Short answer
Design products not just for their utility, but for the emotional and psychological relationship they can build with the user by defining and communicating a clear product personality.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Queensland University of Technology (2022)
- Method
- Qualitative Research (Co-discovery sessions, Interviews)
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
By imbuing products with distinct 'personalities,' designers can foster deeper, more positive emotional connections with users. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in Queensland University of Technology. Using Qualitative research (co-discovery sessions, interviews), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design products not just for their utility, but for the emotional and psychological relationship they can build with the user by defining and communicating a clear product personality.
Product Personality: Designing for Enhanced User-Product Relationships
By imbuing products with distinct 'personalities,' designers can foster deeper, more positive emotional connections with users.
Queensland University of Technology · 2022
Key Findings
- 01Products' function, facilitation, perceived performance, and evoked emotions are key factors influencing user-product relationships.
- 02Assigning 'personalities' to products (e.g., 'helpful,' 'efficient') can lead to positive emotional responses from users.
- 03A framework for designing products that support enhanced user-product relationships can be developed by understanding product personality and evoked emotions.
Application
Design takeaway
Design products not just for their utility, but for the emotional and psychological relationship they can build with the user by defining and communicating a clear product personality.
How to apply
When developing a new product, define its core personality traits (e.g., playful, sophisticated, reliable) and ensure all design elements, from form to interaction, consistently reflect these traits.
Project actions
- 01When defining your product's purpose, also define its 'personality'.
- 02Consider how the form, color, and interaction style of your product communicate its personality.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Applies a novel psychological framework (Transactional Analysis) to product design.
- +Provides a practical framework for designers to enhance user-product relationships.
Limitations
It can be challenging to objectively measure or define a product's personality. User interpretations of personality may vary significantly.
Reliability & validity
Reliability could be improved through larger sample sizes and standardized interview protocols. Validity is supported by the qualitative depth of user insights into emotional connections.
Think critically
To what extent can a product truly possess a 'personality,' and how much of this is a projection by the user? How might cultural differences influence the perception of product personality?
Design Principles
"Product personality should be a deliberate design attribute that influences user perception and emotional engagement."
Understanding the psychological underpinnings of user-product relationships allows for the creation of more engaging and satisfying experiences. This approach moves beyond mere functionality to consider the emotional resonance and perceived character of an object.
What This Means for Your Design
Think about your product like it's a person. What kind of personality does it have? Is it helpful, funny, or serious? Designing with a specific personality in mind can make people feel more connected to it.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the concept of product personality to justify design decisions related to aesthetics and user interaction.
- 2.Analyze existing products to identify their perceived personalities and how these influence user engagement.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This design project explored the concept of product personality, drawing on theories of user-product relationships to inform design decisions. By defining the product's intended personality (e.g., as 'helpful' and 'efficient'), design elements were selected to evoke positive emotional responses and foster a stronger user connection, moving beyond purely functional considerations.
Source
Queensland University of Technology
Everyday objects as living things: The application of Transactional Analysis to understand and design product-person relationships
journal · 2022
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about product personality: designing for enhanced user-product relationships?
- Design products not just for their utility, but for the emotional and psychological relationship they can build with the user by defining and communicating a clear product personality. Evidence: Queensland University of Technology (2022).
- Why does "Product Personality: Designing for Enhanced User-Product Relationships" matter for design?
- Understanding the psychological underpinnings of user-product relationships allows for the creation of more engaging and satisfying experiences. This approach moves beyond mere functionality to consider the emotional resonance and perceived character of an object.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design products not just for their utility, but for the emotional and psychological relationship they can build with the user by defining and communicating a clear product personality.
- What were the main findings?
- Products' function, facilitation, perceived performance, and evoked emotions are key factors influencing user-product relationships.. Assigning 'personalities' to products (e.g., 'helpful,' 'efficient') can lead to positive emotional responses from users.. A framework for designing products that support enhanced user-product relationships can be developed by understanding product personality and evoked emotions.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative Research (Co-discovery sessions, Interviews).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2022 journal from Queensland University of Technology.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing a new product, define its core personality traits (e.g., playful, sophisticated, reliable) and ensure all design elements, from form to interaction, consistently reflect these traits.
- What are the limitations?
- The application of Transactional Analysis might be subjective and vary across different user groups and cultural contexts. The study's findings are based on qualitative data, requiring further quantitative validation.