Exploration of user perceptions of attractiveness and functionality
Name
773191706-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.17 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
9d2e2d77c4a06e7dd6d22f267de59e9b
Author(s)
Schmit, Stephanie M
Advisor(s)
Maria Yang.
Date Issued
2011
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
People think that more attractive objects are more usable, even when they do not work. This is worrisome to the field of engineering, usually devoted to creating the most functional solution. If indeed customers are more satisfied with more attractive objects, more emphasis should be placed on object beauty, not just object functionality. Eighty subjects were interviewed and rated the attractiveness, functionality, and an unrelated factor (weight) before and after using a salt shaker. Eight different salt shakers were used, that varied in attractiveness and functionality. It turns out that people were more satisfied with the functionality of attractive, nonfunctional objects and unattractive, functional objects. They also bonded more with nonfunctional objects and found them more attractive after using them. There is a complex relationship between a person's perceived functionality of a device and its attractiveness.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 24).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
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