Evaluating Both Usability and Desirability in the Evaluation of Cell Phones: Towards an Integrated Model

The goal of human-centered product design is to create products that are useful, usable, and desirable. For many years, human factors has been about research, modeling, and evaluating the functional usefulness and usability of products and systems. In recent years, however, the role of emotion in product design has become a ‘hot topic’ for human factors professionals, and a variety of methods have been developed for identifying emotional needs and the emotional response people have to products. In this paper, a preliminary study aimed at developing an integrated understanding of the functional and emotional aspects of user experience with cell phones is discussed. A variety of techniques were employed and the combined data analyzed to develop a holistic picture of the user experience. We anticipate that the results of the study will serve as ‘proof of concept’ for future development work.