as a signifier of quality. One of the studies documenting this
phenomena can be found in 2009 issue of the journal
Psychological Science,^12 where researchers published a paper
entitled “Weight as an Embodiment of Importance.” In their
study, they found that varying the weight of a clipboard used by
participants altered their behavior and influenced their opinions.
Designers wishing to capitalize on this kind of psychological
influence can make the appropriate materials decisions, though
care should be taken that these choices are still authentic to the
purpose of the product. This topic is explored in more depth
within the Honesty chapter.
On top of high-quality design, scarcity is often utilized to further
differentiate a standard and luxurious product. This invocation of
luxury is something that has traditionally been very difficult for
Interaction Designers to achieve. After all, what is a luxurious
interaction? For purely digital products, the ability to create
unlimited copies of digital resources makes scarcity too artificial
to resonate as luxurious. Offering a limited edition with an
improved user experience also comes off as more unfair than
special. Digital experiences seem to be evaluated through a
more egalitarian lens.
However, for the increasing number of products that integrate
digital and physical, there are many untapped opportunities to
explore and define luxurious interactions. For all of its fine
materials and finishes the Leica M9-P, Edition Hermès uses the
same firmware, on-screen graphics, and interactions on its digital
screen as the less luxurious standard edition. How might the on-
screen interactions better match the overall feel of the camera?
How might digital and physical be integrated in a way that seems
inherent and specific to this particular camera? At what point will
luxury consumer’s changing perception of quality require
(^12) Jostmann, Nils B., Daniël Lakens, and Thomas W. Schubert. "Weight as an
Embodiment of Importance." Psychological Science: 1169-174.