Understanding the Relationship Between User Experience (UX) and Design of Public Open Spaces

The study aims to understand the evolving connection between user experience (UX) and built environment, highlighting the key concepts, comparisons, and opportunities that arise from their integration. The study discusses the origins of UX design and its focus on digital products and services. It explores how ‘UX’ expands beyond its original scope and can be applied to physical spaces, architecture, and urban planning. The focus of this research is to relate the principles of UX design and their importance in the context of a public open space, to establish a new perspective on the key elements that compose it. It explores how the open spaces’ design can be viewed through the lens of the UX design honeycomb (usable, useful, findable, credible, accessible, desirable, and valuable) by forming a connection between the two through a review of existing literature and data, drawing similarities from both spheres. It also discusses the value and level of importance each factor contributes to a space which were inferred from data collected through online user surveys. This study also goes on to highlight the areas of improvement and recommends further study based on the findings and inferences gathered.