HYBRID KANSEI ENGINEERING SYSTEM AND DESIGN SUPPORT

In this paper, we propose the new framework of Kansei Engineering Syst em (KES), called Hybrid KES, which can support both consumer and desig ner as the decision support system (DSS). Kansei Engineering is define d as ''translating technology of a consumer's feeling and image for a product into design elements'' (Nagamachi, 1989). It is the Kansei Eng ineering System which we developed to utilize on the product developme nt process using Kansei Engineering techniques. There are two types of KES, one for the consumer decision supporting system called the Forwa rd Kansei Engineering System, and another for the designer supporting system called the Backward Kansei Engineering System. The combined com puterized system of the Forward KES and Backward KES must be powerful supporting tools for both users. This paper introduces the structure o f the combined system, and proposes the Hybrid KES as the new general framework of Kansei Engineering System. Relevance to industry Hybrid K ES consists of Forward KES and Backward KES. The former is the KES in which a designer obtains the demanded design through an input of the K ansei word. In the Backward KES, the designer is able to draw a rough sketch in the computer and the computer system recognizes the pattern of the design inputted by the designer. The combined computerized syst em of the Forward KES and Backward KES must be powerful supporting too ls for both consumer and designer.