Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Interior Design
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Interior Design
Advisor/Mentor
Rachel Tucci
Committee Member
Laura Terry
Second Committee Member
Sarah McKenzie
Abstract
The physical environment of a classroom plays a crucial role in shaping how students learn, engage, and interact with their education. This study focuses on color’s influence on well-being, focus, and overall academic experience. Many higher education classrooms still rely on a standard that implements neutral colors, which does not always align with student preferences. While prior research has shown that color can have measurable cognitive and emotional effects, its thoughtful application in university settings remains limited. Current architectural design processes often overlook ongoing user-based feedback past the pre-design phase, leaving students without input on the decisions for their learning spaces. This study presents a framework for incorporating user-based feedback into the architectural design process using a color-focused, image-based survey method. Digitally rendered classroom environments serve as the main research tool, with variations in color as the independent variable. Drawing on environmental psychology, prior research on color theory and perception, affective response, and classroom design, the proposed framework captures the process of how students’ emotional reactions to controlled differences in hue and color temperature could affect design decisions. By systematically involving students in the design process, this approach demonstrates how emotional responses can guide color selection and support human-centered design. The proposed framework offers designers a replicable method for translating user preferences, and affective responses, into informed color strategies to create learning environments that better engage, comfort, and improve learning experiences.
Keywords
Color and Emotion; Classroom Design; Environmental Psychology; User-Feedback in Design
Citation
Burns, E. (2026). Affective Perception of Color in Classroom Design. Interior Design Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/idesuht/18
