However, in many cases, the designer’s intention cannot be properly understood by the user. The design does not provide the user with accurate perception. The expressed meaning is inconsistent with the operation function, which leads to incorrect identification and operation. This “misleading†is obviously It is the failure of semantic design. To determine specifically whether a product is excellent can be considered from the following five aspects.
First, the product should speak for itself. The excellent designers use the modeling semantics in product design so that users can understand their functions and operating methods at a glance and do not need to spend a lot of effort to read the operation guide. From the point of view of the product itself, it expresses its meaning through silent language such as form, structure, scale, material, color, texture, position, etc., “tells†its own operation purpose and accurate operation method. Whether or not the semantic information needed to be expressed by the user can be accurately, quickly, and effectively accepted and recognized by the user is the key to the success of the design work.
Second, the product semantics should adapt to the user language thinking operation process. The use of the product should be prepared first, how to determine whether it enters the normal working state, how to identify its operating sequence and ensure that each step can be performed correctly, how to determine whether the operation is in place, these related to the user operation process, designers All products should be designed, developed, and innovated using visual semantics that are directly understandable.
Third, the semantic design of products should enable users to teach themselves and naturally master operating methods. After observing and trying, people can correctly grasp its operation process and learn to use it. This is the easiest way to judge whether a product design is successful. A good design allows the user to perform arbitrary operations without damaging the product. It will not cause the product to malfunction, and will not harm the user himself.
Fourth, the product must provide operational feedback display. There should be a reaction to the operation of the product, which is an instinct motivated by aesthetic sensitivity. The other is the motivation caused by the purpose of the action. It is related to the operational use process. During operation, the user needs a machine feedback signal to evaluate the operation result. If you can't hear the sound when you close the door, or if you type on the keyboard, the computer doesn't respond. Do you think it's awkward and incomprehensible? Fifth, designers should understand the visual and psychological processes of users when using the product and apply drugs to the situation. For example, where does the user find the switch? What shape is understood as a switch? Why does the product's shape and color cause illusions? Enable users to further understand the operating behavior of the product, so that the product behavior becomes transparent.
In addition, four kinds of semantic expressions should also be paid attention to in product design. These must be understood from the perspective of users.
First, the semantic expression of the product should be consistent with the person's perception of the shape and meaning of the senses. When people see a product, they can consider its function or action meaning from its shape.
Second, product semantics should provide direction and meaning, the mutual position of objects, and the meaning of the layout of the upper and lower levels.
Third, product semantics should provide the meaning of the state. The design must provide various feedback displays so that various internal states can be perceived by the user.
Fourth, products often have a "comparison judgment" function, and product semantics must enable users to understand their meaning. For example, what do you mean by "enlighten" or "stop" and what do you mean by "strong" or "weak"? When I was designing a new type of multi-function stapler (patented product is shown in the figure), I used modeling semantics to try to find the vivid expression of “Italian†in the search for images and methods. The new style visually expresses the meaning of the function. The double “C†structure at the rear of the stapler (the arrangement of regular ribs reinforces this structure) is to increase the elasticity of the position recovery after the punching and to naturally connect the upper nailing part and the lower frame. The machine is seamless from top to bottom. The upper binding button can automatically advance in its chute as the use of staples decreases. When the staple is full, the binding button is at the leftmost end of the chute. Through the different position of the binding button, you can easily determine the amount of nail loading and make the user clearly aware. Use the design itself to specify the use of methods, which greatly simplifies the operation itself. A good product design can give people a sense of love, and the user intends to use it to operate and use it. His emotional experience is self-evident. The far-reaching concept of a product design often reflects the emotional content of the product.
Goethe said: "No matter how good you try to detect it, it is impossible to explore it." Of course, he refers to literary works, but it also has the same theoretical significance for product design. For example, the following diagram shows that the Elain computer printer is a classic masterpiece that fully expresses the function and use of the product by using the perfect combination of “shape†and “meaningâ€. Such as the tangent size of the red roller naturally shows the printer scrolling, smooth and unique semantics, generous and simple gray-white panel is like the printing paper as natural drooping, the natural line of sight to the song roll elegant and stable base frame. The theme of the printer is implied. On the control panel, the regularly arranged lines point to the buttons, making it clear and refreshing.
We say that the emergence of product semiotics is a major change in the history of design thinking. It addresses the deficiencies of functionalist design concepts (shape-following functions) and proposes a “people-oriented†design concept. It emphasizes the role of culture and emphasizes the thinking of people. The important role of methods and customary behaviors in product design has a profound impact on industrial design. We must also clearly see that product semiotics is about product design from the perspective of people's understanding of language, and good product design can clearly explain the characteristics of products through visual symbols and avoid the problems caused by textual and language barriers. Disturbance will eventually give the product a new life, express the function of the product, explain the characteristics of the product, and make the product easy to understand.
Therefore, the internationalization of symbol semantics will also be an important trend in future product design. The product development trend of the future society will inevitably be both high-tech and high-emotional. The products need more humane and emotional appeal. The appearance of high-impact products also implies that the designers' physiological and psychological needs of consumers rise to the spirit. All-round attention to demand. In particular, we are in a diversified era, emphasizing the era of individuality, how to effectively organize the symbol system of product design so that it can better solve design problems and make products better serve people. For product designers, It is a major issue.
Author: Li Genjing, School of Fine Arts, Fujian Normal University
First, the product should speak for itself. The excellent designers use the modeling semantics in product design so that users can understand their functions and operating methods at a glance and do not need to spend a lot of effort to read the operation guide. From the point of view of the product itself, it expresses its meaning through silent language such as form, structure, scale, material, color, texture, position, etc., “tells†its own operation purpose and accurate operation method. Whether or not the semantic information needed to be expressed by the user can be accurately, quickly, and effectively accepted and recognized by the user is the key to the success of the design work.
Second, the product semantics should adapt to the user language thinking operation process. The use of the product should be prepared first, how to determine whether it enters the normal working state, how to identify its operating sequence and ensure that each step can be performed correctly, how to determine whether the operation is in place, these related to the user operation process, designers All products should be designed, developed, and innovated using visual semantics that are directly understandable.
Third, the semantic design of products should enable users to teach themselves and naturally master operating methods. After observing and trying, people can correctly grasp its operation process and learn to use it. This is the easiest way to judge whether a product design is successful. A good design allows the user to perform arbitrary operations without damaging the product. It will not cause the product to malfunction, and will not harm the user himself.
Fourth, the product must provide operational feedback display. There should be a reaction to the operation of the product, which is an instinct motivated by aesthetic sensitivity. The other is the motivation caused by the purpose of the action. It is related to the operational use process. During operation, the user needs a machine feedback signal to evaluate the operation result. If you can't hear the sound when you close the door, or if you type on the keyboard, the computer doesn't respond. Do you think it's awkward and incomprehensible? Fifth, designers should understand the visual and psychological processes of users when using the product and apply drugs to the situation. For example, where does the user find the switch? What shape is understood as a switch? Why does the product's shape and color cause illusions? Enable users to further understand the operating behavior of the product, so that the product behavior becomes transparent.
In addition, four kinds of semantic expressions should also be paid attention to in product design. These must be understood from the perspective of users.
First, the semantic expression of the product should be consistent with the person's perception of the shape and meaning of the senses. When people see a product, they can consider its function or action meaning from its shape.
Second, product semantics should provide direction and meaning, the mutual position of objects, and the meaning of the layout of the upper and lower levels.
Third, product semantics should provide the meaning of the state. The design must provide various feedback displays so that various internal states can be perceived by the user.
Fourth, products often have a "comparison judgment" function, and product semantics must enable users to understand their meaning. For example, what do you mean by "enlighten" or "stop" and what do you mean by "strong" or "weak"? When I was designing a new type of multi-function stapler (patented product is shown in the figure), I used modeling semantics to try to find the vivid expression of “Italian†in the search for images and methods. The new style visually expresses the meaning of the function. The double “C†structure at the rear of the stapler (the arrangement of regular ribs reinforces this structure) is to increase the elasticity of the position recovery after the punching and to naturally connect the upper nailing part and the lower frame. The machine is seamless from top to bottom. The upper binding button can automatically advance in its chute as the use of staples decreases. When the staple is full, the binding button is at the leftmost end of the chute. Through the different position of the binding button, you can easily determine the amount of nail loading and make the user clearly aware. Use the design itself to specify the use of methods, which greatly simplifies the operation itself. A good product design can give people a sense of love, and the user intends to use it to operate and use it. His emotional experience is self-evident. The far-reaching concept of a product design often reflects the emotional content of the product.
Goethe said: "No matter how good you try to detect it, it is impossible to explore it." Of course, he refers to literary works, but it also has the same theoretical significance for product design. For example, the following diagram shows that the Elain computer printer is a classic masterpiece that fully expresses the function and use of the product by using the perfect combination of “shape†and “meaningâ€. Such as the tangent size of the red roller naturally shows the printer scrolling, smooth and unique semantics, generous and simple gray-white panel is like the printing paper as natural drooping, the natural line of sight to the song roll elegant and stable base frame. The theme of the printer is implied. On the control panel, the regularly arranged lines point to the buttons, making it clear and refreshing.
We say that the emergence of product semiotics is a major change in the history of design thinking. It addresses the deficiencies of functionalist design concepts (shape-following functions) and proposes a “people-oriented†design concept. It emphasizes the role of culture and emphasizes the thinking of people. The important role of methods and customary behaviors in product design has a profound impact on industrial design. We must also clearly see that product semiotics is about product design from the perspective of people's understanding of language, and good product design can clearly explain the characteristics of products through visual symbols and avoid the problems caused by textual and language barriers. Disturbance will eventually give the product a new life, express the function of the product, explain the characteristics of the product, and make the product easy to understand.
Therefore, the internationalization of symbol semantics will also be an important trend in future product design. The product development trend of the future society will inevitably be both high-tech and high-emotional. The products need more humane and emotional appeal. The appearance of high-impact products also implies that the designers' physiological and psychological needs of consumers rise to the spirit. All-round attention to demand. In particular, we are in a diversified era, emphasizing the era of individuality, how to effectively organize the symbol system of product design so that it can better solve design problems and make products better serve people. For product designers, It is a major issue.
Author: Li Genjing, School of Fine Arts, Fujian Normal University
Yuyao Shenghe Electrical Appliance Co., LTD , https://www.yyshenghe.com