A world of visual features and aesthetic responses

Hybrid Event

Why do we like what we like?

I argue that this question, fundamental to aesthetics research, is also fundamental to understanding human behaviour more generally. For example, visual appeal is a guiding force in so many of our everyday decisions, from what we purchase and how we design our spaces, to where we travel and the art we enjoy, and even to the people we connect with. Visual aesthetics research offers a unique window into human cognition, exploring how our minds interpret and respond to visual information.

This talk focuses on the visual and contextual factors that drive our aesthetic and emotional judgments, investigating how physical features like colour and curvature influence appraisals of our surroundings. Through studies examining abstract and real-world stimuli, I present evidence that certain visual cues are associated with aesthetic, emotional, and other higher-level judgements, though these associations differ across stimulus contexts. By approaching these questions through cross-disciplinary research, this work demonstrates the importance of aesthetics in understanding how we process, evaluate, and experience the world around us.