In our first article dedicated to design, more specifically to the method called User Centered Design, we could see how the objects designed by placing the end user at the center of the process turn out to be a success. The objective of this aspect involve the user that finally will use what is being created in all steps of the creation process, so that it is useful and appropriate to their needs.
The philosophy of GESAB is based in “people at the center” and under this premise we develop our design processes, considering at all times the aesthetic demands of customers, ergonomics to achieve a suitable environment and operational needs to achieve better user experience.
The processes carried out during the design not only must consider the functional and practical aspect, but aldo the aesthetic one, since if it is not given its rightful place, the perception that the user will have of the object will not be adequate, even going so far as to consider it useless.
But, what does beauty have to do with performance? An object considered ugly cannot be functional?
The products, in addition to fulfilling their expected practical functions, tend to provoke an emotional response in people through sensority interaction, thus making an intimate and pleasant experience and creating a relationship that goes farther than a simple usefulness of objects.
“Attractive things make people feel better, which leads us to think more creatively. How does that translate into better usability? Very simple, making it easier for people to find solutions to their problems ”.
This emotional, aesthetic and functional link is the essence of emotional psychology according to cognitive science professor Donald Norman.
Among the aspect to consider in this conceptual framework is usability, which seeks to adapt objects and systems to users to make them more human. From this point begins the premise of D. Norman that relates aesthetics and usability, reaching the conclusion that people perceive the most attractive designs as the easiest to use.
In this way, emotional design seeks to improve the relationship between the user and the product, since according to the author of The Design of Everyday Things, we feel much more linked to those products that are close to us. Therefore, real personalization and customization mark a big difference in creating that user-product link.
Providing custom design options, accessories and adaptations tailored to the needs and tastes of each person greatly improve the user experience and therefore the “performance” of the product. Our predisposition and attitude towards this product will be enhanced thanks to a design in which we have been actively involved and consider it our own.
Control consoles are a good adaptation and customization example, since each project and customer have very specific needs (of environment, equipment, people, systems, etc.) and being able to adapt and customize the solution to the maximum is in the most of the cases an indispensable requirement to guarantee the success of the project.
At GESAB we try to make our products beautiful, aesthetic and balanced. Our goal is to convey the feeling of wanting to use our consoles and products just by looking at them. Although we not only stay there, but at the same time we also want to project the feeling of comfort, quality and safety with the way we give our designs.
At GESAB we are governed by this principle: to have everything under control. When it comes to devising our designs, we place special emphasis on the fact that the user feels sure of himself in the workspace; you have to be able to feel the control under all the aspects and conditions that exist in a control room. For this reason, we offer multiple solutions and tools that the user can access in a matter of seconds to solve the difficulties that arise in their critical work environments.
Thus, the design of objects not only incurs functional aesthetics, but goes further and affects emotions of people, perceptions and attitudes towards these objects. That is, it brings objects closer to people, it humanizes them. And the design contributes a great deal to this by becoming a fundamental aspect.