Print Email Facebook Twitter Unity in Variety in website aesthetics Title Unity in Variety in website aesthetics: A systematic inquiry Author Post, R.A.G. (TU Delft Design Aesthetics) Nguyen, Tran (External organisation) Hekkert, P.P.M. (TU Delft Design Aesthetics) Date 2017-07-01 Abstract This research experimentally investigates whether Unity-in- Variety can account for the aesthetic appreciation of websites. In a first study we designed two sets of web pages, differing in layout style and content, to systematically and independently vary on both unity and variety via the design factors contrast and symmetry (for unity) and dissimilarity of elements and colourfulness (for variety). It was demonstrated that only the sets based on symmetry and colourfulness resulted in independent manipulations of unity and variety, respectively. These two sets of web pages were tested in Study 2 showing that, as predicted, both unity and variety independently and positively influence aesthetic appreciation. Following the principle of Unity-in-Variety, simultaneously maximizing unity and variety leads to an optimal balance where aesthetic appreciation is highest. Our research lends further support to the principle of Unity-in-Variety, extends it to the domain of HCI, and provides directions on how to purposefully design for an optimal balance between unity and variety. Subject BeautyDesign principlesInterfacesUnityVarietyWebsite aesthetics To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1d9ba660-9978-4951-9fe0-1c753ba89908 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2017.02.003 Embargo date 2019-02-24 ISSN 1071-5819 Source International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 103, 48-62 Bibliographical note Accepted Author Manuscript Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2017 R.A.G. Post, Tran Nguyen, P.P.M. Hekkert Files PDF IJHCS_D_16_00108R2.pdf 1.59 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:1d9ba660-9978-4951-9fe0-1c753ba89908/datastream/OBJ/view