Report: That Engagability Thing

The "1st International Design and Engagability Conference" (iDeC) in July brought together 40 researchers, designers and managers from organisations including IBM, Lloyds TSB and The BBC.

The conference lasted a day, with themes split into design case studies; technology; and qualities of engagability. The proceedings collected the ten papers - including everything from design methods to philosophy.

There was some debate in defining engagability that touched on aesthetics, physiology and motivation. A delegate noted the derivation of the term from Jones et al's paper "Plugging In". Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was also mentioned in terms of optimal experience and flow, while Anthony Dunne's 'aesthetics of use' and Brenda Laurel's concept of engagement (from Aristotle) were discussed as similar instances of engagability. Nathan Shedroff's model of experience was cited by speakers as well as Donald Norman, Patrick Jordan and Lionel Tiger.

The conference began with practical design issues. Marie Jefsioutine of the User-Lab started the day by presenting an "Experience Design Framework" that aimed to deliver accessibility, usability, engagability. Paul Englefield and Mark Tibbits of IBM presented their work using "QOC matrices" in design while Diane Peacock of Wolverhampton University described the "e-Studio project". Russell Beale and Tina Newton's paper on designing an online community for children with cystic fibrosis closed the morning session.

The afternoon began with Muzeyyen Pandir of the User-Lab discussing "Experiencing Postmodern Conditions through the Internet". This was followed by two thought-provoking papers from the University of Wales. Robert Pepperell presented "Applications for self-aware systems. Why would we need conscious shoes?", while Stephen Thompson discussed "Industrial design - engaging with, and incorporation of, emerging technologies". This led on to Julie Abbott's paper "Harnessing our Natural Brain Frequencies for Improved Learning - Normal or Paranormal?".

Next was Nick Bryan-Kinns from Queen Mary who discussed "Mobile Group Music Improvisation" and the afternoon closed with John Knight speaking on "Ethics and Engagability".

John Knight of The User-Lab described the aims of the conference. 'There has been a lot of interest in engagability and the conference papers began to focus on defining engagability. The main themes of the papers concern how products and experiences connect to the human as visceral, behavioural, reflective and social interfaces.

'I am hoping that next year's papers develop this definition with case studies of design and experience to see how useful the model is in the real world.'

Next year's conference details follow:

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AND ENGAGABILITY CONFERENCE July 6th 2005
iDec2 will bring together, researchers, designers and organisations that focus on providing accessible, usable and engaging products and services. iDec2 will include a published set of proceedings.

Themes
• The politics of experience
• Design methods
• Case studies in narrative and flow
• Engaging excluded user groups
• Engagability and product lifecycle
• Pedagogy and design
• Design for the senses
• Empirical Aesthetics
• Community and inclusion
• Qualities of human experience
• Design for collaboration
• Multidisciplinary working
• Post-modernity and technology

Submissions
Submissions should be emailed to john.knight@uce.ac.uk

Long Papers
500 word abstract submission date: December 1st 2004
5000 (maximum) word paper submission date: May 1st 2005

Short Papers
300 word abstract submission date: December 1st 2004
3000 (maximum) word paper submission date: May 1st 2005

Posters
300 word description submission date: December 1st 2004

Interactive user experiences
300 word description submission date: December 1st 2004

John Knight
User-Lab
Birmingham Institute of Art and Design

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