Author(s)

Wang Xin ^1,2, Siti Mariam Mat Nor ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Faculty of Creative Industry, City University Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 46100, Malaysia
² Dongguan City University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523419, China

Corresponding Author

Siti Mariam Mat Nor

ABSTRACT

Contemporary visual design widely adopts standardized color systems including RGB, CMYK, and Pantone to realize accurate color control and stable commercial reproducibility. These standardized color systems are scientifically rigorous and practically applicable, yet the prevalent overemphasis on technical accuracy, functional uniformity and standardization has neglected the emotional expression of color, resulting in the gradual loss of color's atmospheric and emotional value in design works. This situation gives rise to a clear research gap: existing studies lack sufficient translation and application of Pierre Bonnard's classic chromatic principles in contemporary visual design practice. Although the emotional and atmospheric color characteristics of Post-Impressionist artist Pierre Bonnard have been fully recognized in art history research, there is a scarcity of systematic research on converting his unique color aesthetics into operable design guidance. Consequently, modern visual design often relies on fixed and formulaic color matching modes, which fail to meet the demand for human-centered emotional visual communication. On this basis, this study selects mature oil paintings by Pierre Bonnard as visual research samples. Based on Josef Albers' color interaction theory, phenomenology and emotional design theory, it adopts three core research methods: qualitative visual analysis, practice-led design experimentation, and expert evaluation. This paper analyzes the core chromatic characteristics of Bonnard's color aesthetics, explores the feasible path of transforming his artistic color logic into modern design language covering branding, graphic design and screen-based interface design, and iteratively optimizes and improves the constructed theoretical framework through repeated design practice and professional expert evaluation. The study's core outcome is the construction of a Bonnard-inspired chromatic framework for emotional communication in contemporary visual design. This research proposes six practical color application strategies centered on Bonnard's aesthetic logic, and summarizes feasible color adaptation rules for visual design scenarios, effectively filling the interdisciplinary research gap between artistic color theory and contemporary visual design practice. The findings suggest that Pierre Bonnard's delicate and atmospheric color system can well compensate for the rigidity of single standardized color application in modern design, achieving an effective balance between design functionality and color emotional warmth. His unique chromatic logic fits the core connotation of human-centered design and provides a new feasible path for emotional visual communication in contemporary design. The findings contribute to color education, the adaptation of artistic theory in design practice, and the development of emotionally engaging visual works.

KEYWORDS

Pierre Bonnard; Color Aesthetics; Contemporary Visual Design; Emotional Visual Communication

CITE THIS PAPER

Wang Xin, Siti Mariam Mat Nor. A Study on Emotional Construction in Contemporary Visual Design Based on Pierre Bonnard's Color Aesthetics. Art and Performance Letters (2026). Vol. 7, No. 2, 18-28. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/artpl.2026.070203.

REFERENCES

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