Title: Involving psychophysiological knowledge in Kansei design

Authors: Pierre Levy; Dahyun Kim; Tung Jen Tsai; SeungHee Lee; Toshimasa Yamanaka

Addresses: Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands ' Advanced Research Building D, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8574, Japan ' Department of Design Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho Inage-ku Chiba-shi Chiba 263-8522, Japan ' Advanced Research Building D, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8574, Japan ' Advanced Research Building D, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8574, Japan

Abstract: This paper introduces a design method using psychophysiological research output as an inspiration means for the design of products taking user's Kansei highly into consideration. The development of this method is itself a part of a series of design methods based on the collaboration of the research fields of psychophysiology and design. As case studies, two design projects following this process are introduced. Firstly, the colourful rain umbrella lets its user to experience grapheme-colour synaesthesia. Secondly, the sensorial socialising smartphone informs about the user's digital social network activity by the means of warmth, a non-invasive tactile technique. Informed by psychophysiological literature, this design is shown to be not only informational of the network activity, but also motivational towards greater social experience. This approach enables psychophysiology not only to inform and support design ideation, but also to enrich the value of the design concept by bringing new arguments.

Keywords: kansei design; design process; psychophysiology; knowledge as inspiration; design engineering; design ideation; product design; design concept; umbrella design; grapheme-colour synaesthesia; smartphones; social network activity; tactile interface; social experience.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDE.2012.053018

International Journal of Design Engineering, 2012 Vol.5 No.2, pp.122 - 141

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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