Design is frequently thought of as something visual. In actuality, however, design—digital and physical—influences our emotions, actions, and social interactions. Our surroundings continuously communicate with our senses, impacting everything from our stress levels to our sense of belonging, whether it's the coziness of a well-lit space or the simplicity of a designer's website.
In order to learn more about the psychological effects of design, we interviewed two professionals who take quite different approaches to the field: Maggie Swift, CEO of Unframed Digital, who focuses on the digital experiences that surround physical spaces, and Melinda Woodruff, founder of Rogue Home Interiors, who works with physical spaces.
Walk into a beautifully designed room, and your body responds before your brain even catches up. “My passion for interior design is rooted in the firsthand knowledge of how our environments shape our emotions, fuel our energy, and influence our well-being. Years ago, I came to understand myself better through the lens of being a "Highly Sensitive Person," or HSP. Suddenly, my aversion to fluorescent lighting, dirty windshields, and scratchy clothing tags made perfect sense! And while this label helped me understand myself better, it also served as a powerful reminder of a universal truth: our surroundings profoundly shape our experience, whether we consciously register every nuance or not,” says Melinda Woodruff, who has spent more than 20 years helping homeowners, builders, and architects bring their interiors to life.
Woodruff claims that today's clientele is more concerned with creating clean and Pinterest-perfect spaces. And why not? “A calm, organized space can literally lower cortisol levels. Think of it as decorating your way to tranquillity,” she states.
This is supported by research: a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology discovered that participants' anxiety levels were considerably lowered and their focus was enhanced in areas with natural lighting, soft textures, and purposeful color schemes.
Woodruff creates healing spaces by leveraging these sensory cues. To create relaxing spaces, she suggests, “Pay attention to how your home makes you feel and make the changes (big or small) to create a space that doesn't just look good but actively supports the life you want to live within its walls. This isn't a frivolous indulgence; it's a fundamental investment in your well-being.”
However, what occurs if your initial impression is formed online rather than in a living room?
According to Maggie Swift, whose SEO and digital marketing company, Unframed Digital, exclusively works with architects, interior designers, and the product side of the industry, "the psychology of space extends to digital environments, too." "Your front door is your homepage. A person's brain responds to a cluttered, slow, or generic website in the same way that it would in a chaotic physical setting: they become anxious and leave.”
Swift points out that a bad user experience can cause the same stress reaction as physical chaos. Consider this: users will leave a mobile website that isn't responsive or has unwelcoming content. That is a psychological failing rather than a marketing one.
Swift highlights that tone of voice and content hierarchy are equally as crucial as images. "A gallery alone shouldn't constitute your portfolio. It must have a narrative. Individuals want to be "seen" before completing a contact form. This entails human-feeling copy, intuitive navigation, and trust-building structure.
It's interesting to note that both experts concur on one point: Browsers are eventually won over by comfort, whether it be practical, emotional, or visual.
For Woodruff, it entails being aware of what a customer is actually looking for. “Sometimes they’ll ask for a modern farmhouse or Scandinavian, but really they want to feel safe. It’s our job to decode those needs into materials, layouts, and light.”
For Swift, the goal is to digitally convey the same feeling of ease. "To find out what people are actually looking for, we employ SEO statistics. They frequently search for someone who "gets" them, not just a designer. This is why having a friendly visual identity and content that fosters trust is so important.”
The psychology of design is fundamentally about empathy more than beauty. It's about realizing that people bring their emotions with them, whether they're entering a living room or browsing through an Instagram grid.
“Great design should regulate, not agitate,” says Woodruff. "Your online presence should feel like an extension of your real-world values," Swift continues. When design bridges the gap between technology and humanity, it has a truly significant influence.
Our physical and digital environments have become anchors in a world that is moving more quickly than ever before. They can calm or overwhelm, excite or deplete. They may, however, focus on us if we approach them with consideration.
The details count, whether it's a well-written portfolio page that helps a client feel understood or a textured rug that warms a chilly room. The message is unmistakable in both fields: design is more than just what we can see; it's also what we can feel.