The document discusses key concepts in user experience (UX) design including mappings, affordances, constraints, and signifiers. It provides examples and definitions of each concept. Mappings express the relationship between a control and the object it manipulates, including spatial, biological, and cultural mappings. Affordances refer to how an object's physical properties provide clues about its use. Constraints intentionally limit an object's usage through physical, semantic, logical or cultural restrictions. Signifiers are social cues that can be interpreted to convey meaning.

1. Using mappings, affordances,
constraints and signifiers in UX

2. Stefan Ivanov
MSc in Media Informatics
UX Design lecturer
CEO & Co-Founder
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

3. Agenda
• Mappings
• Affordances
• Constraints
• Signifiers
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

4. Warning
The following slides and examples depict situations
and object from every day life. They are not limited
to digital interfaces only, on the contrary, they are
applicable to every single thing out there!
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

5. Mappings
“express the relation between a control and the
object it manipulates”
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

6. Spatial mappings
“express a spatial relation”
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

7. Spatial mappings
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

8. Biological mappings
“express a biological relation”
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

9. Cultural mappings
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

10. Mappings
Voodoo doll principle
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

11. Mappings
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
Mercedes Benz seats

12. Mappings
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

13. Affordances
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
“properties of objects to conduct their utilization through
physical appearance”

14. Affordances
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

15. Affordances
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
bus stops

16. Affordances
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
school desks

17. Affordances
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

18. Constraints
“intentional design restrictions, limiting the freedom
of usage of an object”
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

19. Physical constraints
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
“the user is physically restricted to perform certain
actions”

20. Semantic constraints
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
“certain actions lack semantic meaning”

21. Logical constraints
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
“certain actions would disrupt the logical entirety of
an object”

22. Cultural constraints
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
“the usage is implied by an established
cultural norm”

23. Constraints
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

24. Signifiers
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
“social indications that can be interpreted in a
meaningful way”

25. lamps
Signifiers
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

26. traffic jams
Signifiers
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

27. Signifiers
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

28. Agenda
• Mappings
• Affordances
• Constraints
• Signifiers
Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX

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Stefan Ivanov Using mappings, affordances, constraints and signifiers in UX
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