AN APPROACH TO ANALYSING USER IMPRESSIONS AND MEANINGS OF PRODUCT MATERIALS IN DESIGN

To approach the essence of design for emotion and experience, this paper focuses on tactile interactions with product materials. We propose a framework for analysing tactile interactions based on human association-based in-depth impressions and interpretation-based created meanings. The aim of the study is to answer how in-depth impressions activate created meanings in tactile interaction and how do they affect human preference with regards to product materials. To detect and identify in-depth impressions and created meanings, this study applies original methods that analyse concept networks. To collect human freely expressed impressions and preferences we conducted an experiment that involved seven material samples. The identified in-depth impressions and created meanings are connected with preference evaluations during a tactile interaction with product materials. According to the findings, the generation of fewer but strong in-depth impressions activate diverse and original created meanings with respect to a material; and positively affects preference evaluation. These findings should contribute to design that leads to users’ emotional bonds and meaningful experiences.