Skip to main content

The Cult of Cute: The Challenge of User Experience Design

  • Chapter
HCI and User-Experience Design

Part of the book series: Human–Computer Interaction Series ((HCIS))

Abstract

User-interface design is seeking to extend its concerns beyond usability to usefulness and appeal, especially to pleasurable user experience. It is worth cautioning designers about easy solutions that appeal to fast tracks to pleasure. The emphasis on cuteness in visual communication, product design, and branding is a lesson to be learned.

Originally, copyright © 2002 by Aaron Marcus and Associates, Inc. (AM+A).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

Publications

  • Aoki S (2001) Fruits. Phaidon, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Eco U (1979) A theory of semiotics. Indiana University Press, Bloomington. ISBN 0253202175

    Google Scholar 

  • Eco U (1967) Travels in hyperreality.Harcourt Brace and Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelerntner D (2001) Computers and the pursuit of happiness. Commentary 111(1):31–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Grau O, Veigl T (eds) (2011) Imagery in the 21st century. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan P (2001) Designing pleasurable products: an introduction to the new human factors. Taylor and Francis, London. ISBN 0-748-40844-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcus A (2001) A case study of Sabre. Inf Des J 10(2):188–206, 05/2001

    Google Scholar 

  • Marling KA (ed) (1997) Designing Disney’s theme parks: the architecture of reassurance. Flammarion, Paris. ISBN 2080136399

    Google Scholar 

  • McCloud S (1993) Understanding comics. Tundra, Northampton

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss M (2002) Hello kitty hello everything. Abrams, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Newitz A (2002) Why is everything so damn cute? The Fluffy-Bunny regime is getting ugly. San Franc Bay Guardian 38(17):20–21 ff, 23–29 January 2002

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman D (1988) The psychology of everyday things. Basic Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Venturi R, Scott-Brown D (1972) Learning from Las Vegas. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

URLs

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Marcus, A. (2015). The Cult of Cute: The Challenge of User Experience Design. In: HCI and User-Experience Design. Human–Computer Interaction Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6744-0_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6744-0_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-6743-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-6744-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics