"Rhetorical ability": Reason, emotion, and character as heuristics for the evaluation of efficacy in design

G. Mauricio Mejía, Sauman Chu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Usability inspection is a major standard for design evaluation in which expert evaluators use heuristics to assess efficiency and quality. However, usability alone is insufficient to assess efficacy in design problems in which the main design goal is not cognitive interaction. For example, goals such as social change (e.g. health promotion), communication, or entertainment, in the field of product and system design, require design evaluation that goes beyond usability. In this paper we argue that rhetorical ability (or rhetorability) is a plausible heuristic evaluation approach in the field of design for social change. We propose nine heuristics based on the three rhetorical appeals, logos (reason), pathos (emotion), and ethos (credibility). The applicability of the method depends on the understanding of the rhetorical situation; thus, the rhetorical ability heuristic evaluator should be an expert in the audience needs, the design goal, and the design problem.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication9th International Conference on Design and Emotion 2014
Subtitle of host publicationThe Colors of Care
PublisherUniversidad de los Andes
Pages378-383
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9789587740707
StatePublished - Jan 1 2014
Externally publishedYes
Event9th International Conference on Design and Emotion 2014 - Bogota, Cali and Medellin, Colombia
Duration: Oct 6 2014Oct 10 2014

Publication series

Name9th International Conference on Design and Emotion 2014: The Colors of Care

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Design and Emotion 2014
Country/TerritoryColombia
CityBogota, Cali and Medellin
Period10/6/1410/10/14

Keywords

  • Design efficacy
  • Design evaluation
  • Design for social change
  • Expert evaluation
  • Rhetorical ability
  • Rhetorical appeals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Cultural Studies
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

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