Thursday, January 24, 2008

Assignment 1: Products and Emotions

The product I have chosen to compare is pen. The pen is a simple item that has more than one function than writing. One may own many different types of pens for different reasons. One may purchase a pen that is physically unique and appealing for the purpose of collection; these types of pens have visceral designs. For a pen that is meant to write a lot, one will be looking for comfort and smooth writing as main criteria for selection; these pens have behavioural designs. Finally, one may use a pen to represent his or her personality, character, and class; these pens have reflective designs.

Visceral Pen Design:
This pen, if you see it at a store, will probably stand out to you before other pens because of its unique outlook. Although this may not been a good pen for practical purposes (bad ergonomic design), you may still buy it on impulse (and maybe regret it later). This type of pen employs colourful designs to appeal to consumers.

Behavioural Pen Design:
 
The pen above is a fairly common type of BIC pen. It has a rubber grip for increased comfort. The pen also employs a spring design to make the pen retractable to eliminate the need for a cap, as caps could be easily misplaced. This type of pen may not appeal immediately to the consumer in a store, but it is the type of pen people think of for the practical purpose of writing. For example, you may buy this pen if you need to take a lot of notes in class.

Reflective Pen Design:
 
This is a fountain pen with chrome finish. The cost of this pen is $150 USD. To put it plainly, it is the type of pen that a CEO of a company will use. This pen makes the user feel like he or she has high class and status. The average person may also carry a fountain pen for special occasions such as job interviews or formal business meetings.

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