A product language-mediated concept construction model from the perspective of conceptual metaphor

Abstract

In product design practice, the user experience is directly related to the concepts that users interpret in the product language. Therefore, the designer’s ability to construct concepts through product language is important to the success of the product. This study aimed to establish a conceptual metaphor–based theoretical model that enables designers to construct concepts accurately through product language. Through theory and product analysis, this study explored how designers use product language to generate concepts, specifically through categorization, and explains the core role of conceptual metaphor in the categorization process. A theoretical model of product language–mediated concept construction mechanism was proposed, which was then tested through workshops and semi-structured interviews. Theoretically, the study extends the knowledge of product language to the cognitive level. Practically, the study results will help designers analyze product language and effectively construct and express new concepts through product language.

Keywords:

• Conceptual metaphor
• metaphorical design
• product semantics
• categorization
• cognitive linguistics

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Eric C. Yim Endowed Professorship and the research postgraduate studentship provided by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).