Short answer
Designers should actively consider and integrate tactile, auditory, and olfactory feedback into their designs to create a more holistic and impactful user experience that enhances perceived quality.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Multisensory Research (2020)
- Method
- Literature Review and Synthesis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
The perceived quality of materials and objects is not solely a visual experience but is significantly influenced by a combination of sensory inputs. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Multisensory Research. Using Literature review and synthesis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should actively consider and integrate tactile, auditory, and olfactory feedback into their designs to create a more holistic and impactful user experience that enhances perceived quality.
Multisensory Cues Significantly Enhance Perceived Material Quality
The perceived quality of materials and objects is not solely a visual experience but is significantly influenced by a combination of sensory inputs.
Multisensory Research · 2020
Key Findings
- 01Visual evaluation is often dominant in research, but other senses (touch, sound, smell) play a crucial role in real-world quality perception.
- 02Multisensory integration leads to a more robust and nuanced impression of material quality.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should actively consider and integrate tactile, auditory, and olfactory feedback into their designs to create a more holistic and impactful user experience that enhances perceived quality.
How to apply
When designing a new product, consciously think about how it will feel, sound, and potentially smell, in addition to how it looks. For example, a premium electronic device might have a satisfying weight, a subtle click when buttons are pressed, and a smooth, cool surface.
Project actions
- 01When evaluating materials, don't just look at them; touch them, tap them, and consider any associated sounds.
- 02Think about how different sensory inputs might combine to create a specific impression of quality for your design.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Highlights the importance of under-researched sensory modalities.
- +Provides a framework for understanding holistic user experience.
Limitations
It can be challenging to isolate the effect of individual senses in a real-world product, and user perception can be subjective.
Reliability & validity
Reliability would be assessed by repeating the sensory input presentation and checking for consistent quality ratings. Validity would be assessed by ensuring the chosen sensory inputs genuinely reflect aspects of material quality.
Think critically
How might a designer leverage the 'shitsukan' concept to differentiate a product in a crowded market, especially when visual similarities are high?
Design Principles
"Design for multisensory integration to create richer and more accurate perceptions of quality."
Designers often overlook the impact of non-visual sensory feedback on user perception. By intentionally integrating tactile, auditory, and even olfactory elements, designers can create richer, more compelling product experiences that go beyond visual aesthetics.
What This Means for Your Design
When you touch, hear, or even smell something, it changes how you think it feels or how good it is, not just how it looks.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when discussing how user testing should incorporate tactile feedback or when justifying design choices based on the feel or sound of materials.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The perception of material quality, often termed 'shitsukan', is a multisensory phenomenon. Research indicates that while visual cues are prominent, tactile, auditory, and even olfactory inputs significantly contribute to a user's overall impression of quality. Therefore, design decisions should consider the integrated sensory experience to enhance user satisfaction and perceived value.
Source
Questions About This Research
- What does the research say about multisensory cues significantly enhance perceived material quality?
- Designers should actively consider and integrate tactile, auditory, and olfactory feedback into their designs to create a more holistic and impactful user experience that enhances perceived quality. Evidence: Multisensory Research (2020).
- Why does "Multisensory Cues Significantly Enhance Perceived Material Quality" matter for design?
- Designers often overlook the impact of non-visual sensory feedback on user perception. By intentionally integrating tactile, auditory, and even olfactory elements, designers can create richer, more compelling product experiences that go beyond visual aesthetics.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should actively consider and integrate tactile, auditory, and olfactory feedback into their designs to create a more holistic and impactful user experience that enhances perceived quality.
- What were the main findings?
- Visual evaluation is often dominant in research, but other senses (touch, sound, smell) play a crucial role in real-world quality perception.. Multisensory integration leads to a more robust and nuanced impression of material quality.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Synthesis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from Multisensory Research.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new product, consciously think about how it will feel, sound, and potentially smell, in addition to how it looks. For example, a premium electronic device might have a satisfying weight, a subtle click when buttons are pressed, and a smooth, cool surface.
- What are the limitations?
- The review primarily synthesizes existing literature, and specific experimental data on novel multisensory combinations may be limited.