Nine Sources of Product Emotion

This paper introduces a framework of nine sources of product-evoked emotions, which each can be considered to be the outcome of a unique pattern of eliciting conditions. Three main theories of product affect served as the fundament for this framework that combines the two key variables ‘stimulus’ (related to the product) and ‘concern’ (related to the person). The framework of nine sources of product emotion can be used as a basis for understanding and exploring the complex and layered emotional responses often elicited by products and services. Because the framework is based on empirical evidence of how people experience emotions, and of how products elicit emotions, it can support designers in their efforts to design for emotions. In addition, the framework can be used to structure research efforts reported in the research literature and to identify opportunities for new research efforts.