A Kansei Design Study on of Women's Surfing Suits: Based on the AHP Model

This study proposes a systematic evaluation model for design element preferences in women’s surfwear, grounded in Kansei design theory and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), with the aim of addressing female users’ emotional needs. Anchored in the framework of Kansei design, four critical design elements—fabric, silhouette, color, and pattern—were identified, along with corresponding emotional vocabularies. Through a combination of qualitative interviews and the Semantic Differential (SD) method, emotional assessments of nine representative surfwear images were collected via an online questionnaire. Subsequently, ten academic experts conducted pairwise comparisons of 16 sub-elements under the four categories using AHP, enabling the quantification of each element’s relative weight in shaping users’ affective perceptions. The weighting results are as follows: for fabric, the sub-elements are ranked as breathable > quick-drying > lightweight > soft; for silhouette, the order is free > agile > streamlined > tight-fitting; for color, the preferences are ranked vivid > fresh > cool-toned > classic; and for Pattern the ranking is figurative > dynamic > delicate > individualistic. Based on the above hierarchy, the study proposes targeted design strategies: prioritize high-porosity, quick-drying textile materials; adopt ergonomically driven 3D tailoring for enhanced freedom of movement; utilize high-contrast and gradient-based color palettes; and incorporate figurative natural motifs as the primary visual language. These strategies are intended to enhance both the emotional resonance and functional performance of women’s surfwear products. By integrating emotional design principles with quantitative evaluation methods, this research provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for user-centered product development in the domain of functional apparel design. It also offers strategic insights for future innovations in surfwear that balance affective appeal with practical usability.