THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN USER AND PRODUCT: DURABLE DESIGN THROUGH PERSONALISATION
Year: 2016
Editor: Erik Bohemia, Ahmed Kovacevic, Lyndon Buck, Christian Tollestrup, Kaare Eriksen, Nis Ovesen
Author: Fossdal, Maria; Berg, Arild
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences
Section: Framing and Alignment of Projects in Design Education
Page(s): 095-100
ISBN: 978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract
There is an increased focus on emotional design in order to build more sustainable attitudes towards
the design of products. According to Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer known for the
timeless quality in his products, 'Good design is honest'. An introduction in emotional design into a
university-level curriculum is essential in order to increase the students' understanding of its
advantages in designing sustainable products. Being aware of the life of the product after production
can help create durable design. In this article, the relationship between people and products is analysed
to explore how emotions play a role in how a product is perceived. The research question is how to
create a relationship between user and product, where emotions play an important role in how the user
perceived the product through personalisation. The study provides a deeper understanding of how to
achieve a meaningful relationship to a product. The interviewing of users revealed how their
experiences had an impact on their perception of the product. The study showed how the relationship
between the product and the user can be used as a learning process to create a friendly attitude towards
sustainable design. This paper contributes to the discussion of how individuals have a relationship to
their assets, and how this affects their attitude towards durable design.
Keywords: Emotional design, senses, personalisation, ownership, sustainable design.