Aristotle's Thoughts on Narrative within User Interface Design
In the world of user experience (UX) design, a classical approach is making a modern comeback. Aristotle's storytelling framework, first introduced over 2,000 years ago, is being adapted to create more effective and engaging designs that resonate with users on a deeper level.
This ancient framework, which comprises plot, characters, theme, diction, melody, decor, and spectacle, is being translated into design principles that consider users’ needs, behaviors, and context.
The plot, or user journey and flow, corresponds to the user’s path through a product or service. By designing a smooth, logical flow with clear progression and resolution, designers can mirror Aristotle’s narrative arc, keeping users engaged and reducing frustration.
Characters in this context become user personas, representing the diverse users with distinct motivations, pain points, and behaviors. Developing rich, narrative-based personas helps designers empathize and tailor experiences to real, dynamic users rather than static profiles.
The theme reflects the underlying purpose or value guiding the design. Clear articulation of what the product stands for—its mission and user benefit—ensures a consistent message and meaningful engagement across all touchpoints.
As for diction, it relates to the language used in UI copy, microcopy, and messaging. Thoughtful diction enhances clarity, brand voice, accessibility, and emotional connection with users.
Aristotle’s melody can be read as the audio design within UX—notification sounds, feedback alerts, and audio cues that enrich the sensory experience and guide users intuitively through the interface.
Decor corresponds to the visual elements: color schemes, typography, iconography, and overall aesthetics. These shape user perception, reinforce brand identity, and create an emotionally resonant and immersive environment.
Spectacle in storytelling is the dramatic visual impact. In UX, this translates to animations, transitions, multimedia content, and interactive features that captivate attention and create memorable experiences, without detracting from usability.
Integrating this framework involves crafting rich user narratives, designing user flows as cohesive stories, aligning visual and verbal language, and orchestrating multisensory elements to support usability and delight without overwhelming.
This method turns UX design into a storytelling discipline—one that respects users as protagonists in their own narratives and builds interfaces that guide, support, and engage them through a rich, immersive experience grounded in classical storytelling principles.
The application of Aristotle’s storytelling framework is not limited to digital products. In the realm of landscaping, for instance, a unique feature is a character that appears on the screen to help users if the session has been inactive for longer than five minutes.
Van Geel's article, "Aristotle's Storytelling Framework for Interactive Products", discusses the application of Aristotle's storytelling framework in UX design, while Thomas's article, "From Aristotle to AI: the evolution of storytelling [Digital Edge]", explores the evolution of storytelling from Aristotle to artificial intelligence.
In the context of a landscaping company, the theme is differentiated from competitors to appeal to users, focusing on the beauty of specific tree types and using a green background to make call-to-action buttons stand out. Users are depicted as suburban residents with some expendable income who are fond of trees.
In UX design, diction for a high-end landscaping company is formal to convey authority and expertise, providing long copy to inform potential customers about tree species and their environmental suitability. Decor in UX design for a landscaping company emphasizes the "setting" and showcases the UX design, offering a choice between modern, classical, simple, or detailed looks.
Aristotle's observations on the art of storytelling can be applied to create designs that are more engaging. His three appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos) are fundamental to any act of persuasion and can be used to guide design decisions that resonate with users on an emotional, logical, and ethical level.
By adapting Aristotle's storytelling framework, UX designers can create designs that not only function well but also connect profoundly with users’ motivations, emotions, and contexts.
Technology is harnessing the power of Aristotle's storytelling framework to revitalize user experience (UX) design, resulting in more engaging and immersive interfaces. This adaptation involves integrating principles such as user journey and flow, user personas, theme, diction, audio design, decor, and dramatic visual impact into design strategies that reflect users' needs, behaviors, and contexts.
