READINGS
Art as Experience
Computers as Theatre
Flow
Funology: From Usability to
Enjoyment
Hertzian Tales
Interface Culture
The Substance of Style
My RESEARCH
Aesthetics of Facebook:
Observations on the Design of
Behavior (PDF)
Aesthetics in HCI: A Review
of Literature (PDF)
Art as Experience
Computers as Theatre
Flow
Funology: From Usability to
Enjoyment
Hertzian Tales
Interface Culture
The Substance of Style
My RESEARCH
Aesthetics of Facebook:
Observations on the Design of
Behavior (PDF)
Aesthetics in HCI: A Review
of Literature (PDF)
INTERACTION DESIGN
User experience design involves profound intersection of information, interface, and
interaction. While information and interface design are 'visible' for our evaluation, the quality
of interaction design stays hidden. Interaction design transcends the tangible (technology)
canvas, and takes as its design materials the highly abstract human interactions.
It strives, as a discipline, to improve everyday human experiences -- the experiences of
work and play unprecedented in scale and scope before the advent of technology. The
main subject of interaction design, in this sense, is not the design of technology per se, but
the design of human experiences made possible through technology.
AESTHETIC INTERACTIONS
Aesthetics or beauty is the essence of any design. However, aesthetics of interaction are
not just visual. Aesthetic interactions engage all of our senses (affect, cognition, emotion,
expression) and mould our behavior and experience over time.
The design of aesthetic interactions is about the design of behavior and experience. It is
the property of design that exists not 'in' the interface but "in" user's state of being. The
design approach for such interactions thus extends far beyond 'usability' or 'visuals' of the
interface. Below I explain aesthetic interactions in terms of familiar metaphors:
A Behavioral Tool
Designed objects supplement the capacities of human hand: Fingers disentangle our hair,
but the task is made easier with a comb, an artifact designed to extend our hand with
toothed strips.
Interaction Design fulfils a human need that is identical in nature but manifests differently.
Digital objects should extend the human spirit, and supplement its capacities for behavior,
expressions and experiences. The 'form' of such objects is not merely physical, but their
ability to mediate, exhibit, and condition our behavior and interaction with others.
A Source of an Experience
An ideal experience has a beginning, a middle, and an end, seamlessly integrated. Like
music, where sound is organized in time, an experience begins low, reaches a peak, and
wanes towards an end.
Experience occurs continuously when we interact with, or through, digital objects. This
experience, however, is rarely 'composed' like an experience. Unsatisfactory page ends,
unexpected errors, service denials, and mismatch of features and needs are pervasive.
The experience of information access, which could have be a captivating experience, is
rather filled with distractions. Interaction Design, as a discipline, attempts to do precisely
this: make such everyday experiences an experience.
AESTHETIC INTERACTION DESIGN
How can we add aesthetic, behavioral, and experiential values to digital products? How
should we design digital products that also deliver emotional, expressive, persuasive, and
behavioral capabilities apart from functionality and utility? As I advance in the field, I hope to
inform my practice with deeper research.
User experience design involves profound intersection of information, interface, and
interaction. While information and interface design are 'visible' for our evaluation, the quality
of interaction design stays hidden. Interaction design transcends the tangible (technology)
canvas, and takes as its design materials the highly abstract human interactions.
It strives, as a discipline, to improve everyday human experiences -- the experiences of
work and play unprecedented in scale and scope before the advent of technology. The
main subject of interaction design, in this sense, is not the design of technology per se, but
the design of human experiences made possible through technology.
AESTHETIC INTERACTIONS
Aesthetics or beauty is the essence of any design. However, aesthetics of interaction are
not just visual. Aesthetic interactions engage all of our senses (affect, cognition, emotion,
expression) and mould our behavior and experience over time.
The design of aesthetic interactions is about the design of behavior and experience. It is
the property of design that exists not 'in' the interface but "in" user's state of being. The
design approach for such interactions thus extends far beyond 'usability' or 'visuals' of the
interface. Below I explain aesthetic interactions in terms of familiar metaphors:
A Behavioral Tool
Designed objects supplement the capacities of human hand: Fingers disentangle our hair,
but the task is made easier with a comb, an artifact designed to extend our hand with
toothed strips.
Interaction Design fulfils a human need that is identical in nature but manifests differently.
Digital objects should extend the human spirit, and supplement its capacities for behavior,
expressions and experiences. The 'form' of such objects is not merely physical, but their
ability to mediate, exhibit, and condition our behavior and interaction with others.
A Source of an Experience
An ideal experience has a beginning, a middle, and an end, seamlessly integrated. Like
music, where sound is organized in time, an experience begins low, reaches a peak, and
wanes towards an end.
Experience occurs continuously when we interact with, or through, digital objects. This
experience, however, is rarely 'composed' like an experience. Unsatisfactory page ends,
unexpected errors, service denials, and mismatch of features and needs are pervasive.
The experience of information access, which could have be a captivating experience, is
rather filled with distractions. Interaction Design, as a discipline, attempts to do precisely
this: make such everyday experiences an experience.
AESTHETIC INTERACTION DESIGN
How can we add aesthetic, behavioral, and experiential values to digital products? How
should we design digital products that also deliver emotional, expressive, persuasive, and
behavioral capabilities apart from functionality and utility? As I advance in the field, I hope to
inform my practice with deeper research.
| . |
| About Me | Thoughts | Projects Copyright Gaurav Anand | agaurav@umich.edu | 646. 510. 2529 |
Thoughts
"...interaction design is about the design of behavior..."
Interaction design is not so much about the design of technology, as it is about the design
of human experiences made possible through it. The user interfaces are only media
through which human behaviors are conditioned. Human experiences or behaviors exist
not 'in' the interface but 'in' user's state of being. The design approach for human
interactions thus extends far beyond usability or visuals of the interface.
User-centered design process should strive to research not only how users interact with an
interface, but also how and why users interact with others 'through' an interface.
"...interaction design is about the design of behavior..."
Interaction design is not so much about the design of technology, as it is about the design
of human experiences made possible through it. The user interfaces are only media
through which human behaviors are conditioned. Human experiences or behaviors exist
not 'in' the interface but 'in' user's state of being. The design approach for human
interactions thus extends far beyond usability or visuals of the interface.
User-centered design process should strive to research not only how users interact with an
interface, but also how and why users interact with others 'through' an interface.
Professional Work
ACL Wireless
British Council
Ford Motors
ACL Wireless
British Council
Ford Motors
Jump to
Academic Projects
Interaction Design
Design Process
Service Design
Web 2.0
Usability Evaluation
Contextual Inquiry
IA Strategy
Contact
646. 510. 2529
agaurav@umich.edu
Resume
MS Word
PDF
Networks
LinkedIn
Facebook
Academic Projects
Interaction Design
Design Process
Service Design
Web 2.0
Usability Evaluation
Contextual Inquiry
IA Strategy
Contact
646. 510. 2529
agaurav@umich.edu
Resume
MS Word
Networks
