Articulating Experience: Reflections from Experts Applying Micro-Phenomenology to Design Research in HCI
Mirjana Prpa, S. Alaoui, T. Schiphorst, Philippe Pasquier
International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems April 21, 2020 DOI: 10.1145/3313831.3376664 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | HCI/Design experts who utilize micro-phenomenology |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key findings | Micro-phenomenology helps articulate nuanced user experiences, develop vocabulary for multi-sensory experiences, and unfold embodied tacit knowledge in HCI/Design. |
Abstract
Third wave HCI initiated a slow transformation in the methods of UX research: from widely used quantitative approaches to more recently employed qualitative techniques. Articulating the nuances, complexity, and diversity of a user's experience beyond surface descriptions remains a challenge within design. One qualitative method micro-phenomenology has been used in HCI/Design research since 2001. Yet, no systematic understanding of micro-phenomenology has been presented, particularly from the perspective of HCI/Design researchers who actively use it in design contexts. We interviewed 5 HCI/Design experts who utilize micro-phenomenology and present their experiences with the method. We illustrate how this method has been applied by the selected experts through developing a practice, and present conditions under which the descriptions of the experience unfold, and the values that this method can provide to HCI/Design field. Our contribution highlights the value of micro-phenomenology in articulating the experience of designers and participants, developing vocabulary for multi-sensory experiences, and unfolding embodied tacit knowledge.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences Cardiac arrest survivors | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 34 |
| Phenomenology and Sequelae of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Use Psychiatrists who had taken MDMA | 1992 | Qualitative study | n = 20 |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Evoking the ineffable: The phenomenology of extreme sports. Extreme sports participants across three continents, including BASE jumping, big wave... | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 15 |
| Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N, N-dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) experience. Naturalistic inhaled N,N-DMT experiences posted to the r/DMT Reddit community | 2022 | Qualitative analysis | n = 3,778 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Exploring Anima: a brain–computer interface for peripheral materialization of mindfulness states during mandala coloring Human-Computer Interaction November 16, 2021
- What’s in a BIP? Exploring the lived experiences of breaks in presence Virtual Reality May 3, 2026
- Tensions and Opportunities: Accessing Embodied Experience in HCI through Micro-Phenomenology Creativity & Cognition July 13, 2026
- 留白 (Liubai) at a Hushed Sanctuary: Layered Reflections on an Artist Residency International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems April 13, 2026
- Micro-Phenomenology as a Method for Studying User Experience in Human-Computer Interaction International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems April 25, 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 2
- Attending to Breath: Exploring How the Cues in a Virtual Environment Guide the Attention to Breath and Shape the Quality of Experience to Support Mindfulness Conference on Designing Interactive Systems June 8, 2018
- Describing one’s subjective experience in the second person: An interview method for the science of consciousness November 29, 2006