This phenemenon and other challenges are discussed in an awesome post by my friends over at ExperienceRethink: Design and Emotion Behind Automated Objects and No-Touch Environments,

They talk about how automated, non-touch objects can improve our experiences in public spaces that are being used by many people and offer a challenge in hygiene.

Public spaces and automated, no-touch objects are a relatively new experience beyond the occasional sliding door. Yet, they are transforming the dynamic of public spaces.  Moving away from the traditional “hands-on” approach where the feel of  the object and its material enhances your experience to a “no-touch” gesture or motion based approach that has many implications both for the design of objects and environments as well as for creating the best emotional equities for different spaces.

The desire to move in and out of a space without making physical contact depends a bit on the type of space, but for public spaces two underlying needs are driving these changes:

1. An efficiency play, to reduce the need for cleaning, and,
2. Reduce the perception of dirty, especially the idea of spreading germs and bacteria.

The design for emotion challenge?

I think Brian and Cat are making a really interesting point here. What else can we think of where ‘design for emotion’ comes in, in solutions for hygene experience in public spaces? Does it mean we make everything non-touch, or the opposite and do we design things to make us more hygenic/ hygiene conscious? This is the solution that is given in the Indian example, where they rather try to educate you then to provide the solution for the ‘problem’. I think this is an interesting discussion, even though personally, I get extremely happy with the non-touch soap dispensers, taps, hand dryers (Dyson!!). What I haven’t seen in public yet is the solution for opening the door as can be seen in the picture on the right. Handy! Let’s ask for this in airplanes where doors open so difficult that you are made to touch it for a long time! Let me know what you think is the best application of design for emotion in this area, and share examples!

My favorites:

Don’t turn this bus into a garbage truck

Stop human trafficking

Zoo ad

Olga also posted an article with similar bag examples. Great stuff! Here are some really good ones:

This new packaging concept for cigarettes from recent UK design graduates Jennifer Noon and Sarah Shaw is in response to the British government’s controversial proposal for plain packaging, which purports that bland and generic cigarette packages devoid of company logos or art would make health warnings more prominent. (Which is not to say that labels wouldn’t work.) (Source: Core 77)

BRIEF Australia has attracted a lot of press attention in recent months on cigarette packaging. The British government are considering introducing plain packaging to the UK. Here is the response.

RESPONSE The main aim was to change the structure of the pack making it less ergonomic. The pack was developed to be difficult to use and carry. For the warning imagery focusing on aspects which would appeal to the users vanity

Be sure to also check out these interesting articles:

• Intentionally Inefficient Cigarette Packaging Design Concept (Core77)
• Can Annoying Cigarette Packs Make Smokers Quit? (FastcoDesign)

Using negative emotions for pleasurable experiences – The Dark Side of Enjoyment

If you like to turn things around and learn a bit more about how you can use negative emotions to design for more pleasurable and richer experiences, you should check out Steven Fokkinga’s research. He states that:

…in life people have many experiences that involve negative emotions, but which are nonetheless engaging and even enjoyable. Furthermore, these experiences are not enjoyable despite the involvement of negative emotions, but rather because of them.

His paper ‘The Dark Side of Enjoyment’ was a real hit at the last Design and Emotion Conference in Chicago, as it shows an interesting, uncommon yet practical approach. He proposes four basic benefits of negative emotions: negative emotions (A) empower for action, (B) signify intriguing boundaries, (C) intensify achievement, and (D) enable contemplation. His paper will soon be available in the online library of the Design & Emotion Society website (launch September 1st).

Dress up: My Roombud