Èkphrasis as a new approach to UX UI design
Annotatsiya
This paper examines how the rhetorical figure of ekphrasis -commonly understood as the descriptive representation of a work of art-can extend beyond static depictions to include dynamic scenes, thus broadening its applicability to domains such as User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design.Tracing ekphrasis back to its ancient roots, we highlight the role of enargeia -the vivid emotional engagement that enables audiences to 'participate' in a scene-as a central mechanism.We then connect these insights to key findings in UI/UX research, notably those on the impact of emotional appeal on usability and user satisfaction.Drawing on works by Norman and Tidwell, among others, we suggest that ekphrastic principles -specifically, the evocation of strong, participatory emotions-can inform and enhance modern interface design.Finally, we propose future research directions to empirically validate how ekphrastic criteria might lead to more inclusive, immersive, and effective design solutions.