Enhancing product sensory experience: cultural tools for design education

DS 76: Proceedings of E&PDE 2013, the 15th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Dublin, Ireland, 05-06.09.2013

Year: 2013
Editor: John Lawlor, Ger Reilly, Robert Simpson, Michael Ring, Ahmed Kovacevic, Mark McGrath, William Ion, David Tormey, Erik Bohemia, Chris McMahon, Brian Parkinson
Author: Colombo, Sara; Gorno, Roberta; Bergamaschi, Sara
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Section: Emotion/Senses
Page(s): 698-703
ISBN: 978-1-904670-42-1

Abstract

-product interaction, and how this can be exploited to generate more pleasurable experiences. A possible strategy to fill this gap is the creation of tools able to transfer knowledge from this research area to design education. This paper aims to assess which cultural and practical tools can be used to improve students’ awareness about sensory experiences. Moreover, it evaluates the effect that this knowledge transfer has on design activity and results and how this process can create value for producer companies. In order to do so, a design workshop was performed with students, in collaboration with a company, to design new enjoyable experiences with household appliances, levering on senses. A cultural and a practical tool to convey knowledge to students were developed and tested in the workshop. As a result, concepts emerged that introduced pleasurable sensory stimuli in new product characteristics. Feedbacks from both students and company were collected to assess both the usefulness of the tools and the concepts generated. Eventually, the research group evaluated the educational effectiveness of the tools developed and how they affected the students’ activity.

Keywords: Product design, senses, product experience, cultural tools

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