USERS’ AND DESIGNERS’ PRODUCT

FORM PERCEPTUAL IMAGE

Luo Shijian

(College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027)

Zhu Shangshang

(College of Arts, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032)

Abstract: The commons and difference between users and designers in perceiving product form is studied. The concepts of users’ perceptual image and designers’ perceptual image are introduced and explored, the matching model of them is put forward, and the key technologies and methods are discussed. Taken the MP3 music player form design as an example, protocol analysis, psychometric scale and design sketch etc. are adopted to analyze the acquiring and representing of users’ perceptual image and designers’ perceptual image, and test the model. Experimental results show that there is a distinct difference between users’ perceptual image and designers’ perceptual image, and it is necessary to study users’ perceptual image and find out the commonness and individualities before product design.

Key words: Product form design  Perception  Image  Implicit  Ergonomic design  Protocol analysis

CLC No: TH166

浙江省自然科学基金资助项目(Y104256和M603059). Received 20040901, received in revised form 20050430