Product design enhancement using apparent usability and affective quality

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Product Design
• Psychology

Background:

• Integrating user perception and emotional response is crucial for effective product design.
• Existing models often analyze usability and affective quality separately.
• A unified framework is needed to understand their interplay.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the Usability Perception and Emotion Enhancement Model (UPEEM).
• To investigate the relationship between product attributes, apparent usability, and affective quality.
• To identify key design elements influencing user perception and emotional response.

Main Methods:

• The study employed a four-phase methodology: product selection, attribute identification, design alternative generation, and evaluation.
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to validate the UPEEM.
• Design of Experiments (DOE) was utilized to systematically vary product attributes and assess their impact.

Main Results:

• Product attributes related to form, functionality, and aesthetics significantly influence affective quality and perceived usability.
• Mobile phone design elements, particularly those concerning functionality and aesthetics, are key drivers of user affect and usability perception.
• Aesthetic attributes, such as dimensional ratios, were found to enhance apparent usability.

Conclusions:

• The UPEEM provides a validated framework for integrating usability and affective quality in product design.
• Form-related attributes, especially aesthetics and functionality, are critical for enhancing user experience in products like mobile phones.
• Future research should explore a broader range of product attributes to further refine design strategies.