nostalgic influences

Dopamine design is a relatively recent trend in interior design, evolved from the concept of “dopamine dressing” in fashion. It’s rooted in color psychology and the idea that certain design elements can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. Dopamine design began seeping into interior design consciousness around 2022-2023, due to increased focus on home environments during and after the pandemic. 

To explore this phenomenon and its impact on lighting design, we chatted with Grace Denniston, the award-winning industrial designer for Kalco Lighting.