Does bouncy equal happy? Comparing user's interpretations of emotions conveyed by one designed moving object based on the soma-semiotic framework

When designing objects, designers attempt to communicate the purpose and meaning of that object users using various factors such as visual appearance (aesthetic), practical interaction elements (product semantics) meanings beyond product (semiotics). This study sought confirm previous deductively-developed soma-semiotic framework, whose was understand ultimately predict emotional impact different design on users, one specifically designed object, Fruit Bowl (FB). The reported in this paper compare theoretically derived responses FB from framework with empirically data order improve framework. Sixty participants evaluated emotion conveyed by well self-reported their own experienced emotions under two scenarios. predicted would convey joy a first scenario, amusement second scenario based movements. Using weighted vector analysis Russell's two-dimensional Circumplex emotions, identified overall be similar emotion. attributed mostly bouncy movement bowl its aesthetic. However, rating calm/impressed; rather than humour. abstract did not favour making same associations designer. We recommend revised include aesthetic, addition semiotic semantic, determinants user interpretations reactions objects. • User evaluation moving object. Comparison between users. Method consideration video versus audio recording for collecting data, physical recording. Use model determine (and predict) responses. Bouncy can equal happy.