ABSTRACT
The paper deals issues of functionality, usability and enjoyment of users in interaction with artifacts of symbolic value. For this end, was proposed an experiment to graduates of Design utilizing the squeezer Juicy Salif. Through observation of users and subsequent textual descriptions of them, the views were evaluated in two stages (before use and after use) and a record of experience in user memory. The idea of observation is to understand how the product performs under natural conditions without imposing boundary constraints that would arise with a set evaluation protocol. From the material written by eleven students, textual descriptions were analyzed which describes individual experiences of pre-use, postuse and how it formed the record in memory. In the reports of the experiences of pre-use were identified terms that relate the squeezer to a formal and aesthetic attributes, with compromised functionality which the form invalidates the function. The descriptions after use indicate the artifact is fragile, light, unstable, easily flowing and functional. After 14 days, the students described the artifact as being fragile, modern, unstable and strong aesthetic appeal. Are new concepts not previously mentioned and this would explain why when a memory is recorded, we keep more than just the object instance, but we create a meaningful context for the object itself. The responses suggest that objects are always seen in a context of things, situations and users, including the observer himself . So when we recall an object, that is not ordinary as a general concept, we use the episodic memory, which leads us to associate meanings inherent to the context. This explains why we did not associate the Juicy Salif squeezer directly to their real function, rather, we connect to other previous contexts of meanings.
