Investigating attractiveness in web user interfaces

Abstract

A theoretical framework for assessing the attractiveness of websites based on Adaptive Decision Making theory is introduced. The framework was developed into a questionnaire and used to evaluate three websites which shared the same brand and topic but differed in aesthetic design. The DSchool site was favoured overall and was best for aesthetics and usability. The subjective ratings of the sites were in conflict with the subject-reported comments on usability problems. Subjects were given two scenarios for their preference. They changed their preference from the DSchool to the HCI Group's site for the more serious (PhD study) scenario; however, design background students remained loyal to the DSchool. The implications of framing and halo effects on users' judgement of aesthetics are discussed.

Analyzing the Role of Interactivity in User Experience

“…Furthermore, several studies have indicated that user perceptions of aesthetics and usability are susceptible to task-context framing effects (Hartmann, Sutcliffe & De Angeli 2007;Porat & Tractinsky 2012;Sutcliffe & De Angeli 2005), and similar influences have been found for the related constructs of pragmatics and hedonics (Diefenbach & Hassenzahl 2011;Van Schaik, Hassenzahl & Ling 2012).…”

“…In the previous studies we have shown that content and usability tend to be closely associated with overall preference, although users' judgement of aesthetics and usability is dependent on task framing and user characteristics (Hartmann, Sutcliffe & De Angeli 2007;Sutcliffe & De Angeli 2005;De Angeli, Sutcliffe & Hartmann 2006).…”

Aesthetics in Human-Computer Interaction: Views and Reviews

“…Attractiveness and Look and Feel of UI [20], [21], [22] [23] [24] [25] User interface of an application, mobile phone, web sites etc. Interaction with a system [26], [27], [28], [12], [29] Interactive art installations, museum guide, interactive learning system, ATM machines etc.…”

“…There is already a transition towards aesthetically pleasing interfaces and it will continue as more importance is placed on the aesthetics of a user interface, and as the proper tools are available to interface designers for creating such interfaces [20]. A theoretical framework for assessing the attractiveness of web sites has been introduced in [22] where as aesthetics is considered an issue for rating web sites in [23]. Aesthetic factors beyond usefulness and traditional usability are increasingly recognized as contributing to the overall success of a product or system [24] [25].…”

Design Criteria for Web Applications Adapted to Emotions

“…The literature reports different methodological approaches to classifying emotions, such as Geneva [8] or Feeltrace [9], and scales and questionnaires to measure either two primary (negative-positive) dimensions of moods [1], or hedonic and pragmatic dimensions of user-experience [7][12], but no work has focused on typical emotions during Web interaction. There are some works comparing different versions of Web pages [5] to investigate the impact of their attractiveness [2] or aesthetics, or if one Web site is better than another at eliciting emotions [4]. An analysis of existing Web sites about the hedonic elements (such as color, images, shapes and photographs) has been carried out [11] to investigate the emotional appeal, the sense of the aesthetic or positive impression resulting from the overall graphical look of a Website.…”