Abstract:

Numerous of studies, researches, publications have been conducted to clarify the “Psychology of Design”. Records of psychology’ study starts long time ago from the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, China, India, and Persia. Studies have been used to explain and detail the human behavior toward environmental elements theoretically. Concerning psychological applications such as psychology specialism, there is shortage information. People spend 80% of their time indoors, with the presence of various environmental elements, thus these elements are significantly important in the study of “Psychology of Design”.
In the education process, Psychology’ instructors in interior design field are usually trying to explain psychological theories. Explaining how designers’ psychology is associated to their childhood, influenced by their gender, culture, personality and ethnic to apply project design, without considering the fundamental theories of studying this course. This has considerable outcome for post-graduates students, to study the subject philosophically by trying to extract the deep reality of places design, not only in order to look great but to support positively growth and change in human behaviors. Yet, for under-graduates students, additional data should be associated to the design theories list already and explained in “Introduction of Design”, the method should be different, as they are still in the foundation stage. All psychological theories are regardless of linking them with appropriate major or the main field of study. The Interior Design program is the specialization that focuses on particular factors in interior space environment. Thus the “Psychology of Design” course within this program affect design’ students and enhance their formation ability. As “Interior Design” course is the main core course, so linkage and applications should be set up for better usage of this course.
Psychology specialists may follow two research types either; qualitative or quantitative. This research will consider the qualitative one. Selection is based on three segments; (I) Findings are reached through understand behavior in a natural setting. (II) Clarify the link between the two courses are gotten from the class’ discussion perspective. (III) Understand and apply each interior design element’ theoretically result in interior aesthetics and functions.
The main topic includes psychological theories and interior design field is the 16’s Reiss Motivations. From many reviews, analyzes, class discussions and self-experience, especially in the “Interior Design Projects-Programming”, the research will reach applications between the psychological theories and the environmental elements in interior design. Mainly they are divided into two groups; first group touches human sensory including the smelling, hearing, seeing and touching. While second group affects the human physical reactions towards static elements comprising human proxemics, interior spaces elements arrangement and placement. When students realize how to interpret the interiors visually, they can apply this data to their project design. The result: more successful interior design which evolved function and aesthetic manner. Specific guidelines have to be achieved in different parts of the interior environment with taking into account universal features of well-designed interior spaces.

Keywords:

Psychology of Interior Design, Psychology Course, Reiss’ Motivations, Functional Interior, Aesthetic Interiors.