Our emotions greatly affect how we perceive the world and how we make decisions about the products and experiences we have in our daily lives. Kansei sheets are an effective and unique measurement method used to design a product with added emotional value. They enable a designer to accurately interpret and assess user’s emotional and physical responses.

The Kansai sheets are designed by Dr. Nermin Elokla, Faculty of Design, Kyushu University.

What?

Sheets #1 and #2 are used to interpret and measure internal emotional responses and conscious physical responses of users during and after interaction with product/ or services.
Kansei sheets are;

1. Easy to use and understand
2. All user’s responses can be recognized in two components; qualitative and quantitative

The term “Kansei” is imbedded in Japanese culture and defined as “the psycho-physiological impressions, opinions, consequences and reaction that emerge when a person is exposed to external stimuli”. In the Kansei process, human senses and emotions, feelings, sensitivity, and intuition are gathered. A user’s Kansei is probably also influenced by other internal tools; such as, personality, mood, experience and so on.

Why?

Kansei sheets aim to evaluate product and /or service designs from users’ emotional and physical perspectives. It is an effective measurement method for designing unique and pleasant ideas.

For Whom?

A diverse group of people can use the two sheets, regardless of their abilities, or age.

How?

Sheet # 1 presents 14 distinct emotional responses. And sheet #2 presents 9 physical responses. The user can select from the two sheets the image/s that best express his or her emotional and physical responses to a product. Kansei sheets are used throughout three evaluation levels; visceral, behavioral, and reflective.

In the Kansei sheets, the user’s emotional and physical responses are measured according to a Likert-type scale. For example, in sheet # 1, I feel this to some extent (10%); I feel this (40%); I feel this very much (70%); and I strongly feel this (100%). In sheet # 2, I suffer somewhat from this (10%); I suffer from this (40%); I suffer from this very much (70%); and I strongly suffer from this (100%).