Replicating user experience of a physical product in digital environment : creation of a guestbook application

Abstract

Countless physical products have their digital equivalents, but do the products have a similar impact on their users? This thesis studies the user experience and its evolution when a physical product is recreated in a digital environment. To study the changes and similarities of the user experience, a guestbook application was created. The application was designed based on user needs and ideas gathered in a half-structured focus group interview. After implementation, the group used the digitized product, completed a user experience questionnaire and was interviewed about their experience and thoughts. The results of the evaluation suggest that the content of the guestbook is what initially makes a guestbook, and therefore the user experience can be replicated by ensuring the digitized product is easy to use, follows convention and provides easy access to the content of the guestbook and an easy way to create valuable content. The digitized product was seen to have more creative and spontaneous value, but was described as less formal than the traditional, physical guestbook. The results of this thesis hold value to any individual or company seeking to successfully replicate physical products in a digital environment.