메타버스 환경적 사용자 경험의 감성디자인 연구

(Background and Purpose) Since the onset of the COVID-19 era, online interactions have become essential to daily life, driving the rapid advancement of metaverse-related technologies. According to the Korea Development Institute (KDI), terms such as “augmented reality” and “virtual reality” have been present in the technological landscape since 2009. However, interest in the “metaverse” surged in the latter half of 2020, experiencing explosive growth from early 2021. Today, metaverse technologies are employed across various sectors, including gaming, entertainment, education, and business. As more users are drawn to these digital spaces, user experience has become a critical factor in ensuring user retention and satisfaction. Emotional design, in particular, is recognized as a pivotal element that enhances user engagement by aligning virtual experiences with users’ psychological and emotional needs. This study explores how emotional design influences user experiences across different metaverse platforms, each with unique functional purposes. By examining how emotional design is applied in various platforms, this research aims to provide insights for future metaverse design strategies. (Method) First, this study examined primary metaverse types, categorizing them into three main types based on their functions: social, gaming, and commercial. In this categorization, social platforms prioritized virtual interaction and expression, gaming platforms centered around interactive gameplay, and commercial platforms aimed to bridge virtual and real-life experiences. Subsequently, a case study analysis was conducted, applying Norman’s emotional design theory, which emphasizes visceral, behavioral, and reflective levels of emotional response. Through this framework, the study investigated how different platforms integrate emotional design elements to shape user experiences. (Results) First, users are offered fundamental avatar customization options to align with their preferences. Second, while all platforms are social and interactive, they emphasize different aspects: Geppetto focuses on light virtual socializing, Fortnite prioritizes interaction through gameplay, and HeeLang aims for a more realistic interaction experience. Third, each platform highlights different aspects of emotional design: Geppetto emphasizes social interaction and personality expression, Fortnite combines playfulness with social interaction, and HeeLang blends fiction and reality with practical functions. (Conclusion) Based on these results, we can conclude the following. Emotional design in the metaverse must be tailored to individual user personalities. Moreover, the core of emotional design in metaverse platforms lies in facilitating social interaction. Finally, diverse forms of emotional design expression are necessary. Furthermore, the future direction of metaverse development can be summarized as follows. First, virtual experiences in the metaverse will become increasingly personalized. Second, the depth and breadth of interaction will expand. Third, emotional design expression will become more diversified. These findings provide a strategic direction for the design of future metaverse platforms.