Short answer

Design educators and curriculum developers should consider integrating emotional and analytical user research techniques, such as Kansei Engineering, into learning modules to improve student comprehension and skill development in design.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Proceedings of the Design Society (2023)
Method: Educational module development and implementation
Evidence: Strong effect

Integrating Kansei Engineering principles into an active learning module can effectively familiarize middle school students with product design fundamentals and foster design thinking skills. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Proceedings of the Design Society. Using Educational module development and implementation, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design educators and curriculum developers should consider integrating emotional and analytical user research techniques, such as Kansei Engineering, into learning modules to improve student comprehension and skill development in design.

Study

User-Centred DesignRecentStrong effect

Kansei Engineering enhances product design learning for middle schoolers

Integrating Kansei Engineering principles into an active learning module can effectively familiarize middle school students with product design fundamentals and foster design thinking skills.

Proceedings of the Design Society · 2023

Key Findings

01An active learning module based on Kansei Engineering can successfully introduce middle school students to product design concepts.
02The structured activities within the module foster the development of analytical, divergent, and critical thinking skills.
03Student engagement and familiarity with product design and Kansei principles are enhanced through this methodology.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

Develop educational modules for design or engineering that start with user-focused analysis (e.g., emotional response, sensory attributes) before moving to technical design and prototyping.

Project actions

01When researching a product, think about how people feel about it (Kansei) as well as its function.
02Break down the design process into smaller, manageable steps for your own design project.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a Kansei Engineering-based active learning module be developed to effectively teach middle school students the basics of product design and cultivate design thinking skills?

MethodEducational module development and implementation

ProcedureThe module involves identifying design elements, creating item/category matrices, clustering products, analyzing functions and characteristics, and evaluating products using student-created Kansei scales, culminating in a design project with prototype construction and evaluation.

ContextMiddle school product design education

Variables

IVActive learning module incorporating Kansei Engineering principles

DVStudent familiarity with product design basics, design skills, analytical thinking, divergent thinking, critical thinking

CVAge of students, prior design knowledge, specific product analyzed, duration of module

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Emphasizes user emotion and perception in design education.
+Provides a structured, step-by-step learning process.

Limitations

It can be challenging to objectively measure subjective emotional responses.

Reliability & validity

Reliability could be improved by using standardized Kansei scales and multiple raters. Validity is supported by the module's alignment with established design thinking processes and its focus on developing specific cognitive skills.

Think critically

How might the subjective nature of Kansei scales be addressed to ensure more objective and reliable design insights?

Design Principles

"Engage learners through emotional and analytical exploration of products to build foundational design understanding and skills."

This approach moves beyond rote learning by engaging students emotionally and analytically with product design. It provides a structured yet creative pathway for developing critical skills like analytical and divergent thinking through hands-on prototyping and evaluation.

What This Means for Your Design

Using feelings and analysis to understand products can help younger students learn about design and how to create new things.

How to use in your project

1.You can use Kansei Engineering principles to structure your user research, focusing on emotional responses and subjective evaluations alongside functional ones.
2.The methodology of moving from analysis to synthesis can inform the structure of your design project report.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the value of Kansei Engineering in educational contexts, demonstrating how understanding user emotions and perceptions can be integrated into design learning. The methodology, which moves from product analysis to prototype development, offers a structured approach to fostering design thinking skills in students.

Source

Proceedings of the Design Society

A KANSEI-ENGINEERING-BASED ACTIVE LEARNING MODULE FOR FAMILIARIZING MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH BASICS OF PRODUCT DESIGN

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about kansei engineering enhances product design learning for middle schoolers?: Design educators and curriculum developers should consider integrating emotional and analytical user research techniques, such as Kansei Engineering, into learning modules to improve student comprehension and skill development in design. Evidence: Proceedings of the Design Society (2023).
Why does "Kansei Engineering enhances product design learning for middle schoolers" matter for design?: This approach moves beyond rote learning by engaging students emotionally and analytically with product design. It provides a structured yet creative pathway for developing critical skills like analytical and divergent thinking through hands-on prototyping and evaluation.
How can designers apply this research?: Design educators and curriculum developers should consider integrating emotional and analytical user research techniques, such as Kansei Engineering, into learning modules to improve student comprehension and skill development in design.
What were the main findings?: An active learning module based on Kansei Engineering can successfully introduce middle school students to product design concepts.. The structured activities within the module foster the development of analytical, divergent, and critical thinking skills.. Student engagement and familiarity with product design and Kansei principles are enhanced through this methodology.
What research method was used?: Educational module development and implementation.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Proceedings of the Design Society.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Develop educational modules for design or engineering that start with user-focused analysis (e.g., emotional response, sensory attributes) before moving to technical design and prototyping.
What are the limitations?: The effectiveness may vary based on the specific product chosen for analysis and the facilitator's expertise in Kansei Engineering.