A Study on the Color and Glossiness of Polypropylene (PP) Films Based on the Visual Perception of Elderly Users

In age-friendly furniture design, the visual characteristics of material surfaces play a crucial role in shaping the usage experience and preferences of elderly users. In response to the application requirements of decorative materials for furniture surfaces, this study focuses on polypropylene (PP) films, with the objective of investigating the visual perceptual preferences of elderly users concerning the surface color and glossiness attributes of these films. An eye-tracking experiment was initially conducted to identify color preferences among elderly participants, utilizing indicators including first fixation duration, total fixation duration, and total fixation count. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was administered to assess user satisfaction with PP films featuring different glossiness levels—high-glossiness, semi-glossiness, and matte—and explored whether glossiness significantly influences color preference. The experimental results revealed the following: (1) red hues exhibited stronger initial visual attraction, while colors with low saturation and medium-to-high lightness sustained longer visual engagement; (2) the matte finishes received significantly higher satisfaction ratings than both semi-glossiness and high-glossiness finishes, with this preference remaining consistent across different color conditions; (3) glossiness does not exert a significant influence on color preference. The findings of this study provide consumer-oriented insights for the design of PP films that better accommodate the preferences of elderly users, while also offering guidance for the application and optimization of green and safe furniture materials.