Emotional Design Wrap-Up

1.   "Business versus art or literature: the debate is real and approriate.  In the end, the decision is whether one wishes to be an artist making a statement, in which case profits are irrelevant, or a business person, changing the film or product to make it appeal to as many people as possible, even at the cost of artistic merit." (98)

I really liked this passage because it demonstrates the dilemma many designers face.  They must decide whether or not they should be money driven, or forget about finances and create something that may potentially change the world.  This idea is shown through the film industry, where many of the larger studios create blockbuster hits that are made to bring in millions and stir the media.  The small independent films are the ones that make a difference, that have a strong message that settles into the hearts of the viewers.  In the business world this is also true, because many companies sell out and, instead of helping the people, they only do what will turn a profit.  

2. The visceral, behavioral, and reflective categories are very useful to me.  Visceral, when looked up in the dictionary, is found to signify dealing with instinctive and sometimes unreasonable, raw emotion.  Behavioral design deals with how a product or innovation behaves with its user.  Reflective design deals with status, in which the product reflects upon the user's self-image and how they are perceived by others.  These terms make sense, because they reflect the basic functions of each level of design.  The visceral level involves the physical attractiveness of an object, and how it appeals to the senses.  It invokes emotion in the user, and is what catches the consumer's attention.  Behavioral design relies on the usability of the product, which is directly related to the way the product behaves with its user.  Reflective also accurately describes its level of design, because it reflects the user's self-image and their personality.

3. A designer could decide which level of design is more important for a particular product by looking at the competition.  By surveying consumers and comparing the other products, the designer can find out what the user would prefer.  If the product that users have shown preference before in the past is viscerally designed, then the producer would know to take that route.  If behaviorally designed products have been more widely accepted, the designer would know to put usability at the forefront of their design.  For items of status, such as brand name clothing, the designer knows that the consumer has how they are portrayed in mind, and would therefore focus on reflective design.  Some types of products are, without a doubt, more visceral, behavioral, or reflective.  Items such as clothing, accessories, cars, or electronics such as iPods and cell phones are reflectively designed.  They also appeal to the visceral level, because they must be attractive to the general public.  Things like computers and typical, everyday objects, including appliances, are behaviorally designed.  They primarily must function well, and therefore appeal to the usability-concerned crowd.