues to shift into the realm of psychology, technology, and thoughtful expression, it is becoming increasingly dynamic. And nowhere is this more true than at the forefront of this shift, with neon signs. They light the way and pretty up the place, but they also speak, invigorate, calm, and inspire.

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