The Aesthetic Imperative: Four views on beauty to enhance the user - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Aesthetic Imperative: Four views on beauty to enhance the user experience uday gajendar | interaction designer : oracle corp. /IA Summit 5 / 2.29.04 | austin, TX

The Motivation inspire Beauty & IA provoke 2 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

The Big Idea • elevate beauty from stylistic to experiential and integrative quality • a model to structure and focus the dialogue with UX peers about aesthetics/IA • remind ourselves of UX goals 3 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

Beauty: It’s all the rage! fashionable cool pleasing sensual sexy poetic hip sharp desire stylish evocative elegant 4 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

But we structure data... taxonomic structures controlled vocabularies IA semantic webs site wireframes digital libraries architecture models metadata schemas navigational flows 5 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

Let’s shift expectations... emotion pleasure taxonomic structures controlled vocabularies aesthetics IA data archiving Beauty site wireframes data librarians architecture models total integrative aesthetic experience fun satisfaction desirability semantic systems metadata schemas visual + behavioral + reflective 6 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

A Model of Perspectives architectur � psychology philosophy computer scienc � 7 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

M. Cziksentmhalyi | Psychology Optimal Flow Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience • self-directed optimal experience • re-ordering the contents of consciousness • immersive engagement in a system/activity • challenge and fulfillment, results in renewal 8 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

M. Cziksentmhalyi | Psychology Optimal Flow Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience 9 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

John Dewey | Philosophy Lifestyle Design Art as Experience • interaction between person and her environment: tools, spaces, materials, etc. • structure/pattern: “doing and undergoing” • dynamic integration of thought, emotion, action into consummate whole • result is “an experience” to be relived/shared 10 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

John Dewey | Philosophy Lifestyle Design Art as Experience 11 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

David Gelernter | CS Machine Beauty Machine Beauty • marriage of “simplicity” and “power” • direct engagement of material to accomplish task • functional elegance and utility • mechanical austerity 12 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

David Gelernter | CS Machine Beauty Machine Beauty 13 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

Spiritual/Cultural Appeal • an “architectonic” approach to design • strive for balance, harmony, unity within one’s life and aspirations • awaken cultural synthesis/communal membership • life-enhancing value, inspiring the spirit Walter Gropius | Architecture (Bauhaus) Scope of Total Architecture 14 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

Spiritual/Cultural Appeal 15 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

What do I do on Monday??? • practitioners not philosophers :-) • create high quality diagrams, demonstrate craft with deliverables • make aesthetic enrichment a UX goal • raise questions in UX reviews: is this a lifestyle, is it flow, is it simple/power, etc. • change attitude: it's not just visual stuff, don't just dismiss it as UI job, it's everyone's job • if you're designing intnl products, ask how it impacts cultural values, or higher aspirations 16 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

Final Thoughts • caution: will take time, gradual insinuation, not overnite change • higher value: create positive, memorable, rewarding experience • aesthetic imperative is how to get there, that IA can guide and shape im·per·a·tiv 1. a. A command; an order. b. An obligation; a duty: social imperatives. 2. A rule, principle, or instinct that compels a certain behavior 17 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04

What’s Next? questions? comments? • Beauty “trilogy”: • Aesthetic Imperative > Pleasurable Interaction > Emotional Resonance Gropius • stay tuned... Dewey Cziksentmihalyi Gelernter 18 the aesthetic imperative : IA Summit 5 | 2.29.04