Getting the X-Factor
The secret ingredient that makes anything excel above it’s normal function. A term made famous by idols (Pop-idol/American idol) is the most important factor for the WOW experience.
Something that has the X-factor has something mysterious inexplainable that makes it bigger than the sum of its parts. So the X-factor works holistically. But what do those parts do that makes something experience bigger than it is?
I think perfection is the key. Not perfect in an absolute way but in a relative way. The perfect that seeks out the perfection in it’s habitat, it’s environment. Most of the time perfection is reached by leaving things out. Minimalism.
So the X-factor is reached when all the parts minimally needed are there and done in the best way possible. Every detail is looked after or compensated by another better feature.
The X-factor can be found in everyting that can be experienced. (leaders, popidols, computers, theatre, music, food, life etc) The ingredient X and every signal send out by all other parts of the object is amplified in the brain and leads to a bigger signal:
The Wow!
JurMo.us » Stories as vehicle of getting the Experience. Said,
April 22, 2006 @ 14:59
[...] A story has to form a Myth in its pure form: a story accepted as history/facts and serves to explain the point of view of a people. A myth that forms the platform of the experience you are designing. Every element has to add and amplify the story. A good told story in the designing process is maybe the best tool to get the wanted ingredient X for the product. The image is from Goro from a cgtalk daily sketch topic, search on cgtalk for more of his great work. [...]
JurMo.us » Is us a real religion? Said,
July 6, 2006 @ 16:22
[...] But what is the divine in us? You could see the holistic factor that comes out of good coorperation and good design as something divine. The whole is more than the sum of all the parts with an intelligent design. The accomplishments create something new and bigger than all the tasks to accomplish it. This “X-Factor” is the divine that should be worshipped. And many already do this with for example visiting museums and landmarks. [...]
JurMo.us » Us religion in math || The holistic principle in experience design Said,
July 10, 2006 @ 22:39
[...] The x describes the divine principle. The x-factor is the supernatural thing that appears out of nowhere. [...]
JurMo.us » Designing in pictures Said,
July 18, 2006 @ 12:35
[...] In the lower example you see how design works holistically. (the whole is more than the sum of the parts) You see that if everything is balanced you will have a base that can grow steadilly in all directions instead of focussing on separate factors. People like circles, circles are perfect, circles are the x-factor, they are magically and suggest there is more. They create the wow! [...]