Considering Users’ Emotions in Product Development Processes and the Need to Design for Attitudes

Abstract

In recent times there has been an increasing need to consider subjective values in user-centred design for technical products. Therefore, the relations between perceived value to the user and different product design elements have been investigated in former research. Although there are many approaches that address this issue, little advice has been given so far on how to use this knowledge truly to consider the users’ preference. Even if we know that a product appears to be “sporty” to the user, and even if we know how to design the product to look “sporty”, we still do not know “how sporty” he might like it to be. Moreover, studies have revealed that there are huge differences in user groups that cannot easily be detected using only common segmentation criteria like age, family situation or income. Depending on their personal attitudes and values, individuals’ preferences for products may differ widely despite the objective user characteristics looking similar. Therefore, an approach called the ACADE is presented, which combines interdisciplinary knowledge of users’ long-term evaluation system and preference choice.