How I Discovered the Hidden Connection Between User Experience and Interaction Through Kansei Design

I recently dove into a research paper that completely shifted the way I see the relationship between user experience (UX) and interaction design. The study, published in the International Journal of Interactive Design and Manufacturing by Theo Mahut, Daniel Esquivel, Carole Bouchard, Jean-Francois Omhover, and Carole Favart, explores the intricate dance between how we feel and how we interact with products. Trust me when I say — it’s a game changer for anyone who cares about designing products that truly resonate with people.

Rethinking UX: It’s More Than Just Functionality

For the longest time, I believed that a good user experience was all about making sure a product worked smoothly and looked appealing. But this research opened my eyes to a deeper truth: UX is not a standalone concept. It’s the culmination of how a product’s design, context, and, crucially, its interactive elements all come together to affect our emotions and behavior.

The authors argue that interactions are at the core of the user experience. I started to see that every time I used an app or a gadget, it wasn’t just the functionality that mattered — it was also how the product made me feel during the interaction. This subtle interplay is what Kansei design tries to capture.

Kansei Design: The Art of Translating Feelings into Design

Kansei design is one of those concepts that sounds mysterious at first, but once you get it, you wonder how you ever designed without it. Rooted in Japanese philosophy, Kansei design is about capturing and using our emotional responses to shape product design. In other words, it’s the science (and art) of turning feelings into tangible design features.

In the study, the researchers used Kansei design to bridge the gap between subjective user experiences and the objective design elements of a product. They broke down the process into three main areas:

• Kansei Engineering: Translating user emotions into concrete design parameters. For example, how does a car’s interior design evoke feelings of calm or excitement?
• Kansei Science: Understanding the cognitive processes behind these emotions. This helps in predicting how users will react to certain design choices.
• Kansei Design: Merging both to create products that not only work well but also emotionally connect with the user.

I was struck by how Toyota Motor Europe uses these principles in their design process. It’s not just about tweaking a knob or adding a cool gadget; it’s about engineering an emotional journey from the moment a user steps into the car.

Breaking Down the Experiment

What really got me hooked was the study’s hands-on approach. The researchers set up a controlled environment — a “cabin” that simulated a driving experience — and created two distinct user experiences: one called “Inner Harmony” and another dubbed “Playful Behavior.” Alongside these, they developed four interactive prototypes, ranging from a simple knob to a sophisticated gesture recognition system.

Here’s how they did it:

1. Immersive Environment: Participants were placed in a specially designed cabin that mimicked real-life driving conditions. This wasn’t just about sitting in a car — it was about experiencing an environment that could evoke specific emotions.
2. Interaction and Evaluation: Users interacted with one of the four prototypes during the experience and then evaluated both the overall experience and the interaction itself using sensory, emotional, and semantic “cards.” These cards captured everything from how calm or excited they felt, to whether the interaction seemed clear or confusing.
3. Data-Driven Insights: The researchers then analyzed the data using techniques like analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed some fascinating trends, such as how different interaction methods could significantly change the emotional tone of the overall experience.

The Big Takeaways

After going through the details of the study, a few insights really resonated with me:

1. Interactions Shape the Entire Experience

It was clear that even small changes in interaction design could shift the entire user experience. For example, a gesture-controlled interface made the experience feel more dynamic and engaging compared to a traditional knob. This means that when we design products, we need to think holistically — every interactive element plays a part in the overall emotional journey.

2. Emotions vs. Semantics

I learned that user experiences are primarily driven by emotional responses, whereas interactions tend to influence how we perceive the product’s meaning. In simpler terms, while the overall experience is about how the product makes you feel, the interaction design is more about the message it sends — whether it feels innovative, familiar, or even quirky. Balancing these aspects can lead to a more cohesive design.

3. The Power of Context and Temporality

The study also underscored how context and time influence user perceptions. The same interactive feature can evoke different emotions depending on the surrounding experience. For instance, an interface that feels calm in one scenario might seem out of place in a more dynamic setting. Recognizing this helps in designing products that adapt fluidly to different contexts.

Why This Matters to Me (and Should Matter to You, Too)

I’m always on the lookout for ways to push the boundaries of user-centered design. This research not only validated some of my instincts but also offered a structured way to think about the reciprocal relationship between user experience and interaction design. If you’re a designer, product manager, or anyone involved in creating digital experiences, consider this:

• Start with Emotion: Don’t just ask if a feature is usable. Ask how it makes people feel.
• Design Holistically: Every element — from the tiniest interaction to the overall environment — plays a role in the user’s experience.
• Iterate and Evaluate: Use methods similar to the “cards” evaluation from the study to get a clear picture of what’s working and what’s not.

By focusing on these aspects, we can create products that do more than just function well — they can truly connect with people.

Final Thoughts

Exploring this research was a refreshing reminder that behind every well-designed product is a complex web of interactions and emotions. Kansei design offers a powerful framework to understand and harness this interplay, and I’m excited to see how these ideas evolve and influence the next wave of innovative products.

If you’re interested in learning more, I highly recommend checking out the full paper:

Mahut, T., Esquivel, D., Bouchard, C., Omhover, J.-F., & Favart, C. (2017). Interdependency between user experience and interaction: A Kansei design approach. International Journal of Interactive Design and Manufacturing. DOI:10.1007/s12008–017–0381–4

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you approach the emotional side of design. Have you experimented with Kansei methods or other emotion-driven techniques in your projects? Drop a comment below or reach out — I’m always keen to chat about designing experiences that truly matter.