Title: Evaluation of user-centred methods in product design: a holistic approach

Authors: Bianka Trevisan; Birger Steinmeier; Eva-Maria Jakobs

Addresses: Textlinguistics and Technical Communication, Human-Computer Interaction Center, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 83 52062 Aachen, Germany ' Production Metrology and Quality Management, Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL, RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 19 52062 Aachen, Germany ' Textlinguistics and Technical Communication, Human-Computer Interaction Center, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 83 52062 Aachen, Germany

Abstract: The user's preference on a product depends on various factors such as the hedonic and pragmatic product performance as well as individual requirements. Thus, to ensure user-centred product design, methods must be identified which support the designer in taking the user perspective into account and promote the development of a holistic design integrating pragmatic and hedonic aspects. In the project 'Gender-specific Kansei Engineering' five methods for the identification of user-centred product concepts and quality requirements are tested in three target groups (users, experts, and designers). The methods are evaluated on two dimensions: data quality and application effort. The evaluation shows that qualitative methods (couple interview and focus group) are in terms of data quality more helpful in product design. In contrast, quantitative methods (AttrakDiff2, Kano-questionnaire, and Prototype mapping) generate lower application effort.

Keywords: product design; design engineering; user-centred design; product perception; quality requirements; hedonic aspects; pragmatic aspects; method evaluation; gender specific kansei engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDE.2012.053020

International Journal of Design Engineering, 2012 Vol.5 No.2, pp.107 - 121

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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