Pleasure = work

There are numerous technological devices that I personally enjoy on a daily basis. I am sure that everyone has a favorite device that they like to use throughout their day. For myself, I enjoy using my ipod when I exercise, the computer and my cell phone to stay connected with others, the personal video recorder (PVR) that is hooked up to my television. The question arises, What is it about these devices that I enjoy so much. 

Donald Norman speaks to this enjoyment of technology in his book Emotional Design. He states: "Technology should bring more to our lives than the improved performance of tasks: it should add richness and enjoyment" (Norman, 2004, p. 101) He highlights considerations when designing things for pleasure such as physio-pleasure, socio-pleasure, psycho-pleasure and ideo-pleasure.

These different pleasures elicit inspiration for the incorporation of pleasure in the design of the product that we are creating for class, Launch Pad. Is there some form of music/ sound that we should be considering? An aspect that we can pull from movie or a video game that would allow for the creation of Csikszentmihalyi's flow. For example the introduction music that is used for TED talks or a sound bite from a Star Wars movie. How can we create such a visceral response, do we need to hire someone. On the other hand, at what point do you see yourself going overboard. There is a delicate balance that needs to be achieve. It is just enough to focus on some simple detail that changes, like Googles title, which would provide that surprising novelty that Norman speaks about.

Keep it simple, is my thought. The product we are designing is more of a platform for information. A well organized and timely link to information that is going to meet the needs of the learners who click on it. I guess there is the focus. The focus will need to be on the quality of the content. This leads to the next question,  a question that was posed tonight during our presentation. How will we determine that the content that we have selected for our platform will meet the largest number of individuals who will be accessing it. Enter the field of market research?

The Design process I am learning is not a simple one. There are multiple layers that need to be considered prior to the generation of a new product. You may have an idea that is a great one but the devil is in the details. Hard work and careful consideration of what you are trying to accomplish, and the need that you are trying to meet are paramount. And so it continues. . .