Experience Design Factors

The Building Blocks of Designed Experiences

XDF is a practical framework that can help teams examine matters that lead to co-creating memorable experiences.

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July 15, 2024

Dennis Cheatham

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XDF is a practical framework that can help teams examine matters that lead to co-creating memorable experiences.

Factors
	× Context The physical spaces, ideas, and prevailing attitudes of a place and time affect experience design scenes.	× People: Self A person's internal and physical identity.	× People: Social Ways people relate to others and how they perceive themselves in those relationships.	× Design Anything designed—a product, service, or system.
× Characteristic Level Physically observable and measurable factors. Characteristics can be identified and described.	× Physical Dimensions Context Characteristic Level The dimensions of physical spaces where experience design scenes take place. Links to the XD Factors site. × Location Context Characteristic Level A place and time where an experience design scene takes place. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Body Size People Characteristic Level A person's physical size. Links to the XD Factors site. × Age People Characteristic Level How long a person has lived. Links to the XD Factors site. × Sex People Characteristic Level A person's biological attributes, including chromosomes, hormone levels, and reproductive/sexual anatomy, which can be assigned at birth or modified through medical interventions. Links to the XD Factors site.		× Dimensions/Scope Context Characteristic Level The size of physical products and the complexity of services and systems. Links to the XD Factors site. × Material Context Characteristic Level Physical materials that comprise a designed outcome. Links to the XD Factors site. × Style Context Characteristic Level A design's distinctive appearance. Links to the XD Factors site.
× Dynamic Level Dynamic factors are variable—changing with conditions and situations.	× Weather Context Dynamic Level Physical conditions in a setting. Links to the XD Factors site. × Sensory Context Dynamic Level Stimuli that can be perceived with the senses. Links to the XD Factors site. × Available Resources Context Dynamic Level Materials available for use in a setting. Links to the XD Factors site. × Non-User Actors Context Dynamic Level People and objects in a context that are not the intended experiencer. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Health Status People Dynamic Level A person's physical and mental condition. Links to the XD Factors site. × Habits People Dynamic Level People's behavioral tendencies. Links to the XD Factors site. × Movements People Dynamic Level The ways people physically move their bodies. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Relationships People Dynamic Level Ways people are connected to others. Links to the XD Factors site. × Role People Dynamic Level The functions a person plays in different situations. Links to the XD Factors site. × Gender Expression People Dynamic Level The outward display of an individual's gender identity through behaviors, clothing, hairstyles, voice, and other forms of presentation. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Condition Context Dynamic Level A design's current state of functionality and upkeep. Links to the XD Factors site. × Operation Context Dynamic Level The sequence of steps required to use a product, service, or system. Links to the XD Factors site. × Configuration Context Dynamic Level A design's current phase or arrangement. Links to the XD Factors site.
× Complex Level Complex factors are multifaceted and are often challenging to completely describe because they involve many interrelated concepts.	× Demographics Context Complex Level The measurable qualities of people and people groups in a population. Links to the XD Factors site. × Laws Context Complex Level Physical and social conventions that govern settings. Links to the XD Factors site. × Time Context Complex Level The duration of time in which experience design scenes take place. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Knowledge People Complex Level Facts, information, experiences, and insights a person has acquired. Links to the XD Factors site. × Attention People Complex Level Concentration on the activity at hand. Links to the XD Factors site. × Abilities People Complex Level Competence or skill to complete an activity. Links to the XD Factors site. × Attitude People Complex Level A way of thinking or feeling about an activity, product, service, or system. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Race People Complex Level A person's race, based on physical characteristics and influenced by social and historical contexts. Links to the XD Factors site. × Social Class People Complex Level A classification based on a person's socio-economic status, including factors such as income, education, and occupation. Links to the XD Factors site. × Personality People Complex Level A person's distinctive character. Links to the XD Factors site. × Gender Identity People Complex Level A person's sense of their own gender. Links to the XD Factors site. × Sexual Orientation People Complex Level Emotional and/or romantic attraction to another person. Links to the XD Factors site. × Subjective Norm People Complex Level What a person believes others will think of them when they perform a behavior. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Usefulness Context Complex Level The relevancy of a designed outcome to people who use it for a purpose. Links to the XD Factors site. × Usability Context Complex Level The measure of how intuitively a design can be operated. Links to the XD Factors site. × Accessibility Context Complex Level The measure of obstacles that prevent people from accessing a product, service, or system. Links to the XD Factors site. × Sustainability Context Complex Level Design that meets current needs while considering future impact on people and the environment. Links to the XD Factors site.
× Underlying Level These factors underpin contexts, people, and design—below the surface.	× Cultural Diversity Context Underlying Level The variety of cultural expressions, traditions, languages, values, and beliefs that exist within a community. Links to the XD Factors site. × Hierarchy Context Underlying Level Power or influence relationships between variables in a context. Links to the XD Factors site. × Interconnections Context Underlying Level Exchanges and interdependencies between components in experience design scenes. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Language People Underlying Level The words, gestures, and symbols a person uses to communicate and express thoughts and emotions. Links to the XD Factors site. × Values People Underlying Level Fundamental beliefs about what is desirable and ideal. Links to the XD Factors site. × Autonomy People Underlying Level The capacity to make choices and have control over one's own life. Links to the XD Factors site. × Competence People Underlying Level The feeling of being effective and skilled in one's activities and interactions. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Culture People Underlying Level Patterns of behavior that unify a people group. Links to the XD Factors site. × Intention People Underlying Level A person's determination to complete an activity. Links to the XD Factors site. × Relatedness People Underlying Level The feeling of being connected to others through meaningful relationships and interactions. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Affordances People Underlying Level Any activities that can be completed using a design. Links to the XD Factors site. × Desirability People Underlying Level The aesthetic appeal and emotional resonance of a product, service, or system. Links to the XD Factors site. × Ethics People Underlying Level The level at which designs prioritize ethical sourcing, production practices, and responsibility. Links to the XD Factors site. × Purpose People Underlying Level The goal the product, service, or system is intended to achieve. Links to the XD Factors site.
× Core Level These are the foundational, often unspoken factors that reside at the deepest levels of contexts, people, and design.	× Social Climate Context Core Level Perceived attitudes in a setting. Links to the XD Factors site. × Social Norms Context Core Level Unwritten "rules" that define acceptable behavior. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Self-Concept People Core Level People's collected beliefs about themselves. Links to the XD Factors site. × Worldview People Core Level How a person conceives the overall "tone" of the world. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Sensations People Core Level Physical sensations such as pain or coldness. Links to the XD Factors site. × Mood People Core Level A person's underlying emotional state. Links to the XD Factors site.	× Meaning Context Core Level A design's functional, cultural, and emotional significance to those who use it. Links to the XD Factors site. × Memorability Context Core Level Design that resonates emotionally with users and leaves lasting impressions. Links to the XD Factors site.