Unity enhances product aesthetics and emotion

Although the aesthetic properties of a product are likely associated with users' emotional responses, empirical evidence does not explain how the aesthetic properties of a product evoke an emotional response. This study presents the hypothesis that users' emotions are evoked when they obse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of industrial ergonomics 2017-05, Vol.59, p.92-99
Main Authors: Tyan-Yu, Wu, Chueh-Yung, Tsao, Cian-Yu, Sie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aesthetics
Decision trees
Design
Design engineering
Emotional factors
Emotions
Straight lines
Unity
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Summary:Although the aesthetic properties of a product are likely associated with users' emotional responses, empirical evidence does not explain how the aesthetic properties of a product evoke an emotional response. This study presents the hypothesis that users' emotions are evoked when they observe an aesthetically pleasing product with unity. The results implied that a product form with more unity had a greater likelihood of affecting users' positive emotions compared with those with less unity, and that the unity aesthetic may act as a mediator in evoking emotion. In addition, the results confirmed that products composed of curvier elements tended to evoke a stronger pleasure response compared with those defined by straight lines. A systematic approach, namely the decision tree method, acts as a unity design guideline for the enhancement of product aesthetics, which may evoke users’ pleasure responses further. Our findings imply that a product form with more unity had a greater likelihood of affecting users’ positive emotions compared with those with less unity. In addition, a systematic approach, namely the decision tree method, acts as a unity design guideline for the enhancement of product aesthetics, which may apply for designing products with pleasures. •Product forms with more unity had a greater effect on users’ positive emotions compared with those forms with less unity.•Products composed of curvy elements evoke a stronger pleasure response compared with products defined by straight lines.•The decision tree method may benefit designers seeking an aesthetically pleasing product, which evokes consumers’ pleasures.
ISSN:0169-8141
1872-8219
DOI:10.1016/j.ergon.2017.02.003