Background
During my professional experiences, I noticed a valuable tool for the designers to succeed in communication. It is white space.
However, issues of white space occur differently in different groups of people and
different sociocultural context. White space is a case study which asks "Is there evidence that
sociocultural context influences design"? "If sociocultural context influences the use of white space,
how is it influenced in the different sociocultural contexts"? and comprehend the relationship between
them.
Purposes
Helping to improve the cultural interface design discipline, comprehend the relationship between white space and surrounding better, and reflecting on:
- Is there evidence that sociocultural context influences design?
- If sociocultural context influences the use of white space, how is it influenced in the different sociocultural contexts?
Methodology
This thesis was investigated by various methods: literature analysis, sample analysis, and interview.
- The literature analysis was conducted on UX, UI and Interaction design, sociocultural context, and related topics to explore what people have studied before.
- The samples were analysed with four sociocultural context dimensions, which are business dimension (context and offer), media design dimension (structure and purpose), language dimension (writing system), and communication cultures dimension (high and low context cultures). The sociocultural context dimension is adapted from the ideas of Stewart and Bennett, Geert Hofstede, and June K. McFee. Simultaneously, it was also developed along with the critiques of Callahan and Ampandu. The selected samples are restaurants' websites consisting of local restaurants' websites that show the contents in local language and global restaurant's websites, displaying the contents in local language. The restaurant websites are chosen from three different countries: Thailand, Japan, and Germany.
- The interviewees are user experience (UX), user interface (UI) and interaction (IX) designers who all work on both global and local projects.
Results
- The literatures analysis discovered that some studies can be greatly interpreted in that sociocultural context influences or partly influences design. There are valid opinions from both sides.
- The sample analysis exhibited that the business dimension (offer) usually indirectly influences the media design dimension (structure and purpose) because the business dimension (offer) directly impacts the number of contents. The number of contents directly shapes the media design dimension. Both business (offer) and media design dimensions influence the use of macro white space. The language dimension (writing system) impacts the micro white space in three typography areas. The analysis of business (context) and communication cultures dimensions cannot be concluded because of the restriction of the business secret.
- The interview process displayed the majority of interviewed UX/UI and IX designers lean toward there being an influence from sociocultural context on design.
Conclusion
In closing, the results from these three methods can be seen as evidence that sociocultural context influences or partly influences design. Nevertheless, it cannot certainly state that the sociocultural context influences design. This thesis can only indicate that there is a connection between sociocultural context and design.
This thesis only researches a specific sample. Meanwhile, there are many sides to
consider because the relations between us (design, cultures, and people) are complex. For a conclusive
explanation, more exploration to comprehend the idea better
and prove the relation between sociocultural and design is required, as there might be more factors or
conditions to reveal. The results can be changed since there are many aspects to consider. However, the
business dimension (context)
and communication cultures (high and low context cultures) in the sample analysis method cannot be
summarised as the restriction of design, marketing, and business information. However, it is still an
interesting subject to study and develop
further.
Acknowledgements
- 001 Kelly Sikkema
- 002 Pexels-Alexander Suhorucov
- 003 Pexels-Picjumbocom
- 004 Pexels-Startup Stock
- 005 Pexels-Soulful Pizza
- 006 Pexels-Ron Lach
- 007 Iconscout -https://www.figma.com/community/file/902916014302207596
*** If there are any mistakes in 'Resources Acknowledgements', please contact me. I will amend it for
you.***