xSense Design Cards: Guiding the Design of Multisensory Experiences

2026-06-07

AI Summary

This work addresses the lack of systematic tools and a shared design language in human-computer interaction (HCI) for effectively designing and evaluating multisensory experiences that integrate touch, taste, smell, and other modalities. To bridge this gap, the authors propose xSense, a novel design card toolkit that establishes the first structured framework for multisensory experience design. xSense integrates four key dimensions—experience goals, sensory modalities, technical implementation, and ethical reflection—through physical or digital Experience, Sensory, Technology, and Exploration cards. This approach enables designers to explore cross-modal sensory combinations while fostering responsible innovation. By providing an actionable, systems-oriented methodology, xSense not only expands the design vocabulary and theoretical foundations of multisensory HCI but also supports collaborative practice and knowledge exchange within the design community.

Abstract

Designing multisensory experiences involves the deliberate combination of sensory elements to shape specific impressions for a given audience. Advances in technologies beyond audiovisual modalities now make it feasible to design across touch, taste, smell, and more. However, HCI still lacks the tools and shared vocabulary needed to systematically create and evaluate such experiences. The xSense Design Cards address this gap with four card types: (1) Experience Cards define purpose, context, and audience; (2) Sensory Cards break down multisensory concepts into elements and events; (3) Technology Cards prompt consideration of relevant technologies; and (4) Exploration Cards guide reflection on the broader context, including responsible innovation. This work introduces the cards and their theoretical grounding, showing how they support structured design, reflection, and evaluation of an experience's multisensory composition. By presenting xSense, we aim to broaden the vocabulary for multisensory design and stimulate discussion within the growing multisensory HCI community.

Problem

• multisensory design
• HCI
• design tools
• sensory experience
• shared vocabulary

Innovation

• multisensory design
• design cards
• human-computer interaction
• sensory experience
• responsible innovation