Aesthetic interaction

TLDR

Growing interest in aesthetic aspects of interactive systems has led to emerging approaches that differ in terminology and assumptions about the roles of user, designer, and interaction ideals. The study aims to use Pragmatist Aesthetics to create a framework that distinguishes between different aesthetic approaches in interactive systems. The authors coin this approach as aesthetic interaction and situate it among other interaction perspectives, providing a framework that differentiates aesthetic approaches. Design cases demonstrate that Pragmatist Aesthetics promotes aesthetics of use over appearance and that aesthetics does not redefine all aspects of interactive systems.

Abstract

There is a growing interest in considering aesthetic aspects in the design of interactive systems. A set of approaches are emerging each representing different applications of the terminology as well as different inherent assumptions on the role of the user, designer and interaction ideals. In this paper, we use the concept of Pragmatist Aesthetics to provide a framework for distinguishing between different approaches to aesthetics. Moreover, we use our own design cases to illustrate how pragmatist aesthetics is a promising path to follow in the context of designing interactive systems, as it promotes aesthetics of use, rather than aesthetics of appearance. We coin this approach in the perspective of aesthetic interaction. Finally we make the point that aesthetics is not re-defining everything known about interactive systems. We provide a framework placing this perspective among other perspectives on interaction.