Examining the influence of specific design strategies on extraordinary experiences

Research is needed to understand the effective strategies for designing extraordinary experiences. This study examined if and how certain experience design strategies influence individuals’ perceptions of the impacts associated with extraordinary experiences. The study employed the family activity model to operationalize novelty and social interaction in the study’s interventions and the experience type framework to conceptualize extraordinary experiences. Using a longitudinal, experimental design, this study examined the ways in which (1) novelty, (2) social interaction and (3) intentional, guided reflection design strategies influence whether participants perceive an experience as extraordinary. 205 undergraduate research participants engaged in one of four different twenty-minute activities followed two months later by one of four reflection conditions. Results indicate that novelty, social interaction and reflection each had unique predictive relationships with specific experience type impacts. For example, novelty positively influenced perceptions of change during the experience, while social interaction influenced perceived emotions at T1 and insights at T2. Synchronous reflection influenced insight scores at T2 as well. Based upon the study’s findings, novelty is a potentially effective strategy for evoking change and social interaction is connected to both emotion and insights. Of the three types of reflection tested, synchronous reflection was the most efficacious. This is the only study we are aware of that has empirically examined the relationship between design strategies and extraordinary experiences. Thus, providing specific guidance on how to design extraordinary experiences.