Kansei, surfaces and perception engineering

Abstract

The aesthetic and pleasing propertiesofaproduct areimportant and add significantlytothemeaning and relevanceofa product. Customer sensation and perception are largely about psychological factors. There has beenastrong industrialand academic needand interest formethods and toolstoquantifyand link product properties tothe human response but a lack of studiesof the impact ofsurfaces.In this study, affective surface engineering is used toillustrate and model the link between customer expectations and perceptiontocontrollable product surface properties. The results highlight the use of the soft metrology concept for linking physical and human factors contributing to the perception of products.Examplesofsurface applicationsofthe Kansei methodology are presentedfrom sauna bath, health care, architectural and hygiene tissue application areas toillustrate, discuss and confirm the strengthof the methodology. Inthe conclusionsof the study, future research insoft metrology isproposed to allow understandingandmodellingofproduct perception and sensationsincombinationwith a developmentofthe Kansei surface engineering methodology and softwaretools.