Testing Aesthetic and Function Design Preference for Touch Screen and Non–Touch Screen Mobile Phones Using Interactive Genetic Algorithms

Abstract

Rapid mobile phone market growth has drastically shortened design cycle times forcing designers to identify user preferences quickly. Two studies test a novel method to quickly determine design preferences for touch screen and non–touch screen mobile phones. Interactive Genetic Algorithms (IGAs) are tested as an option for preference identification. IGAs efficiently explore design spaces, finding user preferences via an iterative system mimicking evolution. Each study tested six independent variables: horizontal and vertical button spacing; horizontal and vertical screen dimensions; corner radius; and user’s goal between aesthetically pleasing, functional, and both aesthetic and functional (first experiment), and aesthetic preference differences between touch screen and non–touch screen mobile phones for dialing phone numbers only (second experiment). Results showed IGAs to be a viable method; participant preference varied by goal (horizontal button spacing and screen width were most effected). Designers can employ IGAs to quickly determine aesthetic and other user preferences.