Design for Happiness
Year: 2011
Editor: Chakrabarti, A.
Author: Lakhotia,Vatsala
Section: Design Theory, Methodology and Research Methodology
Page(s): 74-78
Abstract
Happiness is potentially the mostmarketable commodity in the world, and design for themarket simply cannot ignore it any longer. Personally, we are capable of understanding what makes us happy. However, design is aimed at a larger audience, and it is this larger audience’s happiness that needs to be measured. Using the new tools offered by social networking sites, worldwide polls and systems of measuring happiness, it is possible to identify the keystones of happiness, to enable design for the promotion of well-being in a group of people.From this data collection, it is argued that ‘connection’ to a product may be the key design factor which increases the happiness of the user. This can be argued through various studies on the impact of other precedental products, the Internet, mobile telephony being examples. There may be various levels of connection to a product. Designing with the aim of connecting people, places, products; ideas, emotions, experiences; time and nature can mean increasing the happiness quotient.
Keywords: Design, Happiness, Quality of life, Happiness index.