Analyzing the effect of animated transitions on the user experience of mobile interfaces

Sammanfattning: Animations in interfaces, when designed correctly, are shown to be beneficial for usability and user experience (UX). However, most designers create their animations from personal preference without knowledge of how their animated transitions affect the user experience, which increases the risk of them becoming distracting and ruining the experience. Current studies on the topic focus mostly on the usability aspects of animations while the research regarding the emotional impact and aesthetics remain sparse. By understanding how the properties of transitions impact the whole user experience of a user interface, well thought out design choices can be made for improving the experience. The aim of this thesis was to investigate how three transforms and five easing types in animated transitions affect user emotions and perceived user experience. These properties were examined and compared using the mixed method approach of semi-structured interviews, Think-Aloud and the shortened version of AttrakDiff. The results of this thesis indicate that both easings and transforms can affect the perceptions of speed, and that faster perceived transitions are generally more preferred. Also, that the transforms can be more or less suitable for communicating certain changes, and that easings can convey certain impressions suiting different contexts in mobile UIs. The insights of this study can be used for guidance in designing or choosing transitions for specific affective purposes for an improved user experience.