Research¶
Phase One¶
Upon preparing five colours (in total four different swatch books, each containing five colours), the questionnaire and Colour Immersion Apparatus, I was able to conduct my first stream of research with willing participants. I had initially decided to give the swatchbook, along with supporting accessories and questionnaire for the participants to conduct the research on their own. However, after a conversation with Tatevik Arakelyan, a dear friend and psychologist, I was advised to be the one asking the questions. She explained that my presence would motivate the participant, which will activate their brain and senses.
| Participant | Swatch Book | Sex | Age | Profession | Time of day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four | M | 28 | Physicist/ Software Engineer | 14:45 | Aphantasia |
| 2 | One | F | 26 | Chef | 15:41 | Visual and creative |
Going through the first two participants, who are very different in both background and character, in some ways even polar opposites, gave surprising answers. While madder reds from Swatch Book Four initially made the first participant feel unsettled & confused, by the end he felt calmness and would spend "a decent amount of time" in a room dominated with that colour because it was comforting.
Participant Two on the other hand experienced emotions, such as strength, loyalty, ancestral pain, while observing madder red of Swatch Book One. By the end of the questionnaire she had faster heart rate, shallow breaths, heightened senses, anxious, alert- watchful.
Participant Two - Swatch Book One
Participant One felt excited while immersed in indigo blue from Swatch Book Four and described the colour as passionate.
On the other hand the blue of Swatch Book One, made Participant Two feel alone, wanting to withdraw and by the end she felt reflective, scared and isolated.
Participant Two - Swatch Book One