The Importance of Comfort

In my previous posts and throughout our class we have focused on the usability aspect of design and how it effects the user experience. It is often the level of comfort the user has when using the product however, that is truly important. A chair for example, can look beautiful, feel great to the touch, swivel 360 degrees, adjust the level up and down, but if it isn't comfortable when the user sits in it, it becomes useless. Often times in the design of modern products we are so obsessed with what or how many new things a product can do, that we lose sight of both its purpose and what makes the user happy. Usability will always be a key factor in design, but even a well designed product, where the user can easily see and achieve their objective, can be unsuccessful if it does not meet the comfort needs of the user. Throughout the average day people are forced to use uncomfortable products that sometimes even cause physical pain or injury. If businesses truly value the user experience, then why do most businesses contain industrial toilets and toilet paper that often leave the user both uncomfortable and unsatisfied. Is the money saved on tp really worth it if customers leave with a burning feeling they would rather not discuss. It is the same case with seating in businesses and almost any area where large groups gather. In a world where businesses are trying to stand out in the crowd, the comfort of users should become a much higher priority in both the designing of seating and bathrooms.