Art-Based User Research: Combining Art-Based Research and User Research to Inform the Design of a Technology to Improve Emotional Wellbeing

Abstract

This paper presents research output from an experiment that combines ideas from User Research and Art-based Research. Artistic processes inspired the study, in which we asked participants to assess and then “paint” their emotions over emotion-eliciting images using an array of materials, such as watercolors and colored pencils. We used a mixed methods approach that included questionnaires, psychometric data from validated scales and informal conversations. Our primary goals were to inform the design of a mobile application meant to improve emotional wellbeing and assess whether creative self-expression can help to engage users when evaluating and exploring their affective states. We conclude by summarizing the results, which we believe to be positive.