DESIGNING FOR MULTISENSORIAL INTERACTIVE PRODUCT EXPERIENCES
Year: 2015
Editor: Guy Bingham, Darren Southee, John McCardle, Ahmed Kovacevic, Erik Bohemia, Brian Parkinson
Author: Sener, Bahar; Pedgley, Owain
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1University of Liverpool, UK, 2Middle East Technical University, Turkey
Section: Project Based Learning
Page(s): 406-411
ISBN: 978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract
This paper presents a methodology and case study of designing for multi sensorial interactive product
experiences, within the context of postgraduate degree level Industrial Design education. Building on
literature spanning product and interaction semantics, and multimodal product experiences, the paper
establishes a stepped approach to integrate up to six different sensory modalities (sight, touch,
presence, sound, smell, taste) into a user-product interaction scenario. A product design project
(bedside alarm clock) is then introduced, for which nine postgraduate students were guided to design
to a certain characterful interaction (e.g. charming, helpful, amusing etc.) using multiple sensory
modalities. Each of the nine resulting product designs are scrutinised for the sensory modalities that
are activated, making use of a storytelling (product usage scenario) analysis. The specific sensory
attributes that were harnessed are compared across the product designs and the frequency of their
implementation is charted. Conclusions are reached on (i) strategies that designers employ to reach
intended multi sensorial UX for their products, and (ii) the effectiveness of the educational
methodology adopted for encouraging student designers to think beyond the dominant visual domain
of design.
Keywords: Senses, aesthetics, interaction, UX.