Designing feelings into lower-limb prostheses - A kansei engineering approach to understand lower-limb prosthetic cosmeses.

This study aimed to quantify the relationship between prosthetic users' emotional response to prosthesis aesthetics and specific product properties. Words representing prosthesis users' emotional response (Kansei) to different aesthetic designs of prostheses were identified via interviews and mood boards. A group of experts consolidated the words into thematic groups, each represented by a single, high-level 'Kansei' word. 53 lower limb prosthesis users completed a questionnaire, rating their perception of 13 aesthetic designs using the 'Kansei' words. Quantification Theory Type 1 was applied to explore the relationship between words and product properties. Sub-analyses assessed for differences based on sex, age and level of extroversion. 5 high-level Kansei words were identified ('Natural', 'Technological', 'Cool', 'Unique' and 'Functional'). The Kansei word 'Natural' had a strong association with realistic looking prostheses while the words 'Technological', 'Cool' and 'Unique' were strongly associated with expressive designs which incorporate hard, colourful covers. The word 'Functional' was not a reliable predictor of product properties. No major differences were observed within sub-grouped categories. Kansei words identified in this study can be used to help guide clients in their aesthetic design choices and to assist designers in achieving the desired response from their products.