van Remmen JS, Reichel C, Wartzack S, Miehling J (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2026
Book Volume: 103
Article Number: 101388
DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2026.101388
This study examines how abstract shapes and product forms affect aesthetic, emotional, and usability evaluations, with particular attention to gender differences. In an online survey (n = 91), participants rated four shapes and three product types using semantic differentials and the meCUE 2.0. Curved shapes were perceived as more aesthetically pleasing and emotionally appealing, whereas angular shapes were perceived as more functional. Women showed stronger differentiation across most semantic items, particularly on emotional-symbolic judgments, while these distinctions diminished in applied product evaluations. Younger users preferred unconventional designs, older ones favored familiar forms. The findings identify a boundary condition: shape–meaning links observed with abstract forms attenuate or shift once forms are embedded in concrete product roles. Thus, abstract-shape findings act as context-sensitive priors rather than general laws.
APA:
van Remmen, J.S., Reichel, C., Wartzack, S., & Miehling, J. (2026). Gender and aesthetics: A study on preferences in product design. Design Studies, 103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2026.101388
MLA:
van Remmen, Judith Sophie, et al. "Gender and aesthetics: A study on preferences in product design." Design Studies 103 (2026).
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