Designing Pleasurable Products

More than ever, designers and technologists are considering human factors in the product design process. Consumers are now seen as key to the overall look and usability of products, not just passive users. Traditional thinking assumed that if a task could be accomplished with a reasonable degree of efficiency and comfort, then the product fit the user. The author, a leader in cognitive ergonomics, argues that in practice these approaches can be dehumanizing because people are more than physical and cognitive processors. They have hopes, fears, dreams, and values. Designing Pleasurable Products looks both at and beyond usability, considering how products can be both ergonomic and a joy to own.