Affordance in Design: Evaluating Design through the Lens of Human Factors and User Perception
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Abstract
In the paradigm of communication studies, design serves as a communication medium between designers and users, transcending mere physical utility and aesthetics. This conceptual analysis and literature synthesis paper aims to present a systematic evaluation framework for contemporary design. The study integrates three foundational pillars, including, James J. Gibson’s ecological perception theory, Donald Norman’s design psychology focusing on Affordance and Signifiers, and the principles of Human Factors and Ergonomics. These theories are utilized to analyze cognitive constraints and users' mental models. The synthesized framework is illustrated and examined through conceptual case illustrations drawn from three design domains., namely,: product design, user interface design (such as the Spotify application), and spatial design (such as safety door mechanisms and museum exhibition spaces). The analysis revealed that most interaction failures did not stem from individual negligence but rather occurred when perceived affordance conflicts with real affordance, or when the system lacks concrete, immediate feedback. Consequently, this paper synthesizes these insights into a practical "Design Perception and Signifier Evaluation Checklist (DP-SEC)." This evaluation tool serves as a strategic walkthrough index for students, academics, and design practitioners to systematically assess and elevate design-mediated communication, ultimately optimizing user experience and behavioral safety in daily life.
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This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which allows others to share the article with proper attribution to the authors and prohibits commercial use or modification. For any other reuse or republication, permission from the journal and the authors is required.References
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