Pieter Desmet Editorial

Pieter Desmet is a designer, researcher and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Design at the Delft University of Technology.
He is the founder of the Design & Emotion Society and became a much requested international speaker after he†published†his book;†Designing Emotions.
The lecture that took place in front of the entire Design Academy body was based on a discussion of Pieters research in Design for Emotion; and more specifically
on the lawful nature of design emotions
Pieters main train of thought prescribed that although emotional responses to product design are subjective and therefore intangible, the process underlying these emotions is lawful. In his lecture, Pieter Desmet discussed some†universal principles in how emotions are elicited, and how these†can be used†to understand the complex and†personal nature of design emotions.

Following the lecture there was a intimate question time with a smaller group of students where various questions were asked, such as:
1. When were you first interested in emotion design?

2. I have read that you have stated there are general patterns in how products elicit emotions. Could you please explain further about one or more of these patterns?

4. In the bigger picture of design, how can you see emotional design influencing the well being of humans?

5. Do you also think that emotional design principles can be utilised in the design process to extend the life of a product as well as being utilised to encourage consumerism? how?

6. Do you go through a specific type of research procedure to describe whether the products you are endorsing are better for the environment or for the consumer than other products available?

7. What would you say to someone that might question the ethical responsibilities of an emotional designer that can possibly change someone’s behaviour either consciously or subconsciously through emotional design?

8. Where do you see your research going in the future?

There were other questions and all the answers that can be found on the accompanying video recording.
On the whole, the lecture was a great success with interesting questions and answers that many students enjoyed.