Title: Resonance testing: an industry approach for experiential concept evaluation

Authors: Lassi A. Liikkanen; Heather Reavey

Addresses: Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT, Aalto University, PO Box 15600, FI-00076 AALTO, Finland ' Continuum, 1220 Washington Street, West Newton, MA 02465, USA

Abstract: This paper describes a professional practice in user-centred product concept design that is embedded in a method called resonance testing. It is a nimble method used and developed in industry to ensure that desired properties of design are communicated to the user through the design. It tests product concepts for emotional and functional design attributes such as personal needs, believability, and differentiation. In resonance testing, the users of a specified segment experience design artefacts of variable abstraction levels to see how they perceive the qualities of a concept and how it matches their preferences and expectations. We find that literature lacks both effective user feedback solutions for early product decisions and discussion of the known challenges for doing that. The paper describes how resonance testing generates qualitative insights, builds confidence in new concepts and helps designers to develop the right concept for further development. We present two cases studies of utilising this method.

Keywords: resonance testing; concept design; evaluation methods; design practice; decision making; user experience; experience design; concept evaluation; resonance scales; product development; qualitative research; user-centred design; product design; functional design attributes; emotional design attributes; personal needs; believability; differentiation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2015.071396

International Journal of Product Development, 2015 Vol.20 No.4, pp.265 - 285

Accepted: 14 Nov 2014
Published online: 25 Aug 2015 *

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