Understanding Affective Engagement as a Resource in Interaction Design

Abstract

This article proposes affective engagement as a possible resource when designing interactive environments. The notion of affect and affective experience as developed by Brian Massumi in cultural theory is presented as a theoretical foundation for conceptualizing experience in interaction design. In particular, it is shown how Massumi provides a non-informational understanding of affect as distinct from emotions. Instead, Massumi offers a processual and relational account of affective experience as a part of dynamic events of becoming. Through an analysis of the interactive installation Touched Echoes, the concept of affective engagement is introduced to inform the practical work when designing experiential fields as conditions of emergence in interaction design.