Color Matters

In this webinar Colin Ball will explore the widespread use of blue light in modern lighting design, especially in the context of night-time urban environments, and examines the various factors that contribute to its popularity. Despite historical evidence that ancient buildings such as Greek temples and Gothic cathedrals were once brightly colored, many modern lighting designers avoid using colors in lighting for architectural projects, especially for historic buildings. However, blue light continues to dominate contemporary night-time urban lighting. He will explain several possible reasons for this, categorized into political/corporate, emotional, cultural/historic, economic, and physiological factors:

1. Political/Corporate: Blue is a universally accepted color in public and corporate spaces, often used because it is considered neutral and non-controversial. Many corporate logos and public buildings also favor blue, contributing to its prevalence in lighting designs.
2. Emotional: Blue is associated with calming and restful emotions. Its connection to the sky and water makes it a natural choice for external lighting, aligning with the emotional response people have to these natural elements. Studies show that blue light can have a soothing effect, improving concentration and reducing stress.
3. Cultural/Historic: Historically, blue has had significant symbolic meaning, from ancient cultures to modern Western society. It was once a rare and costly pigment, often reserved for religious or symbolic purposes. Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Sumerians, used blue in art and architecture to convey protection, divinity, and eternity.
4. Economic: The advent of blue LED technology has made blue light more affordable and accessible, making it more common in urban lighting projects. Before the LED, blue was an expensive color to produce due to the cost and inefficiency of blue glass filters.
5. Physiological: The paper also touches on the physiological effects of light, particularly blue light, on human health. Blue light is most strongly detected by the rods in the retina, which are responsible for scotopic (low-light) vision. Blue light can also disrupt circadian rhythms by suppressing melatonin production, potentially affecting sleep patterns. Additionally, blue light is difficult for the eye to focus on, as the cones sensitive to blue are fewer and located outside the fovea, the area of the retina responsible for sharp vision.

He will be  questioning whether the widespread use of blue light is thoughtful or merely a trend driven by convenience, tradition, and its emotional appeal. It encourages lighting designers to consider the broader impacts of their color choices, both on the environment and human health, suggesting that the ubiquity of blue might reflect a deeper, perhaps unconscious, reliance on color as a tool for emotional and physiological manipulation in design. Overall, the use of blue light in lighting design is not just a technical choice but a complex decision influenced by history, culture, and biological factors, with implications for both aesthetics and well-being.

Join Colin during this session.