Short answer
Incorporate elements of diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability into design projects to create opportunities for users to make unexpected, valuable discoveries.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Journal of Documentation (2017)
- Method
- Theoretical Framework Development and Validation
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Environments, both physical and digital, can be designed with specific affordances to increase the likelihood of users encountering unexpected but valuable resources. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Journal of Documentation. Using Theoretical framework development and validation, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate elements of diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability into design projects to create opportunities for users to make unexpected, valuable discoveries.
Design environments that foster unplanned discovery through diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability.
Environments, both physical and digital, can be designed with specific affordances to increase the likelihood of users encountering unexpected but valuable resources.
Journal of Documentation · 2017
Key Findings
- 01Serendipity is defined as unplanned encounters with interesting resources.
- 02Three key environmental affordances for serendipity are diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability.
- 03These affordances couple with personal factors like curiosity, mobility, and sensitivity.
- 04Designers can create affordances for serendipity, but cannot directly engineer serendipity itself.
Application
Design takeaway
Incorporate elements of diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability into design projects to create opportunities for users to make unexpected, valuable discoveries.
How to apply
When designing a new app, consider adding a 'discover' section with varied content types and recommendation algorithms. For a physical space, ensure multiple routes and points of interest are available.
Project actions
- 01Consider how your design might lead users to discover something they weren't actively looking for.
- 02Think about how to introduce variety and unexpected elements into your user flows or product features.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a clear theoretical framework for understanding serendipity in design.
- +Connects environmental design features to user psychology.
Limitations
It's difficult to measure serendipity directly, as it's by definition unplanned and subjective.
Reliability & validity
The theoretical nature of the framework limits direct assessment of reliability and validity without empirical testing. The mapping to existing research provides some level of theoretical validation.
Think critically
To what extent can designers truly influence serendipity, or is it primarily a matter of user disposition and external factors beyond design control?
Design Principles
"Design for serendipity by enabling exploration through varied options, clear navigation, and engaging sensory feedback."
Understanding the principles of serendipity allows designers to move beyond purely functional design and create experiences that encourage exploration, learning, and innovation. By intentionally designing for unplanned discovery, products and spaces can become more engaging and lead to novel user outcomes.
What This Means for Your Design
You can't force someone to have a 'wow' moment, but you can set up a space or a digital experience so that 'wow' moments are more likely to happen by accident.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the concepts of diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability to analyze the potential for serendipity in your design or in existing products.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The design of environments can be enhanced by incorporating affordances that foster serendipity. By focusing on diversifiability (offering varied options), traversability (enabling easy navigation and exploration), and sensoriability (engaging sensory perception), designers can create contexts where users are more likely to encounter unexpected but valuable resources, aligning with principles of user-centred design.
Source
Questions About This Research
- What does the research say about design environments that foster unplanned discovery through diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability?
- Incorporate elements of diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability into design projects to create opportunities for users to make unexpected, valuable discoveries. Evidence: Journal of Documentation (2017).
- Why does "Design environments that foster unplanned discovery through diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability." matter for design?
- Understanding the principles of serendipity allows designers to move beyond purely functional design and create experiences that encourage exploration, learning, and innovation. By intentionally designing for unplanned discovery, products and spaces can become more engaging and lead to novel user outcomes.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Incorporate elements of diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability into design projects to create opportunities for users to make unexpected, valuable discoveries.
- What were the main findings?
- Serendipity is defined as unplanned encounters with interesting resources.. Three key environmental affordances for serendipity are diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability.. These affordances couple with personal factors like curiosity, mobility, and sensitivity.. Designers can create affordances for serendipity, but cannot directly engineer serendipity itself.
- What research method was used?
- Theoretical Framework Development and Validation.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2017 journal from Journal of Documentation.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new app, consider adding a 'discover' section with varied content types and recommendation algorithms. For a physical space, ensure multiple routes and points of interest are available.
- What are the limitations?
- The framework is theoretical and requires empirical testing to confirm the direct impact of these affordances on actual serendipitous events.