Design: Symbolism and the Subconscious Mind

[Khettienna]

Disclaimer: This article is just for fun. These ideas were hugely interesting to me as I learned about them in various classes and articles, none of which were entirely credible. I have found them fun to consider while modding, however, so I have recompiled the concepts here to share with others in case it provides them a little more fun, too. Please do not consider this article to be an expression of expectation or standard in any way.

Design: Symbolism and the Subconscious Mind

Symbolism has a huge role in every aspect of design, and in every industry. From times long before recorded history, humans have used symbols to convey meaning. Many symbols have transcended time and culture to universally convey similar meaning no matter when or where they are used, even to the point where it is difficult to scientifically disprove that their meanings are not understood from the time of birth.

You can use symbolism in your design to aid you in projecting certain tones or feelings to the person(s) experiencing your design. The subconscious plays a hugely powerful part in human perception.

Shapes, Lines, & Angles

Right angles and perfect arcs are neat and precise. Use squares, rectangles, and perfect circles anytime you want something formal or classy.

Curves and straight lines are comfortable. Use ovals and rounded corners anytime you want to imply coziness and comfort.

Obtuse angles can look natural or just careless, depending on their placement. Use these to connect focal points and place borders, and also if you need to offset an area looking unnaturally neat.

Acute angles are harsh. Use these to imply danger, unwelcome, or disruption.

Circles also tend to inherently have religious or spiritual significance to the subconscious, even if their application is completely mundane.

Most interiors should have a variety of shapes to "feel" comfortable. Anytime a scene seems to be going too far in one direction, "interrupt" the overwhelming shapes. Place a square rug under a circular table, a circular pillow on an upright chair, a rectangular serving dish on a set table, or an oval rug in front of a rectangular bench.

The eye moves in triangles. As you are cluttering, make triangles with your some of your objects. Not perfect ones, of course, and not always with similar objects - the brain doesn't have to consciously see the triangles to find the scene interesting or pleasing.

Colors

How a person interprets a color is influenced greatly by culture and experience, but there are some near-archetypal implications colors carry for most people. Red, for example, is generally thought of as representing great passion, great anger, or great love - all as a result of being the color of blood. You can be aware of how colors are likely to be subconsciously translated, and use that to your advantage when deciding how you want your interior to "feel".

Note that changing the hue, saturation, or value from a basic color can have a huge impact on its psychological translation. A very dark red might imply ancient evil, while a light red (pink, basically) is more likely to prompt thoughts of baby girls and flowers.

Certain color combinations are also known to generally have common effects. Ever wonder why most fast food logos are red and yellow? That's because those two colors together make most people think of food. Kings are often depicted heavily garbed in gold, blue, and purple ("royal blue" and "royal purple"). Black and yellow always mean "hazard", even when not used on signs - just ask any bumblebee.

As with shapes, most interiors should include a variety of colors. The total absence of any color in some form will be jarring to the mind; so while you may have one or several colors largely dominant, find small ways to include the other parts of the color wheel so none get left out altogether.

Light

It is human nature to fear the unknown. Therefore, lit areas will always be more comfortable than unlit areas.

On the other hand, it is also human nature to fear exposure; thus, over-lit areas will not be much more comfortable than unlit areas.

In this regard, balance is crucial.

Light is an easy way to direct the eye. Good light will attract the eye towards it, so logically you add a little extra light to places you want noticed, and take away from places you don't.

Too much light will cause the eye to move away.

Texture

I mean this in the conventional sense - how things feel when you touch them.

People do not generally like to be around things which pose a safety risk, even minor ones like splinters and scrapes.

The dirty, splintering wood and the ever-present risk of breakage are what steer most people away from "lower class" furnishings.

Not surprisingly, many "upper class" furnishings are less comfortable to use, or even be around, than their "middle class" counterparts. Smooth woods, soft fabrics, and clean surfaces will make a place feel comfortable - but hard corners and scratchy fabrics will not, no matter how pretty the furnishings are.

Space

Here again, the fear of exposure comes into play. Too large a space will feel uncomfortable.

Oppositely, not enough space will make a person feel trapped.

People enjoy having more than enough space for the purpose of the area as long as they feel safe. If they can see everything well enough to identify it from one end of the space to the other, it is probably small enough. If there is enough room to complete tasks without bumping into things and knocking things over, it is probably big enough.

Entrances and exits are a big deal. There should always be a clear path wide enough for a person carrying an armload of stuff to go from one room/area to the next and to the entrance/exit. Over-cluttering these pathways can make a person feel subconsciously trapped, even if there is plenty of room in other parts of the space.

By taking these very fundamental "symbols" into account while you are designing, you can really make a space very pleasant or very unpleasant or anywhere in-between, or inspire any kind of mood you like. Think about how combining these elements causes them to take on new meaning, rather than just a mix of the old. Experiment and see how your creations affect you, and think about why. Mostly, though, just have fun... enjoy a little mystery, courtesy of the amazing human psyche.

[Critterman]

Interesting...

Thanks for this! This will help me whenever I have to clutter

[greenwarden]

Great read. I love reading about design, and I'll add a couple of little thoughts of my own.

The ideas posted above are great for "real life" interior design- making people feel comfortable, creating soothing visual compositions that invite repose and encourage you to stick around- and I love it when house mods use these ideas. But a slightly different and less conservative approach to design can also be fun- and in Oblivion, where we so often play characters rooted in archetype, a more theatrical element can be just the thing to make your house memorable. A good house can also be thought of as a backdrop, or a set, for the stage that our characters are playing their parts on.

On another note- mixing furniture types can create the feeling that a place has evolved and is alive- just as in real life, your houses probably have a mix of things that are expensive, and things that are cheap. Things you saved money for, and things you lucked into. You probably didn't furnish your abode in one fell swoop. It likely evolved as your financial situation and personality did. A lowerclass piece tucked in among the middleclass or upperclass stuff can work. Maybe it's that ratty kitchen table that you use for preparing food, or an upperclass desk that represents a more scholarly character's big splurge. Mix it up and tell a little visual story of the occupant.

[Khettienna]

Absolutely, my Lady, well said!

[greenwarden]

Absolutely, my Lady, well said!

I think it is extremely cool that you posted this in the first place. It's an aspect of modding that sometimes gets overlooked while we are busy learning to master the technical aspects.

[Joben]

Nice article. It goes along with some of the things i've been taught in my Graphic Design classes.