Thomas Markussen is a Ph.D. scholar at the Institute for Communication Design at Designskolen Kolding.

In his Ph.D. project Kognitiv designsemiotik – om form og betydning i interaktionsdesign (Cognitive design semiotics – on form and meaning in interaction design) Thomas Markussen explores some of the new forms of interaction and experience that result from the use of computer technology. Interaction design is the design of the user interfaces that we use to interact with digital technology. Previously, the main user interfaces were the screen, the keyboard and the mouse. Today, computer chips are increasingly integrated into anything from electronics to textiles and buildings. At the same time, IT is incorporated into new types of tasks in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in cultural institutions and in the public space. This makes it relevant for interaction designers to address multiple aspects of the human experience as well as interpersonal social interactions.

A key goal in Thomas Markussen’s Ph.D. project is to generate knowledge about the ways in which interaction designers can include aesthetic or emotional experiences and address sensory perception and consciousness. How does the user understand and interpret the new sensory input and aesthetic experiences in relation to interactive design in various contexts? To address this issue Thomas Markussen applies recent theories from cognitive science and semiotics – theories about awareness, our way of perceiving and interpreting impressions, and the meanings of signs and objects.

Among the topics that Thomas Markussen has studied are intelligent clothing (see paper) and interactive exhibition design (see article). In connection with the development of a robot that will one day be able to take blood samples from patients in Danish hospitals he also studied the user experience with an emphasis on the emotional interaction between patient and robot. When having a robot take their blood sample, most patients prefer the robot to appear gentle, calm, warm and soft, maybe even kind, rather than the opposite. This indicates a need for insight into the factors that affect human perceptions of machines: What is the impact of robot images in film and other media? How can touching the patient’s body be used in relation to strategic design considerations to generate positive emotions?

The world has not seen the last advanced, interactive IT-product or the last robot that is capable of entering into emotional relations. This means that new theories about user experiences, emotions and reactions and about the role of aesthetics in this context will become increasingly important for interaction designers. Thomas Markussen also expects cognitive design semiotics to prove its usefulness in many other design fields, including graphic design, visual communication and fashion.

Thomas Markussen holds an MA in comparative literature from Aarhus University from 2005.