Chickens ain’t easy. Well, actually they’re not too hard. It’s not like owning a dog that you have to take out on walks and clean up after. But when comparing getting eggs by raising your own chickens to buying eggs from the store, owning chickens is definitely the harder route.

First off, you have to feed them. We buy our chickens organic food that’s supposed to make them lay better. The cost adds up, and although we’ve never sat down to figure it out, I don’t really think we’re saving any money by raising our own chickens. Second, they stop laying during the winter. Mine stopped laying in early October this year and didn’t start up again until March. That’s almost five months off. They still require feed and I still have to buy my eggs from the store. Finally, they’re not exactly full of personality. They’re not great companions like dogs, and they don’t have the cute eccentric personalities that cats do. They scratch around, occasionally scuffle to establish their “pecking order,” and peck at the back of my legs when I bring them food.

Are chickens easy? No. Do I enjoy having them? Absolutely! There is just something about the idea of going out to the coop to collect fresh eggs that lights me up inside. I like throwing my vegetable scraps out for them and knowing that they’re being put to good use. I love their clucking and humming that make my urban home feel just a little less urban. I love the direct connection that I have with my food, and the sustainability aspect of that. I LOVE having chickens.

Within the context of design, Donald Norman refers to this type of emotional response as “reflective design.” That refers to being “about message, about culture, and about the meaning of a product or its use” (Emotional Design, pg 83).  We can love a product or service because of a reflective appeal. It may be “green,” or it may be somehow associated with a culture that we identify with. These emotional draws can be very powerful, and I incorporate them into a design whenever I can. From “X”s and “O”s (symbolizing hugs and kisses) that evoke certain memories and associations, to Mr. T, a cultural icon. These elements appeal to the reflective side of a specific audience. Both are trying to create an experience that people LOVE.

Ease of use is important, but it is not everything. As long as a basic level of usability is met (insuring that the emotional response is not frustration), creating an experience that evokes positive emotions creates a strong appeal. If ease of use was always the most important thing, I would not choose to have chickens, opting instead to buy all of my eggs from the store. Good design creates positive experiences that influence decisions. Good chickens lay one egg every day.