This is another paper coming out from our ongoing work on aesthetics, emotions and the interactive design process with Ioannis Xenakis. Aesthetics and affordances are two important factors based on which designers provide effective ways of interaction through their artifacts but since now there is no study or theoretical model that relates these two aspects of design. We suggest a theoretical explanation that relates the underlying functionality of aesthetics, in particular, of interaction aesthetics and of affordances in the design process. Our claim is that interaction aesthetics are one among other factors that allow users to enhance the detection of action possibilities and consequently, the detection of affordances. Our aim is to discuss the role of interaction aesthetics in the design process, and to suggest an explanation for their role in the detection of affordances when users interact with artifacts.
Xenakis, I. and Arnellos, A. (2013) The relation between interaction aesthetics and affordances. Design Studies, 34(1): 57-73, doi:10.1016/j.destud.2012.05.004
Argyris Arnellos 