Designing Products for the Self

Speaker
John Zimmerman
Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Institute and School of Design, Carnegie Mellon University

When
-

Where
Newell-Simon Hall 1305 (Michael Mauldin Auditorium)

Description

For the last twenty years, consumer behavior researchers have been exploring how people construct their identities through the possessions they acquire and use. However, in the product development practice of interaction design, the issues around identity and users’ needs, goals, and desires are almost never addressed. For example, interaction designers might probe secretaries on how they do their job in order to design a system that makes them more efficient. These designers, however, do not ask what the secretaries do that makes them feel they are good at their job and they miss opportunities for making products that could increase motivation, loyalty, and commitment to the job. This talk provides a brief overview of the consumer behavior theory related to identity and possession. In addition, it provides a set of opportunity areas where interaction designers and HCI practitioners can benefit from exploring the identity construction opportunities of interactive products.

Speaker's Bio

John Zimmerman holds a joint appointment as an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute and at the School of Design. His research focuses on how people interact with intelligent systems including both office productivity software that automates procedural tasks and interfaces that allow homeowners to take control of their smart homes. In addition, he teaches fundamentals of interaction design and methods of human-computer. Prior to working at Carnegie Mellon, John was a senior researcher with Philips Electronics where he explored intelligent products for the home.