A Study on Pattern Design for Women's Surfing Suits Based on Kansei Engineering

This study explores the emotional needs of female users regarding surfwear pattern design from a design perspective, aiming to provide practical guidance for designers and apparel brands in developing surfwear patterns. First, five leading surfwear brands with top market performance and consumer reputation (O’NEIL, Rip Curl, Roxy, Decathlon, Hisea) were systematically analyzed. Based on a questionnaire survey and the KJ method, 12 representative women’s surfwear samples with distinct pattern styles were selected. Subsequently, a stratified sampling method was used to ensure age-balanced responses from female participants aged 10-40 with surfing experience (10-20 years: 14.28%, 20-30 years: 67.15%, 30-40 years: 14.28%), yielding 59 valid questionnaires. The survey was designed using Kansei engineering methodology and included nine pairs of affective adjectives (e.g., “natural-artificial,” “soft-rugged,” “traditional-modern,” “complex-minimalist”) to describe the overall style of surfwear. Participants rated 12 sample images using a semantic differential method and a five-point Likert scale. Factor analysis (FA) was conducted on the ratings of the nine adjective pairs, revealing three principal factors that influence the overall perception of surfwear patterns: the fashion-personality factor, the natural-dynamic factor, and the modern-vitality factor. The findings demonstrate that pattern design plays a significant role in shaping the emotional impression of women’s surfwear. While different patterns produce varied visual effects, they can evoke similar emotional responses. Based on the three extracted Kansei factors, corresponding design strategies are proposed: for users oriented toward fashion and individuality, digital prints, geometric cuts, and gradient patchwork are recommended; for those seeking natural dynamism, integrating nature-inspired and biomimetic designs can enhance comfort and emotional resonance; and for users favoring modern vitality, incorporating street art and futurist elements can satisfy the demand for strong visual impact. This research provides a valuable reference for surfwear pattern design targeting female users. Furthermore, it enriches the theoretical foundation of Kansei engineering in the context of marine sportswear and contributes to improving product design capabilities and brand competitiveness within the industry.