#ebrown

As we develop more complex relationships with the apps we use, and as these apps become increasingly personalized and hope to stay in our lives for longer, I find the role of pleasure in product usage increasingly interesting. Moreover, as more and more apps and sites incorporate in-app purchasing opportunities and rely on these as sources of revenue, I’m particularly fascinated by the relationship between product appearance and purchase decisions.

I also find the idea of non-physical interaction with products fairly intriguing, given that products are often means to an end, such as the abdominal work-out device leading to the perfect body, which means using them is not the purpose in themselves. This means it’s even more critical that the interactions are seamless and products don’t affect the end experience in a negative way. Some of that may have more to do with backend development, which we’ve touched on less, but the work we’ve done focusing on mobile and web development definitely ties into creating desirable experiences that increase motivation – whatever the end goal – and increase ability. It’s also critical that the in-app triggers connect closely to whatever the goals are that a user may have in creating the product.

In what I personally find desirable, I’m particularly drawn to the “unity of sensuous delight, meaningful interpretation, and emotional involvement” that lead to the creation of experiences. Often these are first created by the aesthetic design then the emotional experience – unpleasant aesthetics can lead to my rejecting a product before even giving it a chance and allowing it to affect my emotions. I will say, however, that with critical physical products this is less likely to be the case.

Questions for teaching staff:

1) Logos: Decided to make my initials in a variety of ways

2) Icons: I’m working on a fitness-related startup so I decided to make a few icons similar to that.

3) Picture: I’m pretty new to Photoshop but I liked messing with the background so the sky would change without the foreground changing.

Self-designated “distinctly all-American” shoe and leather brand The Frye Company made its first foray into colder climates with the aptly-named “Alaska Lace Up Shearling Boot.” "Born in the wilderness and raised in the city,” the Alaska Boot features a heavy lug rubber outsole designed to be waterproof provide stability and traction via deep indentations. Above the rubber, the boot features prominent brown leather presumably included as much for function as for fashion. Finally, the boot is lined with shearling wool which provides insulation and allows for a more molded fit. 

As indicated by the location in the name, the Alaska Lace-Up evokes images of exploration and adventure in the American Tundra. Not surprisingly, the shoe checks most standard snow boot boxes, including

a high side that keeps snow from entering

a rubber sole to keep water out (and significant waterproofing)

easy-to-clean materials

A layer of insulation underneath the waterproofed outer layer

Interestingly, however, Frye’s history lies less in outfitting pioneers than soldiers. The first Frye Boot was designed in 1888 by founder and renowned British shoemaker John A. Frye. In 1936 the company began to differentiate itself after developing the Goodyear Welt footwear construction method which combined sturdiness and breathability in a new way. A few years later, Frye’s reputation and brand awareness skyrocketed worldwide after they were chosen to provide boots for US servicemen during World War II. In fact, Frye’s history of supplying soldiers as early as the Civil War, when they supplied shoes for both union and confederate soldiers. 

This tradition continued through the Spanish American War and past WWII. Yet in the 1940s while making boots for the war effort, Frye simultaneously began to branch out. They designed their first cowboy boot, the Rancher, which started a “western trend” for the company. While their geographic customer base expanded to include pioneers who crossed the west, their desired utilitarian demographic stayed constant.