Perfectly Imperfect: A Speculation about Wabi-Sabi Inspired User Experience Design: Wabi-Sabi Inspired UX Design
This paper investigates how Wabi-Sabi principles could be applied to the user experience of digital products, specifically business software and further highlights a methodological approach that has proved valuable in investigating two initially contrary themes.
Abstract
Businesses and the software built for them are usually associated with models that have economic benefit at their core. The various disciplines of design, such as communication design for branding or design for human computer interaction (HCI), support those value-creating processes. Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese philosophy and aesthetic concept that is not rooted in creating monetary value, approaching a discipline within HCI, or vice versa, therefore asks for pathways that allow open, interdisciplinary and intercultural learning. We used speculative and narrative methods such as poetic writing and scriptwriting to prototype and create a narrative to illustrate our concepts. This paper investigates how Wabi-Sabi principles could be applied to the user experience of digital products, specifically business software. It further highlights a methodological approach that has proved valuable in investigating two initially contrary themes.