A lecture series presented by the Solinger Tageblatt and the Remscheider General-Anzeiger in cooperation with the University of Wuppertal.

“Experience teaches us,
that individual colors evoke specific
moods.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We encounter colors everywhere—they surround us, guide us, entice us, warn us, or comfort us. We live in the midst of a colorful universe, and without its messages, we would hardly be able to find our way. Yet although color is our most powerful sensory medium, its profound significance for our lives often goes unnoticed.

Two evenings, two special venues, around 300 enthusiastic guests—and a topic that goes deep beneath the surface: “
” The lectures titled “The Mysterious Power of Colors,” held on May 19 at the Remscheid-Lennep Monastery Church and on June 17 at the Lumen Film Theater in Solingen, were a resounding success. On each occasion, around 150 attendees accepted the invitation to the joint lecture series organized by the Solinger Tageblatt, the Remscheider General-Anzeiger, and the University of Wuppertal—and embarked on a sensory and scientific journey into the world of colors.

Both in the atmospheric monastery church and in the modern Lumen Cinema, it became clear that color is far more than just decoration. Colors do not merely surround us—they shape our emotions, our decisions, and our perception of the world and ourselves. In a vivid and inspiring way, it became evident how colors affect the body, the mind, and culture.

The consistently positive response to both evenings shows that color speaks to all of us—deeply, directly, and universally. Many thanks to everyone who attended and rediscovered the theme of color with open eyes and an open heart. After all, once you’ve learned to see through the eyes of color, you’ll never see the world the same way again.

Der Beitrag Follow-up Report: “The Mysterious Power of Colors” – Two Inspiring Evenings Full of Insight and Wonder erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Color Psychology and Spatial Perception in Architecture and Interior Design

Colors affect us more than we realize! They influence our well-being, our motivation, and even our health. But how can we use colors and light strategically to create healthy, inspiring spaces?

On January 29 in Bonn, we’ll delve together into color psychology and spatial perception. Through interactive presentations and hands-on workshops, we’ll explore methods for thoughtful color design in architecture and interior design.

Highlights:
✅ Scientifically grounded color psychology in interior design
✅ Workshops on the effects of color, light, and perception
✅ Development of a health-promoting color concept

I’m looking forward to an inspiring exchange!

👉 For more information and to register, contact the RAL Academy directly

I’m pleased that our seminar is already fully booked again so early on; you can sign up for the waiting list.

Der Beitrag Health-Promoting Color Schemes erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Opening of the Central Emergency Department at Heliosklinikum Wuppertal-Barmen

It is with great joy and pride that Helios-Klinikum Wuppertal-Barmen is pleased to announce the opening of its new Central Emergency Department, which not only features state-of-the-art medical technology but also introduces an innovative color and lighting concept that has been proven to have positive effects on the well-being and health of patients and staff. This innovative, needs-based color scheme will serve as a model for all central emergency departments within the Helios Group, one of Germany’s largest healthcare companies.

Soothing Atmospheres

Working in an emergency room is inherently challenging. Staff are under enormous pressure around the clock to make quick and accurate decisions to save people’s lives and protect their health. This demanding, high-responsibility, and often stressful environment affects not only the staff but also the patients and their loved ones, who frequently suffer from pain, anxiety, and uncertainty. In such an environment, a calming atmosphere is not only desirable but essential to support the recovery process and promote the well-being of everyone involved.

Positive Interactions Between Light and Surface Colors

To meet this need, the new Central Emergency Department was designed with a forward-thinking color scheme that uses soft, natural shades from the sandy, clay-like, and earthy color spectrum, complemented by invigorating color accents such as sage green and dove blue. These colors help create a calm and healing environment that reduces stress and fosters a positive atmosphere. The furnishings, floors, and doors feature a light, inviting wood finish that radiates warmth and comfort. For the conductive flooring in the monitoring room and the resuscitation rooms—made from particularly sustainable rubber—a new shade in a light clay tone was developed in collaboration between industry and the Institute for Color Psychology; this shade has a particularly natural and inviting appearance. The needs-based lighting design ensures a natural and pleasant environment through light sources with a high color rendering index (CRI 90). People and their surroundings are bathed in natural light, which is particularly effective in the examination rooms with daylight-white lighting and in the waiting and treatment rooms with warm-white lighting, both of which have a calming and relaxing effect.

A needs-based color scheme is not only aesthetically pleasing but also economically attractive

The positive effect of carefully selected lighting and surface colors on patients, staff, and family members has been scientifically proven. It not only promotes general well-being but also supports the healing process by creating an atmosphere that reduces stress and anxiety. Furthermore, it contributes to staff job satisfaction and well-being, which in turn enables higher-quality patient care.

Innovative Corporate Culture

With the corporate colors of the new Central Emergency Department at Helios-Klinikum Wuppertal-Barmen, the hospital is setting a pioneering standard in healthcare. It demonstrates how innovative approaches to design and technology can create an environment that meets not only the physical needs but also the emotional and psychological needs of patients, their families, and staff.

Link to the Helios University Hospital Wuppertal website

Der Beitrag Healing Architecture erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

“Never underestimate the healing effects of beauty.” Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910)

Epilepsy ward for people with multiple disabilities.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Various symptoms can occur during a seizure, such as convulsions, loss of consciousness and uncontrolled movements. The causes of epilepsy are varied and can be genetic or triggered by injuries or diseases of the brain.

Epilepsy patients can benefit from a calm and relaxed atmosphere

No study has yet shown that the seizures and symptoms of epilepsy patients are reduced in a calm and relaxed environment. In any case, an environment in which people feel comfortable helps to reduce stress and anxiety. A quiet environment can also help epilepsy patients to relax better, which can have a positive effect on their mood and well-being.

A feel-good atmosphere as a therapeutic factor?

Indirectly, therefore, we may well succeed not only in improving patients’ well-being, but also in reducing one of the causes of complaints and seizures by creating a calm and safe environment. We are excited to see what findings the next few years will bring.

Our Institute for Color Psychology developed the color concept for the ward in a participatory process together with the medical and nursing staff and the clinic management and will also research the effects of the environmental factors of color and light on the experience and behavior of patients and staff.

The success of any color design, as of architecture as a whole, is reflected in the degree of satisfaction of all people concerned with the changed living environment, their well-being and their health.

Design concept surface colours-light colours:
Institute of Color Psychology Axel Buether and Heike Krauss
Clara Götsch (Internship Assistant)

Architecture: K. Baumunk & J. Engel Architects

Link to the Hephata-Diakonie website

Der Beitrag A feel-good atmosphere as a therapeutic factor in hospitals erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Long white corridors, functional rooms and bright neon lights are images that quickly spring to mind when you think of a hospital. In recent years, colors have been used in the design to ensure better differentiation between floors, for example. Or to differentiate private stations from other areas.

“Until now, it was important for the clinic to provide the same medical treatment for everyone, but in the private clinic, special service, comfort and a nicer ambience are also desired,” says clinic managing director Alexander Holubars. Selected color and light can achieve much more. Thanks to the collaboration with the Institute for Color Psychology at the University of Wuppertal, a new concept has now been implemented for the first time in the private clinic in Krefeld, which follows the principle of “healing architecture”.

You can read the entire article (by editor Yvonne Brandt) on the Westdeutsche Zeitung website

Helios presents a new generation of its rooms in Krefeld

The private clinic at Helios Klinikum Krefeld shows what patient rooms and wards could look like in the future. A new color and lighting design should make it better for everyone – patients, relatives and employees. The next conversion is already in the pipeline.

The colors are soft, they are reminiscent of natural materials such as wood and stone, and the lighting adapts to the time of day – the clinic group is implementing a new concept in the private clinic of the Helios Klinikum Krefeld. The architecture as well as the color and lighting design are intended to enhance the well-being of patients, staff and relatives. Wellness feeling instead of hospital monotony. This is based on the principle of “healing architecture”.

Helios has tested this approach in a pilot project at its Helios University Hospital in Wuppertal. The findings have now been implemented for the first time at the Krefeld private clinic, which has 53 beds.

You can read the entire article on the kma magazine website

Der Beitrag Helios relies on colors for healing erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

The 2nd Nuremberg Forum for Art Therapy and Science offers art therapists from both practice and academia, art therapy students, and colleagues from other health professions
the opportunity to exchange ideas on art therapy research, gain insights into current research projects, and network across disciplines.

My lecture on “Color, light and health” will take place on Saturday, 24.09.2022 from 15:30.

Link to the website of the organizer – Klinikum Nürnberg

Der Beitrag Color, light and health erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

From the 25. to 26. August 2022, the international conference of the German Color Center on “Color and Health” took place at the Humboldt University in Berlin. The focus was on the search for strategies for the sustainable design of a healthy and liveable environment. In the first part, we looked at the influence of the colors of nature and architecture on human health and well-being. The second part focused on presenting forward-looking strategies for dealing with color materials, products and lighting solutions.

The digital conference folder including a timetable, location maps and a participant catalog can be found here!

Program on Thursday, 25.08.2022

8:00–9:00 a.m.:
Start of the event, registration, and welcome coffee

9:00–9:10 a.m.:
Opening Remarks: Prof. Dr. Axel Buether, Chair of the DFZ
, and Prof. Dr. Olaf Müller, Humboldt University

09:10 – 09:30:
Color and Health in an International Context , Verena M. Schindler
Chair Environmental Color Design

09:30 – 11:00: From the perception of nature to the psychology of architecture, moderated by Dr. Alexandra Abel

1. 09:30 – 09:50: Needs-oriented interior design Alexandra Abel, Bauhaus University Weimar
2. 09:00 – 10:10: Plant greenery in outdoor spaces – forest bathing – Shinrin Yoku Prof. Dr. Robert Horres (Asia-Orient Institute Department of Japanese Studies, University of Tübingen)
3. 10:10 – 10:30: Psychology of architecture – A room for Dolf Andrea Möhn architects, Rotterdam Netherlands, mental disabilities
4. 10:20 – 11: 00: Discussion

Abstracts of the contributions to the thematic complex From the perception of nature to the psychology of architecture can be found here.

11:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Coffee break

11:30 – 13:00: Color design and well-being – Towards a needs-oriented sustainable architecture moderated by Prof. Dr. Axel Buether

1. 11:30 – 11:55: Color as a design tool for needs-oriented sustainable architecture, Prof. Dr. Axel Buether, Institute for Color Psychology, University of Wuppertal
2. 11:55 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.: Color and Concept—Soteria Berlin and Beyond: The Therapeutic Effect of the Designed Environment
   Jason Danziger, thinkbuild architecture BDA / Berlin
3. 12:20 – 12:45: What color does to people Nathalie Pagels, Pagels-Farbkonzepte, Düsseldorf
4. 12:45 – 13:00: Discussion with Dr. Wolfgang Reuter, M.A. (former head physician of DKV)

Abstracts of the contributions to the thematic complex Color design and well-being – Towards a needs-oriented sustainable architecture can be found here.

13:00 – 14:30: Lunch break

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Lecture by the winner of the Karl Miescher Prize 2022:
“ Form follows love .” (Online lecture and exhibition of photos and textiles), Anna Heringer

An abstract of the article “Form follows love” by Anna Heringer can be found here!

15:00 – 16:00: On the influence of light quality on health, moderated by Prof. Dr. Axel Buether

1. 15:00 – 15:25: Light and health – what we know about it and what we don’t, Völker, Stephan; Sönnichsen, Kolja; Rothert, Inga – Department of Lighting Technology, Technical University of Berlin, Germany
2. 15:25 – 15:50: Light design for people with dementia, Matthias Boeser, Birgit Bierbaum, Uwe Knappschneider
3. 15:50 – 16:00: Discussion

Abstracts of the contributions to the topic area On the influence of light quality on healthcan be found here.

16:00 – 16:30: Coffee break

16:30 – 18:00: Color and natural materials in art therapymoderated by Corinne Roy

1. 16:30 – 16:50: Artistic therapy with nature, Corinne Roy
2. 16:50 – 17:10: Art therapy work with oncology patients Prof. Dr. Monika Wigger
3. 17:10 – 17:30: Garden of the senses – A nature-based offer for senior citizens, Anna Maria Mintsi-Scholze
4. 17:30 – 17:50: Art therapeutic work with plant color n, Maria Teresa Scafarella
5. 17:50 – 18:00: Discussion

Abstracts of the contributions to the thematic complex Color and natural materials in art therapy can be found here.

18:00 – 18:15: Conclusion of the first conference day

7:00 p.m.: Evening event (registration required):
Beate Schöndienst presents “DOES COLOR TASTE?” – Come Together

Program on Friday, 26.08.2022

08:30 – 09:00: Admission and welcome to the second conference day

09:00 – 10:30 a.m: Color – Material – Nature I , moderated by Dr. Konrad Scheurmann

1. 09:00 – 09:25: Circulation problems – thoughts on the ambivalence of color materials Dr. Konrad Scheurmann, TU-Dresden
2. 09:25 – 09:50: Color – Material – Nature – Biocolour Julia Lohmann, Aalto University Finland
3. 09:50 – 10:15: Living Colors: How bio-based materials open up a new relationship to aesthetics in design Aart van Bezooijen, Faculty of Design and Arts, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy – Founder Material Stories
4. 10:15 – 10:30: Discussion

Abstracts of the contributions to the thematic complex Color – Material – Nature I can be found here.

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.: Coffee break

11:00 – 12:30 a.m: Color – Material – Nature II moderated by Prof. Timo Rieke, HAWK Hildesheim

1. 11:00 – 11:20: Colorants for healthy people Hon. Prof. Dr. Sascha Peters and Diane Drewes, Haute Innovation
2. 11:20 – 11:40: Form Flowing Organism – Algae as a future resource Claudia Bumb, Hanover
3. 11:40 – 12:00: Healing ColorCodes – what does health look like in current design? Livia Baum, trend agency zukunftStil, Hanover
4. 12:00 – 13:20: Future fields of color Prof. Timo Rieke, HAWK Hildesheim
5. 12:00 – 12:10: Discussion on the subject of the topic block

Abstracts of the contributions to the thematic complex Color – Material – Nature II can be found here.

12:30 – 14:00: Lunch break

14:00 – 16:00: Color Design Forum – Current works by young designers moderated by Diane Bergmann, HAWK Hildesheim

14:00 – 14:10: Presentation of the Color Design Forum: The HAWK Color Design Forum reflects current trends and provides designers with a platform for innovative ideas.
14:10 – 14:30: New Ores: Exploring the Wastes of Mining and Metallurgy Through Design, Studio ThusThat (Amsterdam)
14:30 – 14:40: Forest Crayons, Studio Playfool (Dan and Saki Coppen, design engineer)
14:40 – 14:40: Color Signatures, Magdalena Tomoff
14:50 – 15:00: An Experiment with Materials and Color Using Paper Pulp—Soil and Plants in the *Gandersheimer Kreisblatt*, Michelle Häusler
15:00 – 15:10: The Aesthetics of Healing Places, Gabriel Dörner
15:10 – 15:20: When Color Becomes Space: A Methodology for the Spatial Translation of Color Impressions, Johannes Lechner
15:20 – 15:30: Color Culture, Lina Schmidt and Melissa Lindemeyer
15:30 – 15:50: THE MINIMONO PROJECT, Minimo
15:50 – 16:00: Healing Art – Wall and Ceiling Designs That Promote Healing, Resonance Room

Abstracts of the speakers of the thematic complex Color Design Forum – Current works by young designers can be found here.

16:00 – 16:30: Closing remarks

Workshops on August 25 and 26, 2022
All workshops will take place in the adjacent rooms at Humboldt University of Berlin and run concurrently with the presentations in the main hall.
Abstracts for the workshops can be found here!

Thursday, 9:30–10:10: Color Healing – Color and Light as Remedies
Susanne Wied

Thursday, 9:55–10:35: Changes in Color and Light Resulting from the Digitization of Our Environment , Prof. Dr. Klaus Richter and Prof. Florian Süßl

Thursday, 11:30 – 13:00: Production process of Lake Pigment – Pigment from plant parts Lisa Hermann, Hanover

Thursday, 12:00–12:45: Making plant-based paint and painting at Unter den Linden,
Anna Maria Mintsi-Scholze, Monika Wigger, Corinne Roy

Thursday, 14:30 – 15:15: Dyer plants and healing textiles as a learning opportunity for circular thinking in vocational training in Germany and Mozambique, Thomas Mönkemeyer and Wacelia Zacharias

Thursday, 2:45–3:30 p.m.: Colors and Textiles—A Theoretical and Practical Exploration of How Healthy Colors Interact in Textile Interior Designs,
Sarah Maria Schmidt, *Of Pigeons and Sparrows*

Thursday, 4:30–5:15 p.m.: Color and Space – Color Space Operations,
Prof. Timo Rieke, HAWK Hildesheim

Thursday, 17:00 – 17:45: Color and well-being – color psychology in practice, Prof. Axel Venn

Friday, 09:00 – 10:30: Earth and mineral pigments for color design with casein paint, swamp lime paint and lime glaze , chalk time

Friday, 09:25 – 10:10: Energy storage, information carriers and sensory food Dr. Ines Klemm, Latrace GmbH Lucerne

Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: Color as a Creative Impulse,
Barbara Diethelm, Lascaux Colours & Restauro

Friday, 11:30 – 12:15: Natural color profiles as inspiration for interior design: Perceive – translate – design, Beate Breitenstein and Prof. Markus Schlegel, HAWK

Exhibition on 25 and 26.08.2022

As part of the conference, an exhibition of student and independent works on the conference theme was held on the premises of the Humboldt University in Berlin.

Der Beitrag Conference “Color and Health” Man – Nature – Light – Material – Space erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.