Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 8-26-2025

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between museum interior design and human emotional responses, focusing on how key design elements—color, lighting, and materials—can be optimized to enhance visitor engagement and emotional well- being. Conducted at the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, Egypt, the research examines two critical spaces along the visitor journey: the Medicine Hall, introducing the experience, and the Writings Hall, situated toward the end of the route, where fatigue and emotional disengagement often occur. Over a nine-week period, a mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating structured observation, behavioral mapping, and AI-assisted image modifications to generate controlled design variations, alongside a questionnaire assessing basic emotional responses (pleasant, happy, sad, angry, joyful) from 120 participants with diverse backgrounds. Findings reveal that combinations such as natural materials paired with warm colors and natural light significantly enhance positive emotions, while artificial lighting, cool colors, and synthetic materials tend to reduce emotional engagement. By accounting for contextual factors like cultural influences and social norms, this research provides nuanced, evidence-based insights into how interior design impacts visitor emotions, offering actionable guidelines for creating emotionally resonant, human-centered museum environments.

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