Exploring sensory perception, appraisal and concern: An approach to support design activity

The fundamental first stage of product interaction is through sensory perception, which generates cognitive and affective experiences. Product perception through sensory feedback is a major component in the end user product appraisal that precedes the elicitation of product emotion. Sensory evaluation is connected to a set of concepts including appraisal, concern and goal oriented objective. The interplay between stimulus (in this case from sensory feedback) and product concern, which forms the basis for product appraisal, is key to understanding how design effort can affect the end user’s product perception. This research investigates the contribution that sensory information can make to the design process using a technique, Experience Continuum Sampling to explore the connection between sensory perception, appraisal and concern due to product interaction. This approach provides specific information related to product features experienced through sensory stimuli. The designer can weight sensory information and direct activity to optimise product design