How users experience great products

Abstract

This study reports qualitative research about how users experience great products. Eighteen interviews were conducted in which participants were asked to bring along a ‘great’ product that they own. During the interviews participants explained why they consider a product great and how they experience it. The experiences were categorised in two groups: ‘pragmatic experience’, and ‘significant experience’. The term pragmatic refers to a utilitarian view of the human-product interaction, while the term significant stresses the suitability of the product for users including, their personal benefit and growth. In the paper the two experiences are explained in detail, including the needs fulfilled and the emotions elicited by the products.