Designing For a Socially Valuable User Experience

@nicolashenchoz from @epflecallab Designing For a Socially Valuable User Experience - Billionaire

“Design,” he says, “is not primarily about artistic form, but about a socially valuable user experience. One that combines cultural, functional and emotional dimensions.”

“We don’t strive towards futuristic forms that sometimes can appear anecdotal and gimmicky, but for the sense of normality that makes you feel comfortable enough to adopt. When we work on augmented reality projects, we add digital information around a physical object in the most natural way, to value the content.” He adds: “The ethics of design are to be clear with your intention in what you design. We want something new to be relevant. Meaning has a longer lifecycle than technology.”

When asked to describe the perfect design project, Henchoz offers up a surprising response that indicates his commitment to due process: “Design research. It is critical that design should begin to produce knowledge that tracks the impact of an artefact, creating a feedback loop as in scientific methodology.” The EPFL+ECAL Lab employs psychologists to analyse qualitative and quantitative data at consumer level and track the effect on the user, including emotional responses. “Sustainable innovation relies on useful paradigms — not a six-month thrill of the new,” says Henchoz.