1. Aesthetics The term ‘Aesthetics' concerns our senses and our responses to an object. Aesthetically pleasing – pleasurable Aesthetically displeasing – you don’t like it Aesthetics involves all of your senses - vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell - and your emotions. Many factors effect the overall aesthetics of a product:  Market trends  Influences of fashion  Style  Function

2. Apple's designs are now the stuff of legend--and the object of fascination and envy. Don Norman, vice president of advanced technology at Apple 1993-1998 Why Design? Why do we care what it looks like? "Attractive things work better. When you wash and wax a car, it drives better, doesn't it? Or at least feels like it does." But is the focus on design worth it? Why spend time and money making a computer look good?

3. Consider the two computer stations below: iMac 1986 How design has evolved! An obvious evolution in design and technology has occurred. Not only do you prefer the iMac – (did the question need to be asked?) but just by looking at the aesthetics of both, which would you expect to function better? What if you were given this information?... 2007 v Doesn’t fit in with current trend does it? iMac 2007

4. “Designers tend to speak about the "genetic code" of products and companies. In some products, such distinctive characteristics serve mainly to aid brand recognition. But in complex objects such as computers, they can also signal operational familiarity: a customer who knows how to use product A will be able to use product B. To whatever degree Apple can be said to make products with a distinctive genetic code, they can also be said to have inherited most of their traits from a single parent: founder Steve Jobs. Jobs left the company in 1985 and didn't return until 1997. Nonetheless, according to many who have worked at Apple, sometimes in close proximity to Jobs, it was largely he who established the company's emphasis on industrial design. Indeed, some would say that he made design a higher priority than technology.” Read the following abstract from an article in the Technology Review – May 2007 describing the design of Apple. To read the full article see: http://www.technologyreview.com/printer_friendly_article.aspx?id=18621

5. Vision Colour Shape Pattern Line Texture Visual weight Balance Scale Movement Contrast (shape/ materials selection) Touch Texture Shape Weight Give Comfort Temperature Vibration Sharpness Ease of use Elements of Aesthetics There are many different things that contribute to your overall perception of a product, and to your opinion as to whether it is aesthetically pleasing to you. Here are a couple of elements you will investigate further:

6. Associations How muchis involved

7. Physio-pleasure - pleasure derived from the senses from touch, smell, etc. For example the smoothness of a curve in a hand-held product or the smell of a new car.

8. Socio-pleasure - pleasure gained from interaction with others. ‘Talking point’ product e.g. special ornament or painting Product may be the focus of a social gathering such as a vending machine or coffee machine. Can also come from a product that represents a social grouping e.g. a particular style of clothing that gives you a social identity.

9. Psycho-pleasure - pleasure from the satisfaction felt when a task is successfully completed. Pleasure also comes from the extent to which the product makes the task more pleasurable, such as the interface of an ATM cash machine, that is quick and simple to use. It is closely related to product usability.

10. Ideo-pleasure - pleasure derived from entities such as books, art and music. This is the most abstract pleasure. In terms of products, it is the values that a product embodies, such as a product that is made of eco-friendly materials, and processes that convey a sense of environmental responsibility to the user.