Nov. 30, 2013 | Pieter M. A. Desmet* and Anna E. Pohlmeier
This paper introduces a framework for positive design, which aims to enhance individuals' subjective well-being. The framework includes three main components: pleasure, personal significance, and virtue. Each component represents an essential aspect of design for happiness, and the paper proposes that a design that explicitly incorporates all three ingredients promotes human flourishing, characterized by personal development, living to one's full potential, and acting in the best interests of society. The authors discuss five characteristics of positive design and contemporary design approaches focused on quality of life, such as nudging, the capability approach, and experience design. They also outline four research challenges to guide future research in this field. The paper emphasizes the importance of designers and researchers working together to design for subjective well-being, providing a framework and research directions to inspire their efforts.This paper introduces a framework for positive design, which aims to enhance individuals' subjective well-being. The framework includes three main components: pleasure, personal significance, and virtue. Each component represents an essential aspect of design for happiness, and the paper proposes that a design that explicitly incorporates all three ingredients promotes human flourishing, characterized by personal development, living to one's full potential, and acting in the best interests of society. The authors discuss five characteristics of positive design and contemporary design approaches focused on quality of life, such as nudging, the capability approach, and experience design. They also outline four research challenges to guide future research in this field. The paper emphasizes the importance of designers and researchers working together to design for subjective well-being, providing a framework and research directions to inspire their efforts.