Short answer
Incorporate elements that foster awe, self-awareness, and a sense of personal transformation to create deeply impactful and memorable user experiences.
- Field
- Classic Design
- Source
- Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts (2019)
- Method
- Survey and Latent Class Analysis
- Sample
- 402 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Understanding the distinct emotional and cognitive components of 'sublime' experiences can inform the design of products and services that evoke deep user engagement and positive transformation. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2019 study published in Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts. Using Survey and latent class analysis with 402 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate elements that foster awe, self-awareness, and a sense of personal transformation to create deeply impactful and memorable user experiences.
Sublime Experiences: A Framework for Designing Profound User Engagement
Understanding the distinct emotional and cognitive components of 'sublime' experiences can inform the design of products and services that evoke deep user engagement and positive transformation.
Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts · 2019
Key Findings
- 01Approximately half of participants reported having experienced the sublime.
- 02Sublime experiences encompass a wide range of contexts, aligning with historical theoretical arguments.
- 03A significant majority of reported sublime experiences were characterized by positive emotions, discrepancy, self-awareness, and transformation/insight, rather than fear or negative emotions.
Application
Design takeaway
Incorporate elements that foster awe, self-awareness, and a sense of personal transformation to create deeply impactful and memorable user experiences.
How to apply
When designing a user journey, consider moments that could evoke awe (e.g., through visual grandeur, unexpected functionality) or provide opportunities for users to gain new insights about themselves or the world.
Project actions
- 01Consider how your design can create moments of awe or wonder for the user.
- 02Explore ways to prompt users to reflect on their experience or gain new understanding.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Systematic empirical investigation of a historically philosophical concept.
- +Identification of distinct patterns in user-reported experiences.
Limitations
The subjective nature of 'sublime' experiences makes them difficult to universally quantify and replicate in design.
Reliability & validity
Latent Class Analysis provides a statistical method for identifying distinct groups, enhancing the reliability of categorizing experiences. Validity is supported by aligning findings with historical theoretical arguments.
Think critically
How can the concept of the 'sublime' be applied to everyday products and services, rather than just grand experiences, to enhance user engagement?
Design Principles
"Design for profound emotional and cognitive engagement by integrating elements of awe, self-reflection, and transformative insight."
While often associated with grand natural phenomena, the principles underlying sublime experiences—awe, self-awareness, and transformation—can be intentionally designed into user interactions. This offers a pathway to create more meaningful and memorable user journeys, moving beyond mere utility to emotional resonance.
What This Means for Your Design
Think about how to make users feel amazed, thoughtful, and changed by your design, not just happy or satisfied.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify design choices aimed at creating profound user engagement, referencing the emotional and cognitive states associated with sublime experiences.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research into 'sublime' experiences suggests that users derive profound engagement from interactions that evoke awe, self-awareness, and personal transformation. By incorporating design elements that foster these states, such as unexpected visual stimuli or opportunities for reflection, designers can create more meaningful and memorable user journeys that resonate deeply.
Source
Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts
Quantifying the if, the when, and the what of the sublime: A survey and latent class analysis of incidence, emotions, and distinct varieties of personal sublime experiences.
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about sublime experiences: a framework for designing profound user engagement?
- Incorporate elements that foster awe, self-awareness, and a sense of personal transformation to create deeply impactful and memorable user experiences. Evidence: Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts (2019).
- Why does "Sublime Experiences: A Framework for Designing Profound User Engagement" matter for design?
- While often associated with grand natural phenomena, the principles underlying sublime experiences—awe, self-awareness, and transformation—can be intentionally designed into user interactions. This offers a pathway to create more meaningful and memorable user journeys, moving beyond mere utility to emotional resonance.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Incorporate elements that foster awe, self-awareness, and a sense of personal transformation to create deeply impactful and memorable user experiences.
- What were the main findings?
- Approximately half of participants reported having experienced the sublime.. Sublime experiences encompass a wide range of contexts, aligning with historical theoretical arguments.. A significant majority of reported sublime experiences were characterized by positive emotions, discrepancy, self-awareness, and transformation/insight, rather than fear or negative emotions.
- What research method was used?
- Survey and Latent Class Analysis with 402 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2019 journal from Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a user journey, consider moments that could evoke awe (e.g., through visual grandeur, unexpected functionality) or provide opportunities for users to gain new insights about themselves or the world.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on Western adults, and the definition of 'sublime' can be subjective and culturally influenced.