Product personality in interaction

In this study, we investigate if it is possible to intentionally implement personalities into the physical interaction which people later can recognize. Prior studies showed that people can recognize personalities in the appearance of products. Few studies however address personality in physical interaction. From experience, we know that people in some situations describe their interaction with products in terms of personality traits. Designers also often claim that they can implement personalities in products. Still, quantitative research on product personality in interaction is lacking. Is it actually possible to intentionally implement personalities in physical interaction that people recognize? Two artefacts (stimuli) were designed in the study, with the intention to elicit one personality each (dominant and elegant) while interacting with them. The personalities were selected from literature and from an exploratory study among design students. In preparation for the designing the artefacts, the characteristics of both personalities were studied in the workshop. Following the workshop, a set of personality characteristics were defined and implemented in the design of the two artefacts. The personality characteristics experienced while physically interacting with stimuli were later evaluated in a quantitative study with 60 respondents. The results of the study indicate that people recognize personalities while physically interacting with the products. The results also suggest that it seems possible to predefine (and intentionally embody) the personality people experience in the interaction. Besides discussing the implications of these findings for designers and companies, the study also includes a design process to support the implementation of personalities in the physical interaction of products.