Health & Wellbeing Directions
Colour Flow 2025 update
The human aspect
Health and wellbeing remains an important topic and is brought to the awareness of everyone post-pandemic and during a mental health crisis. Positive mental and physical health remains a priority for all communities, businesses, and governments. Everything we experience in space or products can influence us, which is necessary to research and develop in-depth for society as a whole. All factors need to be considered: air quality, temperatures, lighting, material comfort, acoustics, and colour. Everyone must have the personal space to unwind, recharge, and seek spiritual or social protection.
Interior, products, and clothing ultimately compose how we live as human beings. In this Colour Flow 2025 update, we dive into qualities that can enhance human behaviour and emotional wellness for everyday life. The impact of design can effectively enrich our day-to-day interactions and aid us towards better behaviour. Brands and designers can adopt alternative approaches to help improve the health and wellbeing of people and the earth from a long-term and sustainable perspective.
Approaching design from a humanist view, where compassion and reliable knowledge are at the core, can direct us to a nurturing community. Wellbeing is an organism of comforting materials and colours that can support the human experience. All items focus on the sensitivities of interaction, tactility, materiality, and craft. A quality experience is a gesture of something deeper, that we are being cared for and looked after by our peers. The warmth, comfort, and familiarity of our environment connect us to the senses. Cultural techniques and crafted details can make the norm feel special, whereas technological seamlessness can integrate advanced research and utilise data in a non-invasive way. Bringing contact and physicality back to our design will give a real connection to our physical selves, feeling the ripples of human contact throughout. In this way, we can create spaces to share individual meaning and communal experiences.
Addressing wellbeing holistically is critical. Our inner, outer, and spatial wellbeing are out of balance. Many seek a new definition of what holistic wellbeing means today. Technological advancements coupled with the needs of people and the planet can help shape user experiences across all wellbeing categories. Nutrition for superior sleep, air quality and performance, and skin care hydration are just a few examples. Considering this and the impact we have on the universe, how could our products and services anticipate our complete health and wellbeing atmosphere, and simultaneously provide responsible, inclusive, and future-facing solutions to cater to personal needs?
The Bubble Pod by Leila Shakibi
Banner image by Belinda Fewings
You can download the PDF of the update here
Content
1/Neuroscience
We have the capability to examine the brain with great accuracy
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and how it processes visual and emotional stimulants. Wavelengths of light and neural circuits in the brain encode and decode sensory signals which affect our personal experiences. It can help us understand how colour and material influence our subconscious behaviours and why the experience can be so intimate. As our understanding of this study develops, we can break down the mechanisms of how colour can emotionally affect cognitive processing with memory, attention, and decision-making.
As products of our environment, we can positively leverage health and happiness through colours, textures, lighting, natural elements, and spatial arrangement. In health and wellbeing, it can promote the healing process in the environment to reduce patient stress. Utilising neuroscience within a design can amplify the effectiveness of non-invasive treatment or stimulate behaviours from subtle interventions by using scent, for instance. For now and in the future, it has become a significant factor as researchers design neuroaesthetic triggers to healthily impact our emotional and physical health.
Employing neuroscience-based techniques within health and wellbeing can subconsciously allow consumers to make trustworthy and reactive decisions from their gut feeling. Applying biometric technology can help gain insights into how colour and light principles can influence the design or users. Attention to individual experiences is notable with the rising need for inclusive products and spaces. Future technologies also go hand-in-hand with neuroscience and various digital tool integrations will help to predict user needs. This combination of innovation, science, and technology will be a common thread in health and wellbeing, coming towards 2025.
Image, Marine Buffard for Washington Post
Neuroscience
Left to right: The Neuroscience Gallery by Boehringer Ingelheim, Myrissi algorithm by Givaudan, NY Times article by Ellen Barry, NASA’s cockpit design team / 3D Model by KuhnIndustries, ADHD treatment game EndeavorOTC by Akili, 10 signs for a park (2022) by John Wood and Paul Harrison, The NGÕ Alley House by D.O.G. House
Materials for Neuroscience are derived from our natural reflexes and brought to the surface through scientific effort. The materials are haptic and sensitive to the touch, pillowy and embracing with the influence of curved forms from nature. Both colour and material come in combination with our innate bodily reactions.
Colours
Neuro-imaging studies found brain responses of stress reduction to forms of nature exposure. The colours of Neuroscience lie in our subconscious mind. With subtle influences, they are familiar and approachable tones without being too dominant. Cooler tones assist interpersonal healing for a calming effect, with a singular darker purple reflecting a rich influence from technological input.
Left to right: TiMOOD by Mibelle Biochemistry uses Nepalese Timut pepper, Softy by Bryony Roberts Studio, Neurocosmetic formulas by Justhuman, Expansion of the American Museum of Natural History New York by Studio Gang
2/Rituals
As a community, we are constantly learning and sharing knowledge
Globalisation results in cultural exchange, leading to the blending and adaptation of meaning. Through philosophical thought, mythologies, and food, values are the basis of human connection. Underrepresented cultures chiefly have a wealth of knowledge from history that is unknown and deserving to be shared and celebrated. These concepts can be visually communicated and encountered through colours, materials, languages, and craftsmanship. Reviving one’s cultural history can bring a community together and create memorable narratives to inspire others.
To move towards a future of holistic wellbeing, we need conversations that bring together multiple viewpoints and approaches across different sectors to address the full range of inner and outer spatial wellbeing needs. Collaborating authentically and closely with one another when designing the future of wellbeing is more effective than a brand’s siloed and introspective efforts. It’s important to have a personal space to unwind, recharge, and seek spiritual or social protection. After challenging moments, revitalising and familiar cultural elements can help us feel at ease and supported by a larger community.
Cultural history defines the design language to resurrect lost cultural stories, which should be respected by future designers. By storytelling, through symbolic colours, materials, and spaces minimised cultures can be celebrated and adapted to modern relevancy. These cultural moments can be ritualistic and multisensorial, using technologies and dialogues to bring them to life. Integrating our connections with our home country and kinship connections with others can be integral to one’s wellbeing. Not only does it increase self-worthiness, but also strengthens cultural identity across minority communities for future generations.
Image, Amphitheatre, Qing Dynasty Post Office Renovation by More Design Office
Rituals
Left to right: House of Curiosities by MuseLAB, Nuwa House by Z_Lab, STAMBH: Craft, Collaboration and Continuity by Ashiesh Shah, Komaeyu Public Bathhouse by Schemata Architects & Jo Nagasaka, Mumbai-based Chanakya atelier embroidering for Dior’s AW 2023 couture collection, ‘In Search of Hy-Brasil’ Irish Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, Into The Sea by Finisterre
The materials for Rituals hold intrinsic values, attached to the raw elements of the earth and artisanal practices developed from materials in masonry, woodworking, and textile work.
Colours
As the world becomes diversified, cultures become multifaceted and approachable for all with a strong connection to folklore and traditional culture. The colours for Rituals are intuitively rooted in collective history and traditional dyeing practices. Celebrating and sharing past crafts possesses a warm vibrancy that requires attention. Many cultures share the belief of being connected to nature, being one with the landscape, and joining others through that experience.
Left to right: Flow sneakers with yatara-ami by FENDI and Kengo Kuma, Transcendence by Kohler WasteLAB & Nada Debs, John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History by SI.SA, Khayamiya 16 - confrontation by Louis Barthélemy
3/Spiritual Connection
Our senses connect us to the universe
Human beings across all of history spend a lifetime finding balance and living a fulfilling experience. There is hope to develop a sense of life and growth, which can be influenced by our environment. As primal creatures, we interpret the environment through sight, scents, surfaces, and sounds. It is what connects us to the outside world, and design can sensitively cater to these basic senses. Being in touch with the senses is not only a personal experience but more about connecting with others and the universe as a whole, to play a bigger part in something in one’s lifetime.
In a modern and future world, there is a need to be empathetically connected and feel that we have a personal impact on the world around us. From what is eaten to the product’s end life, everyone has a hand in the survival of the world and other people. An environment that fosters a community where regenerative activity thrives can emphasise the optimism, renewal, and balance that everyone seeks in life - especially at a time when it can be difficult to afford basic living. Developing an emotionally intelligent environment can help support one another, encourage open collaboration and communication, and foster trust and respect. In this case, it is about a collective presence of mental and physical wellbeing.
Creating a culture for supporting emotional exploration can be done using colour and the senses as a framework to regulate oneself or empathise with others. Provide an intuitive and personal space for people to listen to, where one can pay attention and fulfil the needs of another. Sensations that compensate for touch confront the inner self’s connection to the outside world. Through unspoken communication, our bodies become energetically tied to the universe, spiritually and emotionally. In day-to-day life, managing the senses with subtle elements at home is becoming a commonly passive method to de-stress.
Image, Cardiac Prayer by Duyi Han
Spiritual Connection
Left to right: Photo by Romain Duquesne, SEVEN by So Koizumi, Open Hearts wellness centre by AB+AC Architects, No.1225 Chainlink by Rana Begum, Peoplehood by Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice, Photo by Seiko Hatfield, Finland’s phone-free destination island Ulko-Tammio
The materials for this chapter take large space but requires the introspective attention of the user in their journey. It interacts with outside influences and is exposed to instabilities, such as fog, wind, and light.
Colours
We will start to be more aware of sharing space and time with others, carefully curating who or what elements are allowed in our spaces. The colours for Spiritual Connection regenerate and revitalises the user. It provides a harmonious environment to wind down and connect with the world on a deeper, spiritual level. The absence of darker colours leaves out distracting forces and raises awareness of one’s energy.
Left to right: Blocks on Pale Pink by Studio Stefan Scholten, Chillhouse flagship store in Soho, 26m² apartment by .PEAM, Bastua collection by IKEA and Marimekko
4/ Women’s Wellbeing
Many of women’s difficulties with healthcare have been misunderstood and minimised for too long
Designing products, brands, and spaces for women are more relevant and significant than ever. The female experience can influence design practices and make information as easy to access as possible. Advocating for the health and wellbeing of women and adolescents can invest in future younger generations for national and global development. There are multiple issues to address at various levels; from granular problems like mental health to topics like menstrual hygiene, or violence against women.
Gender inequalities have been visible over the past decades, but socioeconomic and cultural factors create barriers to prevent women from easily accessing care. Several challenges prop up to prevent women from experiencing stress-free quality of life. Various studies, supported by testimonies, demonstrate the minimisation of women’s symptoms when consulting physicians or other medical professionals as attributed to their hormones or perception. It is in this case that security, connection, and privacy come as primary importance to the future of feminine wellbeing.
Interventions of health and wellness can be done subtly, through cycle-based wellness or hormone-balancing nutrition. Proposing easy-to-access solutions can ensure the care, opportunities, and rights in the labour market without stigmatisation. Treatable healthcare can be accessible 24/7 and affordable. Developing something like this is meticulous to develop and takes time to reassess with the users, but can benefit tenfold when it provides a pleasant and simple medical experience or alleviates patient anxieties.
Image, MENTAL: Colours of Wellbeing exhibition at ArtScience Museum, SIngapore
Womens Wellbeing
Left to right: Swimtimate collection by Prism, Interlaced Narratives: Weaving Tales Through Textiles by Anurita Chandola, Sacred Sisters collective, vegan skincare Neighbourhood Botanicals, virutal Period Pain Clinic by Daye, Age Well by Neal’s Yard Remedies, Goddess Awakened by Parris Goebel and Nike Women
The materials of Women’s Wellbeing reflect this fact. Drapery and textile crafts that were traditionally dominated by women are expressive and dominant, making a flashy statement and accessible to women of all ages.
Colours
Highlighting the strength of unity and harmony can support the importance of self-care and community support. The colours for Women’s Wellbeing lie in the need for security, connection, and privacy. It expresses a communal balance of power and care that covers multiple directions of feminine healthcare. Creating a sacred space can allow the support needed for the agonies of loss, recognising misdiagnoses, acknowledge emotional pains, and ensuring they feel heard.
Left to right: Natural dyeing service by TINTORERIA, microdose patches by NewTerritory, UPF 50+ sun protection clothing by Claudent, Zero Gravity Running Bra by Sweaty Betty
5/ System Change
Natural resources have always been scarce
There is a strong sense of responsibility to preserve the natural world for future generations as we are confronted with increasing natural disasters. Scarcity becomes a rarity and beauty, with species becoming endangered or disappearing due to the instability of climates. The future of design is for the wellbeing of humans and the environment on an equal playing field. How can we see moderation not as a restriction, but as something that could bring us pleasure to enjoy the finer things in life?
Our proximity to nature is a constant theme when discussing the future of our wellbeing. We are dependent on the existence of the natural world and can only survive if we let it thrive. Life expectancy can also improve by keeping in touch with nature. Reducing stress, improving cognitive function, increasing physical activity, disconnecting from pressures, and bonding with others are all factors that arise from being more integrated within a biophilic environment. Deriving from biophilic design principles, integrating nature can create harmony to resonate with one’s environment and inner peace.
The choice of materials and aesthetics that we engage with is more than a backdrop in our lives - it impacts the earth on a level that many haven’t grasped yet. Developing products to work alongside nature rather than exploiting it would create a transparent and guilt-free wellbeing experience, where ingredients and packaging are a part of the product lifecycle. Creating a story from beginning to end will deeply impact the user, including unique transformational spaces where users are offered the chance to reflect and heal alongside the earth. Interventions can show people how to appreciate simple things in life while maintaining balance.
Image, photo by Agustin Farias
System Change
Left to right: Unduk-Naru ferry terminal by Dino Inno, M0.0NSHOT by Allbirds, Photo by Sergey Klopotov, Mineral collection and dyes by Vollebak, SimScale extension in NVIDIA Omniverse, Photo by Dottedyeti, Home Series EV chargers by Simpson & Partners
Materials for System Change focus on restorative solutions, renewing an appreciation for life. From purifying industry wastes by using mineral dyes to honing energy, these materials shed unnecessary excess and allow space for future circular recovery.
Colours
The colours and materials for System Change reflect the uniqueness and energy that the natural world has. It reconnects us to our responsibility to care for it, evoking a cyclical livelihood that reminds us of the longevity and complexities of healing. Familiar greens are embraced by a friendly yellow, while the deeper purple’s subtle permanence allows it to be flexible amongst brown tones.
Left to right: Photo by Sonja Guina, Seed With No Shell by Hashimoto Masaya, Fernhurst Floorlamp by Bart Schilder, Movikheien Cabins by Spacegroup
6/ Longevity
We wish to not only live longer lives, but better quality ones too
With difficulties in socioeconomic and living sectors, we desire to spend most of our time on valuable experiences, in future explorations, and in extending life expectancy. Many want to take control of their personal physical and mental wellness, to reassess lifestyle factors while holding the data for a longer and healthier life. Allowing ourselves to be well-equipped for relaxation and healthier habits can greatly benefit overall long-term health.
As we become knowledgeable about our genetics and discover treatable at-home remedies, we are more aware of the importance of quality relaxation periods. Light, temperatures, scents, and sounds can be deconstructed to impact the consistency and quality of our rest. We require optimum environments for recharging and coming face-to-face with the necessities for taking a break after a long day. With a seamlessly integrated care system in our daily lives, health issues will be preventable earlier on and easier to diagnose. Utilising minimally integrated health-based technologies will allow for little distraction and can grasp a better understanding of our bodies and overall health on a day-to-day basis.
Personalised health and wellbeing experiences using genetic data can create workout and nutritional plans for holistic treatment. The digitisation and automation of health data can be assisted by AI to analyse, identify patterns, and deliver insights. More partnerships have formed between clinicians, patients, and researchers to solve real-world issues. Professionals can be equipped and assisted by technologies and AI as a tool for high-quality diagnoses. Home environments can also serve as long-term care facilities for patient comfort. Towards 2025, the aging process will be extended as a result of the subtleties of medical interventions and day-to-day healthcare.
Image, Zephalto Celeste Luxury Space Capsule by Joseph Dirand
Longevity
Left to right: SENSIBIOM by DumoLab Research and crafting plastics!, Zephalto Celeste Luxury Space Capsule by Joseph Dirand, bespoke room fragrance by Moooi and EveryHuman, Stable Diffusion art by Unknown, Grohe Spa in the courtyard of Pinacoteca di Brera art museum, And Beyond by MULA Design Studio, Photo by metamorworks
The materials for Longevity are permeating with seamless technology. The need to recharge and seek mindfulness comes in touch with non-invasive technological capabilities. Textiles are infused with electronics, lighting emanates pulsing gradients, and glass and reflective materials are emphasised and radiate alongside.
Colours
You can download the PDF here
The colours for Longevity express an uplifting, glowing force from within. The various rich neutral tones and a hint of blue express a breath of freshness with a golden twist, something alive and purified.
Left to right: Inductive charging textile with copper filaments by Karl Mayer, the Sarah Bradden method, wellbeing island retreat JOALI BEING, smart textile by LOOMIA