Designing Products to Evoke an Emotional Connection in Users

Abstract

Nowadays, companies are building products (e.g. iPhone, Wii, Xbox360, 1.2“ Flat Panel TVs, Dyson Ball^TM, etc.) that literally strike at the heart-strings of users through the emotional connection they seek to establish with customers. It is no longer just about ease of use, usefulness, satisfaction, functionality, but more around building holistic experiences that differentiate products/services and create a strong emotional attachment. In this panel we hope to bring greater awareness of this topic and discuss how the Human Factors community can play a more prominent role in developing products and services that deliver a ”wow“ experience.