Short answer
When designing experiences that represent complex human conditions, prioritize abstract and evocative design choices over literal simulation to foster deeper understanding and empathy.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Humanities (2023)
- Method
- Case Study Analysis
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Interactive experiences that abstract rather than simulate a condition can open users to understanding its implications without resorting to dehumanizing tropes. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Humanities. Using Case study analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing experiences that represent complex human conditions, prioritize abstract and evocative design choices over literal simulation to foster deeper understanding and empathy.
Abstract design experiences can foster empathy for complex conditions.
Interactive experiences that abstract rather than simulate a condition can open users to understanding its implications without resorting to dehumanizing tropes.
Humanities · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Popular culture often represents Alzheimer's Disease through tropes of loss, fragmentation, and irrationality, sometimes punctuated by dehumanizing moments of clarity.
- 02The interactive experience 'Always' uses abstract design and game mechanics to destabilize user senses, encouraging consideration of the condition's implications rather than simulating it directly.
- 03This abstract approach avoids the 'love miracle' trope and offers a more nuanced representation that bridges the gap between representation and reality.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing experiences that represent complex human conditions, prioritize abstract and evocative design choices over literal simulation to foster deeper understanding and empathy.
How to apply
Consider using non-literal visual metaphors, soundscapes, or interactive mechanics to convey the essence of a user's experience rather than attempting to replicate their sensory or cognitive state.
Project actions
- 01When exploring sensitive topics, think about how you can use metaphor and abstraction.
- 02Consider the ethical implications of representation in your design choices.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Highlights an innovative approach to representing sensitive topics.
- +Critiques common, potentially harmful, representational practices.
Limitations
The abstract nature of the design might be misinterpreted by some users, leading to a lack of understanding.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the findings relies heavily on the interpretation of the 'Always' experience and its comparison to existing cultural representations. Reliability would be enhanced by testing the abstract approach with a wider range of users and conditions.
Think critically
To what extent can abstract design truly convey the lived experience of a condition, and where does the risk of misinterpretation lie?
Design Principles
"Abstract representation can foster empathy by engaging users' cognitive and emotional processing without the pitfalls of literal depiction."
Designers often grapple with representing sensitive or complex human experiences. This research suggests that abstracting a condition, rather than attempting a literal simulation, can be a more effective and ethical approach to fostering user understanding and empathy.
What This Means for Your Design
Instead of trying to perfectly copy what it's like to have Alzheimer's, a game can use weird design to make you *think* about what it might feel like, which is often more helpful and less hurtful.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify your choice of design approach when representing complex user experiences or sensitive topics.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The analysis of 'Always' demonstrates that abstract design experiences can be more effective than literal simulations in fostering empathy for complex human conditions. By employing abstract mechanics, designers can sidestep potentially dehumanizing tropes and encourage users to consider the implications of a condition, thereby bridging the gap between representation and reality.
Source
Humanities
Familiar Strangers in the Shrouded Forest: Stigma, Representation and Alzheimer’s Disease in Always
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about abstract design experiences can foster empathy for complex conditions?
- When designing experiences that represent complex human conditions, prioritize abstract and evocative design choices over literal simulation to foster deeper understanding and empathy. Evidence: Humanities (2023).
- Why does "Abstract design experiences can foster empathy for complex conditions." matter for design?
- Designers often grapple with representing sensitive or complex human experiences. This research suggests that abstracting a condition, rather than attempting a literal simulation, can be a more effective and ethical approach to fostering user understanding and empathy.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing experiences that represent complex human conditions, prioritize abstract and evocative design choices over literal simulation to foster deeper understanding and empathy.
- What were the main findings?
- Popular culture often represents Alzheimer's Disease through tropes of loss, fragmentation, and irrationality, sometimes punctuated by dehumanizing moments of clarity.. The interactive experience 'Always' uses abstract design and game mechanics to destabilize user senses, encouraging consideration of the condition's implications rather than simulating it directly.. This abstract approach avoids the 'love miracle' trope and offers a more nuanced representation that bridges the gap between representation and reality.
- What research method was used?
- Case Study Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Humanities.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Consider using non-literal visual metaphors, soundscapes, or interactive mechanics to convey the essence of a user's experience rather than attempting to replicate their sensory or cognitive state.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on a single case study, and the effectiveness of abstract design may vary depending on the specific condition and target audience.