An investigation into dynamic multi-sensory product experience based on online shopping

Abstract

In recent years, product design and development has shifted its paradigm from focusing on functional and technological aspects to user-centered concerns. Therefore, understanding consumers' experience and satisfying their requirements become essential for a successful product. Designers are encouraged to design for users' multi-sensory experience from the contextual level. In this study we propose a Scenario Co-build System (SCS) to fill in the gap that individual difference is seldom considered when tackling the multiple contextual factors in user involvement. It aims at helping users and designers to co-build a more customized scenario which can link up with one's real life more closely to facilitate the acquisition of user experience. Based on the SCS, a case study in online shopping is carried out to investigate users' dynamic multi-sensory experience under three basic phases, viz. 'purchasing phase', 'first contacting phase' and 'afterward using phase'. Several issues including sensory compensation, the representation types, differences between expected and real experience, emotions, individual differences and influence of scenarios are discussed in this study. © Springer-Verlag London 2013.