Short answer

Acknowledge and leverage user subjectivity; the perceived 'value' or 'quality' of a design is heavily influenced by the user's personal classification and pre-existing beliefs.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Frontiers in Psychology (2017)
Method: Experimental study
Evidence: Strong effect

An individual's personal classification of an object as 'art' or 'not art' is a strong predictor of their subsequent aesthetic appreciation of that object. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Frontiers in Psychology. Using Experimental study, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Acknowledge and leverage user subjectivity; the perceived 'value' or 'quality' of a design is heavily influenced by the user's personal classification and pre-existing beliefs.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Viewer Subjectivity in Art Classification Significantly Impacts Aesthetic Appreciation

An individual's personal classification of an object as 'art' or 'not art' is a strong predictor of their subsequent aesthetic appreciation of that object.

Frontiers in Psychology · 2017

Key Findings

01Individuals did not universally agree on the 'arthood' status of any given item.
02The classification of an image as 'art' positively correlated with the viewer's liking of that image.
03Art classification was influenced by personality variables, tastes, and decision-making strategies.

Application

Design takeaway

Acknowledge and leverage user subjectivity; the perceived 'value' or 'quality' of a design is heavily influenced by the user's personal classification and pre-existing beliefs.

How to apply

When introducing a new product or design, consider how its presentation, context, and accompanying narrative might influence the user's initial classification and, consequently, their overall appreciation.

Project actions

01Consider how your design will be perceived and categorized by different users.
02Think about how the context or presentation of your design might influence user judgment.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate how viewers spontaneously classify images as 'art' or 'not art' and how this classification correlates with their aesthetic appreciation and interpersonal differences.

MethodExperimental study

ProcedureParticipants were presented with various image types (abstract, hyperrealistic, poorly executed paintings, readymade sculptures, Renaissance and Baroque paintings) and asked to classify them as 'art' or 'not art' using binary and analog scales. They also rated their liking for each image. Personality variables and decision strategies were also assessed.

ContextArt perception and aesthetic evaluation

Variables

IVClassification of image as 'art' or 'not art'.

DVLiking/aesthetic appreciation of the image.

CVImage type (abstract, hyperrealistic, etc.), presentation format.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Investigates a fundamental aspect of perception often overlooked in design research.
+Connects subjective classification to measurable outcomes like liking.

Limitations

The specific types of art used in the study might not be directly comparable to all design products. The study focused on visual art, not other design disciplines.

Reliability & validity

The study's findings on the correlation between art classification and liking suggest good internal validity. Reliability would depend on the consistency of classification across similar participant groups and repeated measures.

Think critically

How might a designer intentionally influence a user's classification of their product to enhance aesthetic appreciation, and what are the ethical considerations of doing so?

Design Principles

"Design for subjective appraisal: Recognize that user perception of a design's category (e.g., 'functional,' 'artistic,' 'innovative') directly impacts their aesthetic and emotional response."

This highlights that user perception and pre-existing beliefs are critical factors in how designs are received and valued. Understanding a user's internal 'art' or 'design' classification system can inform how to best present and frame a product for optimal user engagement and satisfaction.

What This Means for Your Design

What you think is 'good design' or 'art' affects how much you like it, and other people might see it differently based on their own ideas.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify why user perception and subjective classification are important factors in your design evaluation.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The research by Pelowski et al. (2017) demonstrates that viewers' subjective classification of an object as 'art' significantly correlates with their aesthetic appreciation. This suggests that in design practice, the user's initial perception and categorization of a product can profoundly influence their overall satisfaction and engagement, underscoring the importance of considering how a design is framed and presented to align with user expectations and subjective criteria.

Source

Frontiers in Psychology

But Is It really Art? The Classification of Images as “Art”/“Not Art” and Correlation with Appraisal and Viewer Interpersonal Differences

journal · 2017

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about viewer subjectivity in art classification significantly impacts aesthetic appreciation?: Acknowledge and leverage user subjectivity; the perceived 'value' or 'quality' of a design is heavily influenced by the user's personal classification and pre-existing beliefs. Evidence: Frontiers in Psychology (2017).
Why does "Viewer Subjectivity in Art Classification Significantly Impacts Aesthetic Appreciation" matter for design?: This highlights that user perception and pre-existing beliefs are critical factors in how designs are received and valued. Understanding a user's internal 'art' or 'design' classification system can inform how to best present and frame a product for optimal user engagement and satisfaction.
How can designers apply this research?: Acknowledge and leverage user subjectivity; the perceived 'value' or 'quality' of a design is heavily influenced by the user's personal classification and pre-existing beliefs.
What were the main findings?: Individuals did not universally agree on the 'arthood' status of any given item.. The classification of an image as 'art' positively correlated with the viewer's liking of that image.. Art classification was influenced by personality variables, tastes, and decision-making strategies.
What research method was used?: Experimental study.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from Frontiers in Psychology.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When introducing a new product or design, consider how its presentation, context, and accompanying narrative might influence the user's initial classification and, consequently, their overall appreciation.
What are the limitations?: The study used digital reproductions, which may differ from viewing physical objects. The range of image types was specific to art and may not directly translate to all design contexts.