The Jefferson Center of Immersive Arts for Health

Godley, L., Frasso, R., Igoe, T., Erel, Y. and LeNoir, J., 2024, March. The Use of Immersive Light-Based Art for Well-Being. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1320, No. 1, p. 012008). IOP Publishing. DOI 10.1088/1755-1315/1320/1/012008

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of 'Waiting Room - Immersive Art for Well-being,' an exhibition of various dynamic light art installations that investigated the potential impact of this work on viewers' sense of well-being in a mock healthcare setting. Research shows that exposure to art impacts human health, improving overall healthcare experiences, resulting in shortened hospital stays, improved recovery time, and reduced need for pain management. The purpose of this study was to determine if exposure to dynamic light art has an impact on overall well-being. Qualitative data were collected using electronic questionnaires associated with 11 different dynamic light art installations. Open-ended questions explored how participants perceived and valued the presence of and engagement with dynamic light art installations and captured their views on the potential benefit of exposure. Visitors took part in questionnaires to obtain feedback on user experience, the length of exposure/engagement, and the effect the experience had on them. Overwhelmingly, users reported a sense of "calm" and "peacefulness" after spending time with the dynamic light art. One hundred ninety-five responses were collected. This study allowed us to gain a better understanding of how dynamic light art may be used to ameliorate stress and anxiety in spaces where users are confined for periods, as well as identifying key areas for future research, such as particular aspects of the installations or sub-populations that may particularly benefit from this type of intervention. This investigation leads to further studies exploring how exposure to dynamic light art may impact patients, visitors, and family members in various healthcare settings to determine if the perceptions and experiences vary by type of installation. Additionally, this work will inform future explorations of adaptations to dynamic light art, i.e., dynamic and interactive technologies on viewer experience.

Zielinska-Dabkowska, K.M., Godley, L., Kyriakidou, F., Besenecker, U.C. and Triantafyllidis, G., 2022, November. Light4Health eLearning Course: health research for interior lighting design. Re-thinking design approaches based on science. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1099, No. 1, p. 012041). IOP Publishing. DOI:10.1088/1755-1315/1099/1/012041

Abstract: This paper presents the results of 'Light4Health' (L4H), a three-year EU Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership grant project (2019-2021), which investigated, systematized and taught health-related research on the impact of natural and artificial light on human health and well-being relevant to indoor lighting design. The objective was to re-think evidence-based lighting design approaches for residential, working/educational, and healthcare spaces, in order to develop a novel cross-disciplinary eLearning platform, that intersects lighting design and current peer-reviewed health research through a select combination of the most relevant research, methods, and tools. The content was developed through teaching workshops with international researchers, teachers, and students. Participating students were introduced to the application of relevant research and new metrics, in order to produce creative lighting design proposals. Students were able to inform lighting design approaches that support health and well-being without compromising creativity via the tools and methods developed through the health sciences. With this project, participants and consortium members have narrowed the gap that exists between research and the practice/application of lighting, by translating research from complex scientific jargon into various tools for designers to use. The knowledge gained, was consolidated into an open-access online curriculum for international lighting design students, educators and professionals via the free eLearning Moodle platform (https://course.light4health.net/).