Product design methodology supporting aesthetic evaluation

Based on the fundamentals of visual art and function, this research has developed a product design methodology capable of quantification of the aesthetic qualities and proposing objective solutions to enhance the appearance related variables and characteristics of a product. The objective evaluation has been done via analysis of involuntary responses using eye-tracking data based on the visual perceiving process of design. The result confirmed the reliability of the methodology by generating constant results and a good match between the measured values and declared preference. In addition, the aesthetic enhancement methods based on quantified metrics with the sample designs have been provided. The result of the research suggests that eye-tracking technology is a reliable tool in aesthetic evaluation and has potential for further development

Shape Specification in Design Using Fuzzy Logic

A shape specification system based on fuzzy logic is proposed, which aims to facilitate designers in conceptual design stage by allowing them to specify and work with rough models in a more intuitive fashion. The system uses a 3D object representation called 'parametric geons' which provide both qualitative and quantitative descriptions, in addition to global shape constraints, via eight shape parameters. Geometric descriptors and aesthetic descriptors are introduced and their fuzzy membership functions are constructed. Inference rules are obtained to link these descriptors with shape parameters. The system which models after designers' behaviour, allows designers' own aesthetic terms and interpretation of shapes to be added, and a library of successful designs with appropriate fuzzy descriptions to be constructed for later use