Experience Design Factors

Factors that comprise people’s experiences live at many levels—some at the surface, others a little further down, and others deeply buried inside contexts, people, and objects. James H. Gilmore’s Look: A Practical Guide for Improving Your Observational Skills challenges readers to use many lenses to observe the world around them. This concept helps study and design experiences. When we put on different lenses, we can better understand contexts, people, and objects within experience design scenes.

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.