Cognitive Processes Causing the Relationship between Aesthetics and Usability

Authors:
Waltraud Ilmberger;Martin Schrepp;Theo Held
Affiliations:
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany 69117;SAP AG, Walldorf, Germany 69190;SAP AG, Walldorf, Germany 69190
Venue:
USAB '08 Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of the Workgroup Human-Computer Interaction and Usability Engineering of the Austrian Computer Society on HCI and Usability for Education and Work
Year:
2008

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Abstract

We conducted an experiment to find out which cognitive processes underlie the high correlations between aesthetic impression and perceived usability of a user interface reported in several studies. Four online shops differing in colour scheme and usability level were created and tested before and after an interaction period to gain support for two differing models of explanation. One stems from Norman who hypothesizes that mood is a mediator between design and perceived usability whereas the other is based on the well known "What is beautiful is good" phenomenon from social psychology and market research. The data provide support for the approach of Norman whereas the high correlations couldn't be replicated. Another interesting finding was that our results militate rather for a "What is usable is beautiful"- relation than the other way round as hypothesized.