Transformative Colour-Resonance Environments (TCRE)

RMIT Course Design | Affective Design Education | Practice-Based Research

#AffectiveDesign #DesignPsychology #ColourPsychology #AudioVisualDesign DesignByResearch #ProductionDesign #ExhibitionDesign #DigitalMediaCuration #CulturalHeritage #Innovation #ProjectManagement #3D #Gamification

Overview

TCRE is a pioneering 24-point course I designed from scratch as inaugural studio lead at RMIT University. It integrates affective design theory, colour psychology, sound design, interaction psychology and virtual exhibition curation, into a comprehensive research-led curriculum that pushes students to understand how audiovisual environments shape emotional and cognitive experience.

Students are inspired to research, prototype, and contextualize how light, colour, and sound create transformative experiences. Individual user-research pathways are integrated within broader fields of UX/interaction design as technical and creative resonance and colour theory and research.  

TCRE challenges students to:

  • Understand colour and sound as spectrum languages for emotional communication

  • Apply empirical research methodologies to subjective aesthetic decisions

  • Design experiences that are both scientifically informed and creatively innovative

  • Document and contextualize their practice-based research as scholarly work

Course Structure & Pedagogy

Research-Led Design Methodology

Students develop individual research pathways exploring:

  • Colour psychology - How hue, saturation, brightness affect mood and cognition

  • Sonic resonance - Psychoacoustic principles and frequency-emotion relationships

  • Audiovisual integration - How sound and light interact to amplify affective impact

  • Cultural semiotics - Understanding how meaning varies across mediums and contexts

Phase 1: Research & Conceptualization

  • Literature review of colour theory, sound psychology, affective design

  • User research and comparative analysis studies

  • Development of research questions and hypotheses

  • Conceptual frameworks for audiovisual-colour resonance

Phase 2: Design & Planning

  • Translation of research into design specifications

  • Production planning and technical documentation

  • Iterative prototyping and user testing

  • Refinement based on empirical and qualitative feedback

Phase 3: Production & Execution

  • Creation of immersive audiovisual environments

  • Application of affective design principles to real-world outputs

  • Technical execution across multiple media (sound, light, interaction)

  • Documentation of process and decision-making

Phase 4: Contextualisation & Exhibition

  • Critical reflection on research and outcomes

  • Curation of work within 3D online immersive galleries (Spatial.io)

  • Professional presentation of both process and product

  • Exhibition design as final assessment of research communication

Innovative Assessment Design

Publicly Accessible Virtual Galleries

Rather than traditional portfolios, students curate their work in 3D navigable exhibition spaces that serve multiple purposes:

  • Exhibition of final work - Immersive presentation of audiovisual outcomes

  • Process documentation - Visual research journey displayed spatially

  • Skills demonstration - Shows technical mastery of 3D environment design

  • Professional portfolio piece - Shareable, impressive showcase for future opportunities

This exhibition design functions as both interactive-design-assessment & portfolio artefact—gives that provides designers with real-world value from their skills development that demonstrates the value of interactive practice-based research.

Technical Competencies

  • Advanced colour theory and application (HSL, RGB, HEX spectrum systems)

  • Psychoacoustic principles for affective sound design

  • 3D environment design and spatial storytelling

  • Research documentation and academic writing

  • Exhibition curation and presentation design

Conceptual Development

  • Understanding affective design as research discipline

  • Applying behavioural psychology to creative practice

  • Systems thinking for experiential design

  • Critical analysis of cultural and contextual meaning

  • Ethical frameworks for persuasive design

Professional Practices

  • Practice-based research methodologies

  • Iterative design and user testing

  • Professional documentation and presentation

  • Cross-disciplinary communication

  • Portfolio development and self-promotion

Student Outcomes & Impact

Transformative Learning Experiences

Student testimonials highlight the course's profound impact:

"TCRE taught me transferable skills regarding colour, sound, and the interplay between them to shape environments/emotions. It definitely helped me develop my sensitivity to colour, sound and emotions and the incorporation of these attributes within design."
— TaiShang Sun, RMIT Alumni

"I learned practical and academic skills that have profoundly shaped my approach to design, including methods in colour psychology theories, semantic colour mapping, resonance analysis, and affective design principles and processes."
— Wunhao Li, 3D Artist / Game Designer

"After TCRE, I have a completely different understanding of colour as a medium of depth, not just surface value. Furthermore, I am now more confident in my knowledge and also feel more attuned to my surroundings."
— Nimuel Nghi Duong, Digital Designer

Career Scope & Advancement

TCRE graduates have gone on to roles in:

  • UX/UI design with emotional intelligence focus

  • Immersive experience design (museums, exhibitions, events)

  • Architectural lighting and environmental design (Physical and Virtual)

  • Digital wellbeing and therapeutic applications

  • Game design and interactive media

Industry & Academic Recognition

Course Innovation

  • First of its kind at RMIT to fully integrate affective design research into undergraduate curriculum

  • Interdisciplinary model combining psychology, design, technology, and creative practice

  • Assessment innovation using 3D virtual galleries as both exhibition and portfolio

  • Practice-based research focus preparing students for research-led industry roles

Key Insights & Pedagogical Innovation

Research as Creative Process

Students learn that rigorous research doesn't constrain creativity—it deepens it. Understanding the "why" behind color and sound choices makes design more intentional and impactful.

Process as Product

The emphasis on documenting and exhibiting research processes teaches students that design thinking itself is valuable, not just final outputs.

Affective Design as Core Competency

Rather than treating emotion as subjective or secondary, TCRE positions affective awareness as a professional skill that can be learned, practiced, and refined.

Digital Exhibition Literacy

Students gain experience with spatial design, virtual curation, and immersive storytelling—skills increasingly valuable in XR, gaming, and digital experience industries.

Deliverables & Student Work Examples

Student projects have explored:

  • Circadian rhythm regulation through adaptive lighting systems

  • Sonic environments for meditation and focus

  • Color-emotion mapping for therapeutic applications

  • Immersive installations exploring cultural color symbolism

  • Interactive audiovisual systems responding to user movement/biometrics

Key Takeaways

  • Both 12pt and 24-point courses designed from scratch as inaugural studio lead

  • Research-led pedagogy integrating psychology, design, and technology

  • Innovative assessment using 3D virtual gallery exhibitions

  • Transformative student outcomes with consistently exceptional feedback

  • Industry-relevant skills preparing graduates for emerging design roles

  • Pedagogical innovation influencing curriculum development across institution

TCRE demonstrates that affective design education can be both academically rigorous and creatively liberating—equipping students with the research skills and emotional intelligence to design meaningful experiences.