Designing for Emotion Chapter 2

As we continue reading Designing for Emotion we were asked to, again, answer two questions about chapter 2 , Designing for Humans. What do you agree with and what do you disagree with in this chapter? Below are my answers:

Agree: I’m definitely on board with the authors ideas about aesthetics. I think something that is pleasing and attractive to look at makes an experience more enjoyable and easier. I am currently in a magazine industry class where we are assigned to create things like magazine covers and design pages. I have a new found respect for magazine designs, and honestly just web designers in generally. Aesthetics are something that you just kind of feel or know when you look at something and that is indefinitely easier said than done while trying to create something. However, when the product comes together and is nice to look at everything seems better, even the content.

Disagree: I found it hard to believe what the author says about cognitive contrast and it’s power on human decisions. To some extent I absolutely see where this could be true. If sour milk was in my fridge I would definitely throw it out and because I burned myself on a stove as a kid I will never again touch a heated pan. This being said, there are other, more complex situations that can challenge this factor. For instance, I think some people know “this is not good for me” when marrying someone, eating something or even picking a seat in class but we do it anyway because of other aspects of emotion.