Form or Function? Expanding Upon Human Factors Perspectives in Design

Abstract

Human factors has contributed significantly to the understanding of human behavior in applied settings but still has much to learn about design. Neglected areas of research include areas in design aesthetics, user emotion, user satisfaction, and their impact on user behavior. Research in marketing, design, consumer behavior, business strategy, and within the human factors field are presented as evidence of the importance of these topics. This article highlights where the traditional human factors approach to design fails and suggests where human factors practitioners can draw from research efforts to expand its understanding of human performance and behavior in complex systems.