The Impact of Festive Elements in Skeuomorphic Interfaces on Middle-Aged Users’ Digital Product Usage Intention

Abstract

Introduction: Skeuomorphism, with its mimicry of real-world objects in digital environments, offers cognitive benefits in terms of user familiarity and reducing cognitive load. The use of festive elements—such as seasonal colors, cultural symbols, and situational animations—adds to emotional connection and increases cultural value.

Objectives: This research considers how festive elements combined with skeuomorphic interfaces impact middle-aged users' intentions to use digital products.

Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach involving user surveys, eye-tracking tests, and usability testing with 16 participants across eight different demographic groups, this study shows considerable effects on user experience.

Results: Middle-aged users to be more interested in those interfaces combining skeuomorphism with culturally pertinent festive elements, resulting in increased satisfaction and high retention. Thematic analysis resulted in eight salient themes with functional priority, situational relevance, and embedding practical value recurring. Age trends in the middle-aged population reveal that those in the age bracket 50-60 preferred more overtly skeuomorphic features than those in the younger age bracket of 40-49. Users' expectations emphasized a call for possibilities in terms of personalized features, responsiveness to temporal settings, and cultural authenticity. 

Conclusions: This research offers valuable findings for designers looking to improve middle-aged consumers' digital experiences by means of interfaces balancing cognitive familiarity and emotional connection, thus redressing a very overlooked population in digital product design.