So much attention is focused on how technology makes us sad, lonely, addicted, lazy, and maybe a little stupid. At the same time, we know that technology is actually making all of us feel smart, whole, and connected. What if we could intentionally design technologies for positive emotions and positive outcomes? This is at the heart of happy design. Learn how to measure for the one thing that matters - happiness - and how to identify the five elements of positive design.

1. The science of
Happy
Design
@paminthelab
Change Sciences
SXSW 2015

2. Technology makes us
DIStracted

3. It leaves us
Lonely

4. Reality is
distorted

5. Technology may make us
stoopider

6. Nomophobia yeah I think
I have that
Beth, Millennial
“

7. We feel
addicted

8. We can imagine
HIGH-TECH
HAPPINESS

9. But then…

10. Pamela
Pavliscak
(part researcher, part data scientist)
@paminthelab
change sciences

11. data
despair
reality
WTF
experiments
happiness
Robot apocalypse
the pursuit of happiness

12. Global Values Survey and Gallup Happy Planet
Index
Access to technology can mean
Greater
happiness

13. 1996 Made first website
1997 Used Amazon.com for the first time
2000 Bought a Pets.com sock puppet
2001 Consulted fetus/fruit timeline on Babycenter.com
2008 Established dog’s social media presence
2013 Discovered Twitter
2014 Made a Tumblr blog with daughter
A few Happy moments

14. And there is this…

15. Is it possible for
technology & happiness to
CO-EXIST?

16. We could
ASK

17. Surveys
interviews
Diaries
SAMPLING
Observation
Biometrics
SENSING
Eye tracking
Social listening

18. We could
OBSErVE

19. Surveys
interviews
Diaries
Sampling
Observation
Biometrics
Sensing
Eye tracking
Social listening
@paminthelab

20. We could
TRACK

21. Surveys
interviews
Diaries
sampling
Observation
Biometrics
Eye tracking
sensing
Social listening

22. We could
Listen

23. #100happydays
behavioral economics
neurosci
ence
positive psychology
happiness#instagood
micro-
volunteering
affective
computing

24. Online study
8000 people 300 sites
Diaries
1000 people
Interviews
500 people
Social listening
50 concepts/brands

25. Does happiness
matter?

26. Rated Better Than Other Sites
HappinessRatingAfterUse
N=8000
Happiness = Better
AmazonZappos
Expedia
WebMD
Ally
HGTV
eHealth
Chase
Apple
Kayak

27. Happiness = likely to return
Likelihood to return
HappinessRatingAfterUse
Amazon
Zappos
Expedia
WebMDChase
Home Depot
Kayak
Hotels.comUSAA
@paminthelab

28. Happiness
Recommendations
Happiness = Recommendations

29. Happy sites
65+ social sentiment scoreLess happy
45 avg social sentiment score
Happiness = Positive talk

30. What does happiness
Mean?

31. Source: Change Sciences
Not too
busy
Beautiful and colorful
My favorites are easy to
use
It has to be
simple & clean
Convenience above all
else
People say this

32. parallax
simple authentic
cinemagraphcatsinfographics
video
mobile responsive
clever flatIoT
big
cards
blurred
geometric
hipster
low poly
Shutterstock, 2015
Designers think maybe this

33. WIFI
self-
actualization
self- esteem
belonging
safety
physical well-being
PERMA
There are Many models

34. Is it
Delight?

35. delight
research
explore
create
analyze
plan

36. Everything on his site is
funny but I have no idea
why I would even need a
password
Dave, GenX
“

37. I got a notification as I
walked through the store
as if my phone
anticipated what I was
going to do
Ronja, Millennial
“

38. meh wow OMGyesmmm
(
- -(
(
(
(
(
! !
Happiness varies in intensity

39. weeks days hours minutes now now minutes hours daysnow
anticipate
savor
express
recall
Happiness unfolds over time

40. I use this app almost
every day but I do not
remember much really
Brett, Millennial
“

41. Design fog

42. connected
in control
entertained
challenged
nurtured
informed
smart
inspired
creative
Happiness is made of this
powerful

43. Pleasure
+
Purpose

44. Can we create
Happiness?

45. 01
ease

46. Source: Change Sciences
EaseofUseCombinedScore
75
Easy is the starting point

47. It takes a certain
amount of Pavlovian
conditioning to use the
site
Mick, Gen X
“

48. AUTONOMY
I can accomplish it
without questions

49. CONTROL
I am a bit less
anxious

50. MASTERY
I’ve got this down

51. 02
trust

52. AUTHENTICITY
There is a real
person in there

53. RESPECT
You know the
boundaries

54. I know it s an algorithm
but it feels more like a
friend
Ali, Millennial
“ ‘

55. CARE
You’ve got me
covered

56. We were on the road and
I worried a little but the
system worked
Todd, GenX
“

57. 03
creativity

58. + + + =
WE feel EXPECTATION CREEP

59. PLAY
I can try things out
without risk

60. Discovery
You surprise me
a little

61. It is a balance of new
discoveries and old
friends
Adrianne, Millennial
“

62. Serendipity
I’ll leave it to you

63. Making
I can create what’s
important to me

64. My little sister loves to
draw and I love sharing
photos of her
Antonia, GenZ
“

65. 04
connection

66. LIKE-MINDED
I belong here

67. Seeing that people repost
my pins makes me feel like
I am actively involved in
the art community
Alyson, Millennial
“

68. Presence
People I care about
are here

69. I love to see what other
people are looking for
Carol, Boomer
“

70. Community
We share an
interest

71. I have connected with new
people around the world
and we help each other
out all the time
Mike, Millennial
“

72. I feel happy when I can
make someone else happy
April, Millennial
“

73. 05
meaning

74. knowledge
I am constantly
learning

75. CONTINUITY
I move between
digital & real

76. I check on HONY every
day because there is
always a story that
inspires me to do or give
more
Janessa, Millennial
“

77. NARRATIVE
I’m part of a bigger
story

78. Positive design is about possibilities
Positive design helps people be more awesome

79. Happiness
The one measure
that matters
Just No

80. Source: Change Sciences
The happy path
Pleasure + purpose

81. elements of happiness
ease of use
creativity
trust
connection
meaning

82. Positive Design
changesciences.com
@paminthelab