How does this look? Desirability methods for evaluating visual design

Abstract

Previous studies show that traditional usability evaluation methods can be problematic for collecting feedback on visual design [1]. Desirability studies have been used by usability practitioners to collect feedback on the affective response to interactive systems, but none focus on assessing visual design. We describe the Visual Design Card Sort (VDCS), a desirability research method for collecting visual design feedback from domain experts. We also present a case study where VDCS was used to collect visual design feedback from expert users of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. Additionally, we propose a set of analyses for looking at data from desirability studies from different perspectives. Future research is needed to validate some of the assumptions made in designing VDCS and to understand how findings from VDCS compare to other desirability research methods and traditional evaluation techniques. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.