Experimental Harmonization of Shape Intuitive Interaction

Abstract With the increasing functionality and complexity of the material environment it is becoming important to universally improve the quality of its shape design for people with different knowledge. When the material environment shape does not match its value content or acquire unpredictable meaning, it creates disharmony between the function and user that requires intellectual and / or emotional effort for interaction. The intuitive design improves user’s interaction because the information is presented on the subconscious level, hence it is accepted as a natural part of our environment and demands less effort to grasp and evaluate it. In this study, the scientific context of intuition is examined to determine methods and values of shape intuitive expression modeling. The goal of the study is to assess the effectiveness of shape experimental intuitive harmonization methodology using qualitative and quantitative methods. Functional and interaction restrictions are integrated into the object’s shape by employing experimental modeling techniques. Surveys, controlled observations and MaxDiff analysis were used to monitor intuitive harmonization effects on car body split-line and box shape physical models. Experimental results show that the majority of participants consider conceptual shape models to be more intuitively attractive and informative. The study concludes that it is possible and viable to employ a proposed shape intuitive harmonization variable to achieve a universally positive effect.