Why does “Severance”
look so damn good?

If you’ve seen even a single frame from Severance, you probably remember it. Not because it shows something extraordinary. But because it feels extraordinary.

How can a sterile office hallway or a quiet desk setup leave such a strong impression? The answer lies in one of the most overlooked powers in storytelling: visual design.

In this article, we’re diving into what makes the world of Severance so visually striking — and what any brand, creator, or business can learn from it.

1. Color is a message.

In the Lumon offices, the color palette is strictly blue and green. Cold. Muted. Clinical. These tones don’t just make the place look uninviting — they feel emotionally distant. They mirror the world the characters are trapped in: controlled, impersonal, stripped of individuality.

Even the water in Mark’s fish tank follows this palette. It’s a subtle touch, but a powerful one. In Severance, every color reinforces the same story: this is not a place for human warmth.

 

2. The set design

Minimalism isn’t just an aesthetic in Severance. It’s a narrative device. The spaces are empty, almost unnaturally so. No clutter. No decoration. Nothing that says “someone works here.”

Why? Because clutter gives personality. And the world of Lumon is designed to erase it.

This extreme simplicity makes every object you do see feel important. When there’s a lone coffee mug on a desk, you notice it. When a hallway stretches on with no end, it feels infinite.

3. Camera work that makes you feel small

In many scenes, the camera is pulled far back, making characters look tiny. They’re swallowed by the architecture. Framed dead-center, perfectly symmetrical.

This isn’t a coincidence. It creates a visual feeling of powerlessness. Of being watched. Of being trapped in a system that dwarfs you. Even if you can’t put your finger on it, you feel it while watching.

4. Lumon isn’t a setting. It’s a character.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Severance’s visual world is that Lumon — the company — is more than just a backdrop. It is a character.

Every hallway, every light, every sound contributes to its presence. You never see the “villain” outright, because the villain is the environment itself. It’s the company. The culture. The control.

And that control is everywhere: in the symmetry, the silence, the color restrictions, and even the lighting in the elevator.

 

 

 

So what can we take away from all this?

Severance shows that visual storytelling isn’t about making things look pretty. It’s about making them feel intentional.

And whether you’re building a brand, pitching a product, or telling your company’s story — visuals matter. A lot.

Because we don’t just watch stories. We absorb them through the way they look, sound, and move.

And when it’s done right, even a silent hallway can say everything.