Exploration of user perceptions of attractiveness and functionality

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.