Sunday, January 21, 2007

Emotional designs

Emotional designs often contradict cognitive assessments. Like Don Norman's three teapots, just because a certain design functions better than another does not make it more important or connected to the user. Often an emotional connection will determine an object's worth to a person. The following are some emotional designs that I have found in the sports world:
  • Ugly Throwback Jerseys: Some of the fastest-selling pieces of sports merchandise on the market these days are throwback jerseys. Everyone from the hottest rapper to the most out-of-shape, middle-aged father of four can be seen sporting a vintage look. Companies like Mitchell & Ness have built their business upon the appeal of these outdated uniforms. But what are these jerseys' appeal? For some consumers, it's all about having a unique look that is not seen on SportsCenter every night. For most, though, it seems to be about a feeling of nostalgia. Fans want to feel that connection to a team or a player that they idolized growing up, and they're willing to pay anywhere from $50-$1,000 to feel it. Below you will find the uniform that the Houston Astros began wearing in 1975. The rainbow design has earned the jersey a spot on most people's list of the worst uniforms of all-time, but it also has made a connection with fans as one of the top-selling throwback jerseys.


















  • Outdated Stadiums: Similar to sports uniforms, fans become emotionally attached to arenas or stadiums. The problem is that with ever-advancing technological and design advancements, old stadiums not only become unprofitable, but they sometimes become unsafe. At Yankee Stadium, for instance, sections of the roof have crashed down into the stands in recent years. If a game was being played at the time, fans certainly would have been killed. Yet many Yankees diehards have fought against the new stadium, which will begin hosting the Yanks in 2009. The advent of luxury boxes has also become a major source of income for sports teams, making stadiums without them obsolete. Fans are even emotionally attached to the "cookie-cutter" stadiums built in the 1960s and 70s that don't feature distinctive designs like the Yankee Stadium facade. These stadiums were built for multi-purpose functions, having the ability to host baseball or football games. Their designs make them much less aesthetically pleasing, and horribly out-of-date when compared to the modern throwback stadiums that began being built after the success of Camden Yards in Baltimore. One such cookie-cutter facility that was destroyed last season was the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium. Despite all its flaws, Cards fans mourned the loss of old Busch Stadium. Below are images of old Busch Stadium (left), new Busch Stadium and a link to a clip of emotional Cards fans that must be seen to be believed.



Emotional Cardinals fans

  • American Indian mascots: One of the most controversial sports issues in recent years has been the use of American Indian mascots. Professional and college teams have used American Indian mascots for years, with the Cleveland Indians' Chief Wahoo, for instance, dating back to 1915. Some teams like the Florida State Seminoles claim they are honoring American Indians while others like the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins use caricatures and terms that some deem offensive. People on both sides of the issue have emotional responses to the mascots. Fans who have supported their team for years, line up to battle those who call for name and mascot changes. Meanwhile, American Indian groups have used boycotts and lawsuits to battle what they deem as racist mascots. Recently, the NCAA instituted ruled aimed at eliminated the use of American Indian nicknames. The following are two of the mascot images that have created the most emotional responses...Chief Wahoo and the Redskins logo.




3 comments:

gercohenJoMC712 said...

wanted to throw in a mention of Fenway

serena fenton said...

Interesting - I think that you have hit on three very strong emotional design issues.

The stadiums and the mascots are almost too big to even touch on in a paragraph. With the stadiums, it becomes more understandable when you get down to a small, personal level. Overhead views really can't convey what people are experiencing as they walk up to and move through the environments. you almost need a series of detail shots of the bricks and wrought iron in the new stadiums versus the concrete of the old.

You don't say *why* the fans loved the old Busch stadium - was it the actual building, the design details, the location or just because it was the tradition?

Josh Meyer said...

I believe the reason those fans loved the old Busch Stadium was more because of the tradition...the history of championships and the great players they had seen there. It also likely had to do with having grown up going to games with family members there.

Some of the most emotionally designed stadiums, like Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium have interesting design features like "The Green Monster" and the facade. Fenway, however, has no leg room and a small capacity while Yankee Stadium is crumbling a bit and lacks the luxury boxes the Boss craves.