People Flows: Lighting

When designing places likely to see large people flows, there are various design constraints on the spaces in terms of the pedestrian paths, escape routes and accessibility, but also in terms of the visual and perceptual experience as well as perceived comfort. Lighting design plays a key role in all of these aspects of design, using light as a tool both to guide the choices people make in terms of the paths they follow and to encourage them to choose certain areas to rest or interact with others. Beyond the regulatory constraints laid down for various areas of application - such as, for example, shopping centres, airports, stations - and the many design variants that can have an impact on the lighting design, light represents an important environmental stimulus, as revealed by the in-depth research conducted in recent decades by behavioural psychologists. The power that lighting has in influencing human behaviour has been demonstrated since the first studies conducted by Flynn1 and Bartholomew2 in the 1970s, and later explored in greater depth with numerous studies in the fields of psychology3,4, education5,6, work7,8 and marketing9,10. The colours used for interior spaces dedicated to sales11, in combination with the lighting, can also have an effect on the length of time people spend in the shop and the amount they ultimately purchase12