**Imparting Gestalt Essence in Identifying User Preferences towards Interior Design**
***Nur Syatirah Binti Othman1\*, Mohd Nizam Osman2 & Nor Arzami Othman3***
*1\* Computer Science Department, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perlis*
*Email: syatirah.othman@gmail.com*
*2 Computer Science Department, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perlis*
*Email: mohdnizam@uitm.edu.my*
*3 Computer Science Department, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perlis*
*Email: arzami@uitm.edu.my*
***ABSTRACT***
*We believe that interior design has becoming more popular in this century nowadays. The purpose of this study is to design and develop multimedia application that can identify human behavior and preferences in interior design. Alessi and Trollip Instructional Design Model has been utilized as a methodology in this study which consist of planning, design and development. Heuristic Evaluation and User Acceptance Test has been applied in completing this experiment. Three multimedia experts selected randomly to identify usability problems that occur in the user interface (UI) design. After the refinement was made to the application, the User Acceptance Test was conducted to the user. A total of 60 participants at random selected from certain district of Perlis and Langkawi as a target user to participate in this study. The results demonstrate this multimedia application is effective in satisfying the user needs and demand of the decoration of their dream house. Thus, the researcher was able to identify user behavior and preferences in interior design. With three dimensional (3D) features that were applied in this multimedia application, it helps the user to feel more self-assured with their interior design. At the end of this research, the development of this application bring numerous benefits for both parties either the users or the developer in many aspects. Thus, the society will be disclosing to the use of technology in the interior design in this sophisticated era.*
*Keywords : Interior Design, Multimedia Application, User Behavior, User Preferences, 3D.*
**INTRODUCTION**
In this modern era, technology is becoming more popular and synonymous to society from day to day. Interior design is the art and science or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or a building. A household is any group of people who lives together under one roof. Most of the studies also shown that the interior design is relates to the human behavior and requires a deep knowledge about it. According to the knowledge of human behavior, the designers will have their own persona intuition, sensitivity, and experience. In this case, the user is able to design their dream home with own preferences in a convenient situation with the help of the multimedia application.
Three dimensional (3D) is one of the medium that can be used to create an illusion of model to emerge in real life. It is an image or object that provides the perception or view of length, breadth and depth. 3D model shows the designated structure for a picture or items that are able to make the user feel involved in the scene like a real life and satisfied with their dream home. Developing this 3D model is very helpful to the people who are having difficulties in understanding and satisfying the design of two dimensional (2D) sketching that does not consist of the necessary detailed information.
**PROBLEM STATEMENT**
By using a traditional method, it is hard to visualize the actual decoration of interior design to be more functional and appealing without a sample. These may lead people to become inefficient and inconvenient since they need to measure the dimension of existing space by using a measurement tools in order to buy new furniture for their house. User can place the print adhesive tapes from a Length Printer which is an actual length with one-dimensional printer of furniture to help them acknowledge the available space for particular furniture. It will take time to satisfy the user need and demand if they want to find the best spot for the furniture that perfectly fits to the dimensions of available space. It is because they need to tear off and put on the Length Printer repeatedly (Tang, Lau, Chan, & To, 2014). Therefore, an effective way to help the user to visualize an actual dimension with best furniture that can maximize their satisfaction is by developing 3D model for them.
Besides that, an interior designer requires a deep knowledge of human behavior. A house is not just a functional shelter but a machine to live in and has everyday knowledge to its resident (Gram-Hanssen & Bech-Danielsen, 2004). Most of the studies show the reason why different people buy different things is much related to the social classes. Higher social classes have a “good taste” in consumption rather than the lower classes and shows that the symbolic power structure of society can be seen from the residential neighborhoods. Individuals have their own identity that will prompt to the utilization of everything from the houses to the central of furniture and clothes. The different sense of taste and choice was determined by the different forms of power and capital with differ in time and space. The residential neighborhoods with various representative esteems will lead to the decisions of a home. Thus, it shows that monetary capital may affect what an individual can afford and where is the social space you fit in (Gram-Hanssen & Bech-Danielsen, 2004). So, this multimedia application is seek to help these groups of people to décor the house according to their preferences and dreams without having to worry about their social classes.
**RESEARCH OBJECTIVES**
The objectives of this project are:
i. To design and develop a multimedia application with 3D features that can satisfy user needs and demand of decoration in a shorter time.
ii. To identify user behavior and preferences in interior design.
iii. To evaluate the user satisfaction towards interior design by using multimedia application with self pace control.
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**Research Scope**
Several scopes have been identified in this project. Firstly, is about the design and development of a 3D element in multimedia application that can satisfy user needs and demand of decoration in a shorter time. The main target users are the households who are willing to participate and using this multimedia application with 3D features and multimedia experts. Nevertheless, this project is also suitable for all the households. Besides, the time taken to accomplish their interior design by using the application has been captured. User satisfaction towards interior design was evaluated through the survey after they use the application. Based on the time taken used by the user to complete the interior design, the researcher will identify user behavior and preferences towards it.
**Significance of a Project**
The significance of this project is that the user themselves can decorate the house according to their needs and expectation in the fastest and easiest way. For the households who are in the category of lower and middle income households, they will have a chance to decorate and build their dream house according to their own preferences at the lower cost and still in their budget since there is no need to hire interior design consultant.
Other than that, problem solving about consumer needs and requirements of their home decoration will be more effective and efficient since they are able to view the design in 3D by themselves before they proceed to the next step in decorating their homes in real life. Therefore, they can determine the design that can maximize their satisfaction. If the user does not satisfy with the design, they can edit the design until it meets their expectation.
This project will also bring numerous benefits to the developer. The developer is able to identify user behavior and preferences in interior design. The researcher was able get to know which part of the house that the user most preferred. The time that is consumed by the user in completing the design will be evaluated to determine their interest of interior design. The longer the time that user consumed to decorate shows the deeper their interest in it. It is because they were giving a deep thought of it.
**RESEARCH METHODOLOGY**
The methodology that has been used in this study is Alessi and Trollip Instructional Design Model. It consists of three phases of the methodology: Planning, Design and Development. In order to get the desired deliverables, all of the three phases become the key in getting all the information, activities, techniques and software that is needed in this study.
a) Planning phase:
The first phase in developing this multimedia application is planning. Planning phase acts as a basis in ensuring all of the aspects needed in this multimedia application run smoothly (Por & Fong, 2011). There are four steps that is involve during the planning phase of the multimedia application namely: (i) Defining the Scope, (ii) Identifying User Characteristics, (iii) Establishing the Constraints, and (iv) Collecting the Resources
i. Define the Scope
The first process in the planning phase is to determine the scope of the content for this Multimedia Application. Before determining the scope of the content, the researcher performed theoretical studies related to the interior design in order to identify the subtopics that should be included in this Multimedia Application. At the same time, the researcher also reviewed the articles and journal about interior design to enhance deep knowledge and understanding about the interior designs and its relation in individual daily life. It is important to guarantee that the user get the desired deliverables of the content.
ii. Identify User Characteristics
Based on the study about the interior design, it is important to note that the interior design can affect the individuals’ characteristics and behavior. The Multimedia Applications that the researcher has been developed to identify human attitudes towards interior design. The main target user of this multimedia application is the households. This project is suitable for all of the households who are willing to use this multimedia application with the 3D features.
iii. Establish the Constraint
They are a few common constraints that arise while working on with this project. The constraints here are including financial, time, skills, and software that need to be used in completing this project. The time that the researcher required to familiarize and contribute to completing prototype for this project is limited. Limitations in skills lead the researcher to consume a lot of time to familiarize. It is also a bit difficult for the researcher to find the right software that can be installed for free and at the same time suitable with hardware requirements. There is also a lot of version of the software that the researcher wants to use. Different version of the software sometimes required to use different coding such as Action Script 2.0 and Action Script 3.0.
iv. Determine and Collect Resources
Before developing a Multimedia Application and to achieve the listed objectives, the researcher must determine what is the required information and gathering the resource materials. The resource materials should contain all of the relevant area under discussion that has been agreed. In the process of producing this project, the researcher has referred to several materials such as books, journal and articles related to the interior design and human behavior. This step is important to make sure that the end user receives the desired deliverables and gaining the users satisfactions.
b) Design Phase
The second phase of this Multimedia Application is the design phase. There are four steps have been conducted which are: (i) Develop Initial Content Ideas, (ii) Create Storyboards, (iii) Prepare Scripts, and (iv) Preparing a Prototype.
i. Develop initial content ideas
It is important for the researcher to develop the initial content ideas regarding this project. A brainstorming session has been conducted and is followed up with a card sorting techniques for getting the initial content ideas about this Multimedia Application.
ii. Create storyboards
Storyboard is a portrayal of a specific interaction sequence that the end user would be endeavoring to accomplish through the specific arrangement delineated (Newman & Landay, 2000). The storyboards are essentially utilized by the designer to communicate the ideas regarding the site structure navigation of the application (Newman & Landay, 2000). With the advance technologies that are being used nowadays, the multimedia storyboard is becoming more attractive and engaging for the novices (Antoniou-kritikou, Carayannis, & Katsouros, 1991). Thus, the storyboards will help the researcher to sketch the suitable flow of this multimedia application.
iii. Prepare Scripts
After creating the storyboards, the researcher will be preparing the script that is related to the Multimedia Application that will be developed. For example, the researcher was preparing a scripts that will be write in each screen of user interface design.
iv. Prepare a Prototype
Anything from a piece of paper that can be converted into advance software is called a prototype (Lundberg, 2010). The researcher was using a prototype in the progress of the project before developing the real project. It is because a prototype can give the end user the look and feel of the application at an early stage of the project (Por & Fong, 2011). In preparing the prototype, the researcher was trying to find the collections of images and objects that is suitable to use in Natural Style Outcome Interior Design (NSO Interior Design) application. After that, the images and objects have been edited in Adobe Photoshop and imported to the library in the Adobe Flash.
c) Development Phases
The last phase in Alessi and Trollip Instructional Design Model is the development phase. This phase includes all of the computer programming aptitudes to make the entire application work that incorporates the composition of the programming code, production of graphics, audio and video materials, and the advancement of help materials (Por & Fong, 2011). The development phase consists of five stages which are (i) Preparing the Text, (ii) Create the Graphics, (iii) Develop 3D Model, (iv) Assemble the Pieces, and (v) Conduct a Testing.
i. Prepare the Text
The researcher will prepare the text at the early stage of the development phase. All of the information about the interior design and its related information will be prepared for the development of the Multimedia Application.
ii. Create Graphics
One of the multimedia building blocks is graphic which it usually becomes the attraction to the user. It is because usually people will look at the graphics at their first glance before reading the text. In this case, the graphics will be created in Adobe Photoshop before transferring it to Adobe Flash. It is because Adobe Photoshop has the ability to make the image become more authentic. Thus, it will lead the user to be more confidence to use the Multimedia Application.
iii. Develop 3D Model
A 3D model for the interior design need to be develops by using Sweet Home 3D software. It is because this software was able to design the floor plan and build 3D model. The 3D model can be viewed from various angles. Besides, 3D the floor plan was becoming more visualized.
iv. Assemble the Pieces
Assemble the pieces in this context means that all of the multimedia elements that is used in this project will be combined together to generate an entire Multimedia Application namely NSO Interior Design application. The first objective has been meets during upon completion this prototype.
Figure 1: Welcome screen
v. Conduct a Testing
According to Alessi and Trollip Instructional design model, a testing must be carried out to test NSO Interior Design application that was developed. Heuristic Evaluation and User Acceptance Test was being conducted in order to complete the final project development requirement. Heuristic evaluation and usability testing is carried out since each method discovers different usability problems (Manzari & Trinidad-christensen, 2006).
**DATA COLLECTION AND FINDING**
Heuristic evaluation has been conducted with three multimedia experts from Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perlis,. The reason of why heuristic evaluation was conducted is to identify usability problems that occur in the user interface design. It is because more flaws will be captured when using multiple experts rather than using a single expert.
User Acceptance Test is one of the techniques that measure of how easily the application can be used by the representative users. In order to achieve other objectives, the researcher chooses user acceptance test as method of testing. It will help the researcher to drive in getting the result and conclusion of the user satisfaction based on the feedback from the user about the multimedia application (NSO Interior Design).
The user acceptance test for this study was conducted to a total of 60 participants at random households from certain district of Langkawi and Perlis. The researcher was giving an instruction to the respondents before they were asked to work with NSO Interior Design Application. The respondents are required to answer all the questions provided by the researcher via Google Forms link upon completion of the application test. Small token of appreciation are also given to the respondents as a mark of recognition as they are willing to spend their time doing the experiment.
This application can capture time taken by user for each main segment. Action Script 2.0 in Flash CS6 has been used by passing several parameters using PHP script interpreted by XAMPP services. XAMPP is a free and open-source cross-platform web server solution stack package developed by Apache Friends. Data has been stored in rich text file.
Figure 2: Time captured
**RESULT ANALYSIS**
The researcher analyze collected data using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) based on all response that a respondent answers in the questionnaires. Demographic issues such as age and gender has been collected. Toward the end, conclusion can be made. The interesting part was the growing one’s age, they show less interest in the use of technology and interior design. There can have many factors that made the people showed less interest. The younger generations are the people who showed more interest to the use of technology is because they were growing with the technology environment and was always considered in the mind of the designer when designing today’s technology compared to the older generation. So, the majority of the older generation is having a hard time to use the technology. At the same time, a person who is aged 19 and below was not showing their interest to test this application is not because they do not love the technology, but they stated that they were too young to think about the interior design. It is because many of them are still in school or have just finished high school.
People who ages of 20-29 years old are those who shows their interest in interior design and the technology. This is because many of them are fresh graduates or the newly married people or people who are planning to get married or gologant-minded who think of the future. They think that interior design also plays an important role to make sure that their house has a great and convenience atmosphere. Thus, NSO Interior Design application is an application that is helpful in giving them ideas to decorate their dream house and they does not need to spent a large amount of money to hire interior design consultant.
The words interior design has becoming more popular among netizens nowadays. However, there is no denying that there are a few who do not know about interior design. So, the researcher has taken this opportunity to get certainty about this from the households. The screenshots of the pie chart show the result of the people who have ever heard about interior design. There is a yes and no answer for this question. The blue color at the pie chart represents 49 people who give a yes answer with the percentage of 83.1% while there is only 16.9% or 10 people who does not know about interior design.
The red color in the pie chart represents two people who did not have any interest in interior design with 3.3% of the percentage. The orange color consists of 25% of the percentage, where there are 15 people who think that interior design is something that comes naturally to the individuals who are inside a house. The rest of blue the color represents 43 people who claim that they are interested in interior design with a majority of 71.7% of the percentage.
Figure 3: People interest in Interior Design
The questionnaires were asked the households if they are given a chance to choose, which part of home they would like to decorate first based on their need. The households can choose to décor either living room, bedroom, or kitchen first. Based on the pie chart above, total of 29 households with the percentage of 48.3%, majority of them think that they need to décor their living room first. It is because living room is considered as the main part of the home. They will spend lots of their time at the living room with the family members. Besides, if there is a visitor at the house, the living room will be a place where they will sit to have a conversation. So, it is important to make sure to have a good interior design at the living room.
Figure 4: Randomize button for three main proposed area
Figure 5: Most preferred area
The button that is used in NSO Interior Design are also clear and understandable with 56.7% of the respondents are agree and 21.7% of the respondent is strongly agree. There are 18.3% think that it is natural while 1.7% of the rest of the respondent is agree and strongly disagree about it.
This application is also found to be helpful and give ideas to the user to decorate their home with 58.3% of them is agree and 23.3% is strongly agree. NSO Interior Design is also found to be interesting and enjoyable with majority of the percentage with 60% of the respondent is agree and 20% is strongly agree about this.
With 55% of the respondent agreed that this application was able to satisfy their preferences of interior design. There is 20% of the respondent is strongly agree, 21.7% feel neutral and 3.3% is strongly disagree about this application was able to satisfying their preferences.
Out from a total of 60 respondents, 26.7% is strongly agree and 50% is agree that they would like to use NSO Interior Design in the future. There is 18.3% feel neutral about it. However, there are also people who think that they would not use NSO Interior Design application in the future with 1.7% is strongly disagree and 3.3% is disagree about this.
In a nutshell, NSO Interior Design application brings a positive feedback from the respondents.
**CONCLUSION**
It can be concluded that this application can bring several benefits to the potential users. The development of this multimedia application was useful and contribute the benefits for both parties either the users or developer. NSO Interior Design application also gives the users a new and fastest way to perform interior design without having to hire interior design consultant that is costly. The users were able to decorate their dream home by themselves in a shorter time. It also able to capture the total time spent for each component in identifying user behavior and preferences in interior design. The features used in NSO Interior Design application also can satisfy user needs and demand of decoration by providing intuitive interfaces which easily understandable by the users.
All in all, this multimedia applications (NSO Interior Design) application has been completed in a given period of time. NSO Interior Design is able to help the people who would like to decorate their dream home according to their needs and expectation in the fastest and easiest way. To summarize this project, all of the objectives for this project had been accomplished as wishes and brings the benefits to both the user and the developer. Last but not least, the researcher hope that NSO Interior Design application will becomes renowned in the future.
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