New Tech for Design Research
about.
While Design Research in today's world mainly focuses on the digital perspective, there are still intersections that can be applied to physical and digital products. This project involves utilizing quantitative physiological data to gain insights into the user experience during the setup of an electrical standing desk.
This study aims to understand the emotional dynamics involved in this process and identify potential improvements to the user manual. Therefore, the research question that drives this study is "How can the user experience during the setup process of an electrical standing desk be improved?"
challenge.
The challenge of this study was the realization of the study design. Combining not only qualitative and quantitative data, but also synchronizing the smartwatch, chest strap, and camera, and establishing a baseline for measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was the actual challenge.
The study design was structured into three phases:
Baseline Measurement: Participants moved boxes for 3-4 minutes to establish a physiological baseline.
Desk Assembly: Participants followed six setup steps, culminating in an unsolvable final step where table components were incompatible.
Post-Task Interview: A semi-structured interview gathered qualitative insights.
result.
While the electrodermal activity (EDA) measured emotional arousal, the heart rate variability measured the emotional valence of the participant. By combining both curves with the qualitative data of the semi-structured interview, we could identify critical pain points and positive moments.
Pain Points:
Step 4: Misleading illustrations caused confusion and frustration.
Step 6: Incompatible table parts led to stress and dissatisfaction.
Positive Moments:
Step 5: Successfully connecting parts brought satisfaction and engagement, reflected in increased HRV and EDA.
The strength of this study lies in the integration of physiological and qualitative methods, which provided a holistic view of the participants' user experience, including their pain points. A limitation of this study is the small sample size and the resulting limited generalizability. Despite this, emotional data still provides actionable insights into design flaws.
