Beauty under finger – Kansei interface conceptual framework explores the relationship between users and apps KEYWORDS : App, Icon, Kansei interface, Kansei engineering, Smartphone Application software (app) for smartphones and tablets has become a necessity in everyday life. Millions of apps have been developed worldwide, competition among developers of apps has intensified because of increasing demand. For the user, the attractive interface design can get a good first impression. Besides, tens of thousands of applications have a common feature is that they are through the icon as the only identification. Desmet and Hekkert (2007) argued the relationship between the user and the product must have explored. This study proposes the Kansei interface conceptual framework which idea from Yamazaki (2003) as a model to ex-
Name / Surname
plore the abstract relationship between the user and the interface; it aims to emphasize the virtual link between
Kai-Chun Hou
the user and the interface. Through the framework of the Kansei interface, the designer can clarify these abstract relationships, and turn it into a specific design element. The Kansei interface framework consists of two links, namely "Attracted link" and "Intention link." Among them, the later one contains three key points: (1) im-
Research field/area
prove the positive emotion (2) enhance interactive motivation and (3) balance between usability and aesthetics.
User experience
Please refer to figure 1.
Kansei Engineering
In this study, the Kansei interface framework is used to construct the research methods, and design elements
Interface design
of interface deconstructed by qualitative KJ method and the Evaluation Grid Method ( EGM ), and the relationship between the user and the interface is analyzed through the Quantitative Theory Type I and Quantitative Theory Type III. Finally, the users operate the apps by experiment, observation and questionnaire analysis.
Supervisor
The main aim of this study is to explore the relationship between users and applications,
Prof. Chun-Heng Ho
through the KI framework as a supplement, and included four objectives: 1) extract the attracted design elements from icon and interface of apps, 2) to clarify the relationship between the user's feelings and design elements, 3) to explore the design style classification of app icons, 4) assess the relevance of aesthetics and usability of app interface. The final goal is to validate the Kansei interface conceptual framework, which can be used as a descriptive tool for abstract interaction between users and interfaces.
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( abstract )
Attraction link
( concrete )
Kansei information
Icon / Interface of App
( concrete )
• Improve positive emotion • Enhance interactive motivation • Balance between usability & aesthetics
User
Intention link
( abstract )
Figure 1. Kansei interface conceptual framework
Bibliography Desmet, P., &Hekkert, P. (2007). Framework of Product Experience. International Journal of Design, 1(1). Yamazaki, K. (2003). Structure for Kansei Interface Design. In Interface (p. 6).