TY - JOUR
T1 - Beauty in efficiency
T2 - An experimental enquiry into the principle of maximum effect for minimum means
AU - Da Silva Cardozo, Odette
AU - Crilly, Nathan
AU - Hekkert, Paul
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Theory and discourse suggest that the aesthetic appreciation of a wide range of artifacts - including works of art and consumer products - is partially governed by the principle of maximum effect for minimum means. We conducted two studies to find experimental evidence of this principle in the context of product design. In Study 1, we tested the hypothesis that the aesthetic appreciation of a product would be positively affected by the perception of the product as the minimum means achieving the maximum effect. Encouraged by the results of this study, we conducted Study 2 to test again the principle of maximum effect for minimum means using a more controlled experimental design. Our findings provide support for our hypothesis, indicating that the aesthetic appreciation of a product depends, to some extent, on the perception that the product achieves more than other products from its category by making an efficient use of resources.
AB - Theory and discourse suggest that the aesthetic appreciation of a wide range of artifacts - including works of art and consumer products - is partially governed by the principle of maximum effect for minimum means. We conducted two studies to find experimental evidence of this principle in the context of product design. In Study 1, we tested the hypothesis that the aesthetic appreciation of a product would be positively affected by the perception of the product as the minimum means achieving the maximum effect. Encouraged by the results of this study, we conducted Study 2 to test again the principle of maximum effect for minimum means using a more controlled experimental design. Our findings provide support for our hypothesis, indicating that the aesthetic appreciation of a product depends, to some extent, on the perception that the product achieves more than other products from its category by making an efficient use of resources.
KW - aesthetic appreciation
KW - aesthetic principles
KW - design aesthetics
KW - efficiency
KW - maximum effect for minimum means
KW - product experience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84999288055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0276237416638488
DO - 10.1177/0276237416638488
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84999288055
VL - 35
SP - 93
EP - 120
JO - Empirical Study of the Arts
JF - Empirical Study of the Arts
SN - 0276-2374
IS - 1
ER -