Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
Product Experience: Introducing Students to the Relevance and Application of Design Research
Maclachlan, Mary; Bruce, Wood; Harrison, David
Type:
Year:
2010
Editor:
Boks W; Ion, W; McMahon, C and Parkinson B
Author:
Section:
USER-CENTRED AND INTERACTION DESIGN
Page(s):
236-241
Abstract:
In today’s competitive consumer market it is increasingly important that Product Designers understand how people will use and interact with the products they design. Designers also need to understand why people form relationships with products so that they can influence a richer and more sustainable connection between product and consumer. This paper describes an investigative project undertaken within a new 12-week undergraduate module entitled ‘Design and the User’. The ‘Design and the User’ module was introduced in 2009 to 2nd year undergraduate design students to encourage them to consider a holistic view of physical, sensory and cognitive human capability in order to deliver empathic and emotionally engaging human centred design solutions. Within the module students undertake three projects relating to; product attachment; human-product interaction and inclusive design. The project described within this paper focuses on product attachment and is underpinned by emerging design research in the area of emotional design. In addition to exploring the concept of product attachment, the project also provided a platform to introduce students to the relevance and application of design research. Appropriate research was introduced throughout the project to provide a framework to investigate; product narrative; material objects as symbols of self; the pleasure paradigm and cognitive processing.
Keywords:
