User experience (UX) is a multi-dimensional user-product interaction involving positive and emotional usage. Fun experience is a component of UX which maintains distinctive dimensions. In this study these dimensions of the fun concept, namely the nature of the experience, the qualities of products that take place in the experience, and the emotional content of the fun experiences are investigated. The thesis is supported by arguments collected from the literature and the data from two empirical studies.

In my teaching and software development practice, I realized that most applications with human-computer interaction do not respond to users’ emotional needs. The dualism of reason and emotion as two fairly opposite entities that dominated Western philosophy was also reflected in software design. Computing was originally intended to provide applications for military and industrial activities and was primarily associated with cognition and rationality. Today, more and more computer applications interact with users in very complex and sophisticated ways. In human-computer interaction, attention is given to issues of usability and user modeling, but techniques to emotionally engage users or respond to their emotional needs have not been fully developed, even as specialists like Klein, Norman and Picard argued that machines that recognize and express emotions respond better and more appropriately to user interaction (Picard, 1997; Picard & Klein, 2002; Norman, 2004). This study investigated emotion from designers’ perspectives and tentatively concludes that there is little awareness and involvement in emotional design in the IT community. By contrast, participants in this study (36 IT specialists from various fields) strongly supported the idea of emotional design and confirmed the need for methodologies and theoretical models to research emotional design. Based on a review of theory, surveys and interviews, I identified a set of themes for heuristics of emotional design and recommended future research directions. Attention was given to consequences; participants in this study raised issues of manipulation, ethical responsibilities of designers, and the need for regulations, and recommended that emotional design should carry standard ethical guidelines for games and any other applications. The research design utilized a mixed QUAN-qual methodological model proposed by Creswell (2003) and Gay, Mills, and Airasian (2006), which was modified to equally emphasize both quantitative and qualitative stages. An instrument in the form of a questionnaire was designed, tested and piloted in this study and will be improved and used in future research.

Les nouveaux produits doivent relever le défi de répondre aux attentes changeantes des consommateurs, d'être différents pour chaque concurrent et aussi respecter l'environnement tout en générant du profit pour l'entreprise. Il conduit à réorganiser les processus de l'entreprise, surtout les processus de conception, de développement et les outils et méthodes pour répondre à cette demande. Ce projet de doctorat s'occupe d'élaborer une nouvelle méthodologie de conception intégrée à appliquer à un haut niveau stratégique à l'ensemble des industries de biens de consommation. Elle a été développée et appliquée à l'industrie d'articles de cuir en Thaïlande. La méthodologie de conception proposée s'appuie sur une approche de emotional design visant d'une part à mieux prendre en compte les attentes des clients et à les rendre actifs dans le processus de conception et d'autre part à représenter l'identité de la marque, ce qui est capital dans le processus de conception technique. Par conséquent, cette méthodologie englobe la satisfaction des clients, les bénéfices de la marque et l'optimisation des supports techniques. A la fin de cette étude, trois outils ont été mis au point : la matrice orientée client afin de prendre en compte les attentes des clients ; la matrice support de conception pour guider les concepteurs dans la création de nouveaux produits affichant l'identité de la marque ; la matrice de fabrication qui permet d'incorporer la fiabilité et les coûts de production. Les outils et les méthodes élaborés ont été mis en oeuvre et testés sur un cas original d'un fabricant de produits en cuir Thaïlandais.

O presente trabalho objetiva estudar uma aplicação biomimética, sustentada por estudos acerca dos passeriformes da espécie Sicalis flaveola (canário-da-terra), associada ao design de produtos conferindo a estes características intangíveis. A biomimética prioriza o estudo de sistemas e elementos naturais para a aplicação em projetos de demanda que busquem estratégias e soluções devidamente proporcionadas pela natureza. Os passeriformes (pássaros) são elementos naturais de grande relevância devido as suas características encantadoras de sobrevivência e formação estrutural. Neste contexto, o estudo desses elementos se mostra bastante relevante para o desenvolvimento de projetos que visem suprir as necessidades e exigências do mercado de consumo, considerando a associação com aspectos intangíveis, os quais interferem no significado simbólico do produto agregando valor emocional. No trabalho específico, busca-se o desenvolvimento de texturas baseadas na morfologia das penas do Sicalis flaveola para a aplicação em superfícies materiais, com base em análises macroscópicas e microscópicas que visem realçar as principais características estruturais, funcionais e estéticas das penas em estudo. Para isso, depois de definidas e aplicadas as texturas em chapas de diferentes materiais, estas foram disponibilizadas ao um público específico para verificar a interação entre usuário e objeto proposto a partir da realização das técnicas de análises sensoriais e entrevistas. Durante a execução do trabalho foram utilizadas, ainda, diferentes técnicas metodológicas, de pesquisas e análises referentes ao objeto de estudo, tais como, revisão literária, estudo de campo e experimentação do produto. Dessa forma, por meio das pesquisas e estudos realizados, buscou-se compreender a interação do usuário com as texturas propostas para possível aplicação em projetos de produtos, verificando as percepções sensoriais associadas às mesmas que agregam valor aos produtos e interferem na decisão de compra. / This work aims to establish an interaction between user and product, from a biomimetic point of view, supported by studies about the passerines Sicalis flaveola, associated with product design and intangible characteristics. Biomimetics prioritizes the study of natural systems and elements for the implementation of projects seeking strategies and solutions offered by the nature. The passerines (birds) are natural elements of great importance because of its charming features and structural formation. In this context, the study of these elements are very important for the development of projects aimed to meet the needs and demands of the consumer market, whereas the association with intangibles aspects. In this specific work, textures were developed based on the morphology of the feathers of the Sicalis flaveola applied to different materials surfaces, according with macroscopic and microscopic analysis that seek to highlight the main features of structural, functional and aesthetic of the feathers in study. After defined and applied textures in samples of different materials, these were made available to consumers to verify the interaction between user and proposed object from the realization of sensory analysis techniques and interviews. During the execution o f work were used also other different methodological techniques, research and analysis related to the object of study, such as literary review, field study and experimentation of product. Therefore, by means of these research and studies, the work sought to understand the user's interaction with the textures proposals for possible application in product design, verifying sensory perceptions associated with them that add value to products and influence the buying decision.

O presente trabalho objetiva estudar uma aplicação biomimética, sustentada por estudos acerca dos passeriformes da espécie Sicalis flaveola (canário-da-terra), associada ao design de produtos conferindo a estes características intangíveis. A biomimética prioriza o estudo de sistemas e elementos naturais para a aplicação em projetos de demanda que busquem estratégias e soluções devidamente proporcionadas pela natureza. Os passeriformes (pássaros) são elementos naturais de grande relevância devido as suas características encantadoras de sobrevivência e formação estrutural. Neste contexto, o estudo desses elementos se mostra bastante relevante para o desenvolvimento de projetos que visem suprir as necessidades e exigências do mercado de consumo, considerando a associação com aspectos intangíveis, os quais interferem no significado simbólico do produto agregando valor emocional. No trabalho específico, busca-se o desenvolvimento de texturas baseadas na morfologia das penas do Sicalis flaveola para a aplicação em superfícies materiais, com base em análises macroscópicas e microscópicas que visem realçar as principais características estruturais, funcionais e estéticas das penas em estudo. Para isso, depois de definidas e aplicadas as texturas em chapas de diferentes materiais, estas foram disponibilizadas ao um público específico para verificar a interação entre usuário e objeto proposto a partir da realização das técnicas de análises sensoriais e entrevistas. Durante a execução do trabalho foram utilizadas, ainda, diferentes técnicas metodológicas, de pesquisas e análises referentes ao objeto de estudo, tais como, revisão literária, estudo de campo e experimentação do produto. Dessa forma, por meio das pesquisas e estudos realizados, buscou-se compreender a interação do usuário com as texturas propostas para possível aplicação em projetos de produtos, verificando as percepções sensoriais associadas às mesmas que agregam valor aos produtos e interferem na decisão de compra. / This work aims to establish an interaction between user and product, from a biomimetic point of view, supported by studies about the passerines Sicalis flaveola, associated with product design and intangible characteristics. Biomimetics prioritizes the study of natural systems and elements for the implementation of projects seeking strategies and solutions offered by the nature. The passerines (birds) are natural elements of great importance because of its charming features and structural formation. In this context, the study of these elements are very important for the development of projects aimed to meet the needs and demands of the consumer market, whereas the association with intangibles aspects. In this specific work, textures were developed based on the morphology of the feathers of the Sicalis flaveola applied to different materials surfaces, according with macroscopic and microscopic analysis that seek to highlight the main features of structural, functional and aesthetic of the feathers in study. After defined and applied textures in samples of different materials, these were made available to consumers to verify the interaction between user and proposed object from the realization of sensory analysis techniques and interviews. During the execution o f work were used also other different methodological techniques, research and analysis related to the object of study, such as literary review, field study and experimentation of product. Therefore, by means of these research and studies, the work sought to understand the user's interaction with the textures proposals for possible application in product design, verifying sensory perceptions associated with them that add value to products and influence the buying decision.

In my teaching and software development practice, I realized that most applications with human-computer interaction do not respond to usersâ emotional needs. The dualism of reason and emotion as two fairly opposite entities that dominated Western philosophy was also reflected in software design. Computing was originally intended to provide applications for military and industrial activities and was primarily associated with cognition and rationality. Today, more and more computer applications interact with users in very complex and sophisticated ways. In human-computer interaction, attention is given to issues of usability and user modeling, but techniques to emotionally engage users or respond to their emotional needs have not been fully developed, even as specialists like Klein, Norman and Picard argued that machines that recognize and express emotions respond better and more appropriately to user interaction (Picard, 1997; Picard & Klein, 2002; Norman, 2004). This study investigated emotion from designersâ perspectives and tentatively concludes that there is little awareness and involvement in emotional design in the IT community. By contrast, participants in this study (36 IT specialists from various fields) strongly supported the idea of emotional design and confirmed the need for methodologies and theoretical models to research emotional design. Based on a review of theory, surveys and interviews, I identified a set of themes for heuristics of emotional design and recommended future research directions. Attention was given to consequences; participants in this study raised issues of manipulation, ethical responsibilities of designers, and the need for regulations, and recommended that emotional design should carry standard ethical guidelines for games and any other applications. The research design utilized a mixed QUAN-qual methodological model proposed by Creswell (2003) and Gay, Mills, and Airasian (2006), which was modified to equally emphasize both quantitative and qualitative stages. An instrument in the form of a questionnaire was designed, tested and piloted in this study and will be improved and used in future research. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

[pt] Esta pesquisa considera que produtos são projetados a partir do apelo estético, comercial, modismo, marketing, status, esquecendo a metodologia do projeto e que tendências de estilo e estética podem ser a maior preocupação do consumidor ao adquirir um produto. Criou-se a hipótese de que produtos consagrados, admirados e consumidos pela sua estética prioritária têm a usabilidade deficiente decorrente da ausência do atendimento dos requisitos de ergonomia e usabilidade. Para testar a usabilidade de produtos com estética proeminente, foram escolhidos três produtos que se encaixam no perfil proposto pela pesquisa (o espremedor de limão - Juicy Salif; o cortador de unhas - Canaglia; e o picador de alimentos - Superpepper; todos da empresa italiana Alessi). Três outros produtos, comuns, que estão no mercado (um espremedor de limão, um cortador de unhas e um picador de alimentos, com estética também agradável) foram também escolhidos para que o resultado dos testes de usabilidade pudessem ser comparados. Após a análise dos resultados, verificou-se que os produtos que se encaixavam no perfil de estética proeminente possuem níveis mais baixos de usabilidade do que os produtos comuns escolhidos. Desta maneira, a hipótese da pesquisa foi confirmada. Os dados obtidos com esta pesquisa visam contribuir para fundamentar informações e ações de defesa do consumidor em alertas sobre produtos que apresentam desequilíbrio entre os valores estéticos e os valores ergonômicos, a favor dos primeiros. Esta pesquisa objetiva também subsidiar a ação projetual do designer de produto, e procura apresentar a importância do equilíbrio entre os ditos valores simbólicos, estéticos e emocionais e os valores funcionais e de usabilidade. / [en] This research considers that products are designed based on aesthetic appeal, comercial appeal, fashion, marketing, status, not considering design methods. Aesthetic and style trends may be the most important issues when consumers go shopping. Following these problems, products that are admired and consumed by it´s proeminent aesthetic has a disable usability as ergonomics and usability approches were not properly considered. Three products that fit the research profile (products with strong aesthetic appeal) were chosen, together with three other commom products (also aesthetically appealing), so that usability tests could be made and results compared. After analysing the results, it was noticed that the products that fit the aesthetic profile has lower levels of usability that the commom products, confirming the research hipothesis. The data collected in this research contributes to inform and alert consumers about products that presents a disbalance between it´s aesthetic and usability values.

Cultural and creative industries are a growing and profitable sector in the UK. The industry blends historical culture with modern creative design to promote one's culture and to make profits. A cultural feature is the main characteristic of a cultural product; however most of the current cultural products are printed or decorated in a way that lacks any emotional or meaningful cultural link with consumers. Emotional engagement is the key factor when people make their decisions. Therefore, a design toolkit was created to assist designers to enhance an emotional connection between consumers and products. the research approaches involved a literature review to classify categories of cultural features, a questionnaire to measure emotional responses to Chinese cultural products, expert interviews to develop the toolkit, and workshops to validate the toolkit. This research is the first study to highlight emotional aspect of cultural products in order to enrich user experience. The contributions of the research are investigating human emotions of cultural products and developing a novel toolkit to support designers when creating cultural products.

O presente trabalho objetiva estudar uma aplicação biomimética, sustentada por estudos acerca dos passeriformes da espécie Sicalis flaveola (canário-da-terra), associada ao design de produtos conferindo a estes características intangíveis. A biomimética prioriza o estudo de sistemas e elementos naturais para a aplicação em projetos de demanda que busquem estratégias e soluções devidamente proporcionadas pela natureza. Os passeriformes (pássaros) são elementos naturais de grande relevância devido as suas características encantadoras de sobrevivência e formação estrutural. Neste contexto, o estudo desses elementos se mostra bastante relevante para o desenvolvimento de projetos que visem suprir as necessidades e exigências do mercado de consumo, considerando a associação com aspectos intangíveis, os quais interferem no significado simbólico do produto agregando valor emocional. No trabalho específico, busca-se o desenvolvimento de texturas baseadas na morfologia das penas do Sicalis flaveola para a aplicação em superfícies materiais, com base em análises macroscópicas e microscópicas que visem realçar as principais características estruturais, funcionais e estéticas das penas em estudo. Para isso, depois de definidas e aplicadas as texturas em chapas de diferentes materiais, estas foram disponibilizadas ao um público específico para verificar a interação entre usuário e objeto proposto a partir da realização das técnicas de análises sensoriais e entrevistas. Durante a execução do trabalho foram utilizadas, ainda, diferentes técnicas metodológicas, de pesquisas e análises referentes ao objeto de estudo, tais como, revisão literária, estudo de campo e experimentação do produto. Dessa forma, por meio das pesquisas e estudos realizados, buscou-se compreender a interação do usuário com as texturas propostas para possível aplicação em projetos de produtos, verificando as percepções sensoriais associadas às mesmas que agregam valor aos produtos e interferem na decisão de compra. / This work aims to establish an interaction between user and product, from a biomimetic point of view, supported by studies about the passerines Sicalis flaveola, associated with product design and intangible characteristics. Biomimetics prioritizes the study of natural systems and elements for the implementation of projects seeking strategies and solutions offered by the nature. The passerines (birds) are natural elements of great importance because of its charming features and structural formation. In this context, the study of these elements are very important for the development of projects aimed to meet the needs and demands of the consumer market, whereas the association with intangibles aspects. In this specific work, textures were developed based on the morphology of the feathers of the Sicalis flaveola applied to different materials surfaces, according with macroscopic and microscopic analysis that seek to highlight the main features of structural, functional and aesthetic of the feathers in study. After defined and applied textures in samples of different materials, these were made available to consumers to verify the interaction between user and proposed object from the realization of sensory analysis techniques and interviews. During the execution o f work were used also other different methodological techniques, research and analysis related to the object of study, such as literary review, field study and experimentation of product. Therefore, by means of these research and studies, the work sought to understand the user's interaction with the textures proposals for possible application in product design, verifying sensory perceptions associated with them that add value to products and influence the buying decision.

In today’s world music streaming is the most dominant form of music consumption. Introducing platform capitalism to music streaming has changed the music commodity and its effects serve as a motivation for this thesis. The role of emotions in music listening is explored and design research is conducted to find unmet latent needs of users in respect to the emotional side of music.  Semi-structured user interviews are used to understand how users relate music to their emotional lives. Co-design workshops are conducted to identify unmet user needs and feelings. The data is analysed inductively and results treated through the theoretical lenses of emotional design (Norman D. (2003)) and psychological ownership theory (Pierce J.L., Kostova T., & Dirks K. Y., (2003)). The main themes generated by the research show that users want -- to know their music and their music service to know them; new ways to feel music, relive the “first time”; to connect music to their emotional and personal lives; to control music more easily. These findings motivate and inform the design of a conceptual artefact.