Visual Design of Emotion Cards: Content Validation of Emotion Colors and Facial Expressions

Li, Elena Carolina; Lin, Hsiao-Yu; Chen, Tzu-Yu

Visual Design of Emotion Cards: Content Validation of Emotion Colors and Facial Expressions

James Alexander Gordon on 7th January 2026

Author Information

Elena Carolina Li, University of Taipei, Taiwan
Hsiao-Yu Lin, University of Taipei, Taiwan
Tzu-Yu Chen, University of Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract

The visual elements—such as text, color, and imagery—on emotion cards used by helping professionals significantly influence client projection and expression during sessions, thereby impacting the efficacy and outcomes of the counseling process. This study developed two distinct prototypes designed for counseling purposes: “Color Cards,” which convey emotion solely through color, and “Facial Expression Cards,” which feature facial graphics. Both sets contain an identical number of cards and share the same emotion vocabulary. To evaluate whether the visual designs align with users' cognitive perception of emotions, a content validation was conducted focusing on emotion vocabulary, color application, and facial expression design. A total of 91 and 92 participants, respectively, evaluated the two sets. The validation process involved participants interacting with physical cards and providing feedback on their perceptions and design suggestions through one-on-one questionnaires and interviews. The results indicate the following: (1) The initial set included 62 emotion terms; based on participant feedback, 7 new terms were added and 3 were removed, resulting in a final total of 66 terms. (2) The color application and facial expression designs generally aligned with user cognition. Ultimately, only 11 cards required specific design adjustments: 5 from the Color Cards and 6 from the Facial Expression Cards. Furthermore, the “Facial Expression Cards” demonstrated a higher overall acceptance rate by users. This study establishes two sets of emotion cards suitable for the counseling field. Helping professionals may reference these findings and utilize the developed cards to assess the emotional states of their clients.