Why did you buy that shirt, mug, or bookmark? Many day-to-day choices involve an aesthetic dimension. This project will estimate to what extent real-life aesthetic decisions are ‘in the eye of the beholder’. We will investigate to what extent daily-life aesthetic decisions can be understood based on our perceptual experience of visual order (e.g., pattern type) and complexity (e.g., variety in color, size). More specifically, we will create parametrically-controlled patterns and designs (using the Order & Complexity Toolbox for Aesthetics; OCTA) and apply them to diverse daily-life products. This will allow us to replicate findings in the field of empirical aesthetics in more real-life contexts, and answer new questions regarding differences in appreciation across cultures, and individuals.

Team:

Dr Eline Van Geert Supervisor
Anja Durnev Administration Manager & Writing Lead
Arielle Tang Yong En Literature & Writing Lead
Ellen Hallantie Implementation Manager & Communication Officer
Lena Silke Schädlich Data Analysis Manager
Nitya Thakur Materials & Questionnaires Lead
Simona Florescu Project Manager & Data Collection Manager