Design for Emotion Ch. 5

Emotional Engagement

Agree with the author that surprise is much more engaging that perceiving the change of something. The element of surprise in an interphase can be the perfect tool to attract attention to your content in this world of ever-ending similar content. After the brain stops and looks at the contrasting content, it uses emotion to follow it.

Element of Surprise

As the chapter taught us, even with a surprised hand-written letter, like Wufoo has done, it makes the company stand out and break from the crowd. In a sense, it is like the little things that we continue to hear as students from the endless networking activities that are available. Writing a “thank you” card to your interviewer after your interview does not guarantee a job offer, but it solidifies a better image of you with that professional.

Element of Anticipation

Anticipation can be a good and a bad tool. On the good side, it creates commotion among the public and lets those users that had forgotten about you become active. On the other hand, it can be a dangerous tactic. People cannot like the change or it can be too soon to create a buzz. If it’s too soon, you run the chance of losing users to your interface. Timing for anticipation are elements that must go hand in hand with each other.

No Special Formula 

The great advise I obtained from this chapter is that there is no special formula to a perfect design. The formula exists in knowing the respective audience and in the principles of design and the principles of psychology to understand each audience to the best of one’s abilities.