Title: A methodology to analyse in-depth impressions of design on the basis of concept networks

Authors: Yukari Nagai, Georgi V. Georgiev, Feng Zhou

Addresses: School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, 923-1292, Japan. ' School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, 923-1292, Japan. ' School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, 923-1292, Japan

Abstract: This study aims to develop a methodology to capture in-depth impressions, which underlie the surface impressions of design, by using concept network analysis. The proposed methodology consists of association analysis of users| free descriptions, construction of concept network, and extraction of the in-depth impressions from the network. To investigate the application of the methodology, we carried out a case study. We examined the differences between three groups of hospital uniforms, comparing conventional and other colours. We found significant in-depth impressions from the concept networks of impressions. A clear difference was found among the three groups. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in understanding impressions of design. Finally, we proposed to implement the findings in selecting the colour for hospital uniforms.

Keywords: formation of impressions; in-depth impressions; network analysis; association analysis; concept networks; associative concept; design evaluation; seasonal colours; hospital uniforms; research methods; case study; design methodology.

DOI: 10.1504/JDR.2011.039617

Journal of Design Research, 2011 Vol.9 No.1, pp.44 - 64

Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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