Tasting colors, seeing sounds or have you heard of actually hearing color hues? It’s a reality for an estimated 1 in every 23 people. It’s a condition called Synesthesia, and said individual would be a “Synesthete.” It is defined as the neurological condition where the stimulation of one sense triggers an involuntary response from a second sense. Altogether there are more than 60 identified derivatives of the cross processed senses recorded.
In a profession continually inspired by the beauty of metaphor and symbolism, wouldn’t it be fascinating to go beyond the conventional perceptions of form, colors, sounds, tastes, and touch–to provoke an even more engagingly obscure yet robust experience for the masses? It would definitely be an incredible way of materializing new and vibrant metaphorical imagery we could harness in our real world design visualization approach. We all inherently possess very basic levels of the sense associative trait. We make cognitive associations rooted in metaphor, and whether we know it or not, designers in general work around the seemingly same cognitive relational principals a true Synesthete does. We tie form to mood, color to feelings, and can even describe the never ending combinations of the two with an array of descriptors to captivate our audience. Though the main difference is, for the majority of us, that it isn’t an involuntary response. Whether we are aware of it or not, it can almost be certain that many in the design community could posses a derivative of these traits.
Case in point, I read about Claudia Mougin, a graphic designer who harnesses what she experiences into her complex yet compelling work. This is an interesting read what on what she develops through her perceptions.
For me, just reading about this condition is inspiring to think about. This spectrum can range from a number combination of different cross sense experiences. Here are some of the most common:
1.) Color Synesthesia – when the brain sees letters or numbers with designated tints of color also called “grapheme”
2.) Personification- when sequences of numbers , days, months or even letters give off personified human traits
3.) Sound Synesthesia – perception of color hues are triggered from audible stimuli
4.) Gustatory Synesthesia – aka “Lexical”. Where the written or spoken word promote certain taste stimulus
Without a doubt there have been famous individuals that have displayed these traits–it may have even played a major part in propelling their talents apart from the rest of the pack. Famed French impressionist artist Edward Degas. Musicians Stevie wonder, Duke ellington,and Jimi Hendrix. Even screen legend Marylin Monroe are some examples.
