In order to obtain product designs which maximize their appeal to users, a concurrent product design method is proposed in which aesthetic factors are implemented during conventional product design. Subjective attributes, corresponding to aesthetic factors, are evaluated concurrently with analytically obtained objective attributes of the product's characteristics. The interaction of these subjective and objective attributes, as it relates to the product's utility and manufacturing cost, is clarified. Then, the solution which has the minimum ratio of manufactured cost relative to the user's expected product price is selected as the optimum design solution. Applied examples pertaining to robot designs are given, to demonstrate these methodologies.
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