Symbolic meaning attribution as a means to design for happiness

Symbolic meaning attribution as a means to design for happiness

Casais, Mafalda (TU Delft Design Aesthetics)
Mugge, R. (TU Delft Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior)
Desmet, P.M.A. (TU Delft Design Aesthetics)

Desmet, P.M.A. (editor)
Fokkinga, S.F. (editor)
Ludden, G.D.S. (editor)
Cila, N. (editor)
Van Zuthem, H. (editor)

2016

Material possessions with happiness-related symbolic meanings can provide a contribution to subjective well-being (happiness), because they remind owners of memories, achievements, or aspirations. Such possessions provide an anchor for personally meaningful narratives, help in the construction and communication of self-identity, represent personal values and achievements, etc. Capturing this richness in a design process is challenging, because meaning is person and context-dependent, and the effects on happiness are subjective. In order to provide inspiration for designers to create products predisposed to symbolic meaning attribution, six happiness-related symbolic meanings were identified. Based on those, 16 design directions were developed. To communicate the six symbolic meanings and the 16 design directions, a toolkit for designers was created, composed of a deck of cards and a website. This paper serves as an introduction to a workshop where the toolkit is applied, and it explains the process and the rationale behind the card set and website that make up the toolkit.

Symbolic meaning
Positive design
Happiness
Design tool
Design workshop

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7b6278b5-53e0-4e0f-ae6b-49d7615b2c6a

The Design & Emotion Society, Amsterdam

978-94-6186-725-4

Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Design and Emotion - Celebration & Contemplation

The 10th International Conference on Design and Emotion - Celebration & Contemplation, 2016-09-27 → 2016-09-30, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Institutional Repository

conference paper

© 2016 Mafalda Casais, R. Mugge, P.M.A. Desmet