In order to explore how to effectively express product image when designing products, micro-electronic products were used as examples in this study to conduct a comprehensive investigation. Firstly, through a questionnaire survey, we deduced that the five most expected images perceived in micro-electronic products are: (i) high-technology, (ii) efficiency, (iii) lightness and handiness, (iv) nobility, and (v) delicacy. Next, sample product photographs were presented to the subjects in order to make various evaluations. Through semantic differential analysis, factor analysis and multidimensional scaling analysis, the subjects' perception of these images for the evaluated products was revealed and a perceptual map of these products derived. Design subjects' perception was compared to that of non-design subjects. Finally, through morphological analysis of these products, the critical 'form elements' and approaches of form treatment among these products were extracted. By using multiple linear regression, the relationships between each image and various form features were concluded. These findings can be further applied not only to establish a desired image in designing products, but also to reduce the perceptual gap between designers and users. Relevance to industryIn the development of micro-electronic products, methods enabling the designer to create an appropriate image for a product so that it may communicate with the user are always critical issues. From this study, the expected images of micro-electronic products and the corresponding form features to achieve these images were extracted. A design guideline was summarized accordingly by which the time and cost of product development can be reduced while the quality of the product designed can be enhanced.

The purpose of this study is to improve the overall cognitive function of patients with dementia in Yunlin County, Taiwan, by designing an indoor gardening flower combination game suitable for home and maintenance institutions. This paper uses qualitative research (participatory interviews, case studies, and contextual observation methods in the demand exploration phase) and quantitative research (experimental methods and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Barthel Index questionnaires in the product verification phase). This study adopted a four-stage service design: demand exploration, demand definition, design implementation, and product verification. In the stage of demand exploration, 14 elderly people with mild or moderate dementia were interviewed, and two cases were selected for two in-depth observations of horticultural treatment activities. Common obstacles and potential demand points were listed after integration: (1) The safety of elderly patients with dementia can be improved by employing horticultural treatment activities transferred from outdoors to indoors; (2) the objects and facilities used in horticultural activities should be improved to reduce the attention burden of elderly patients with dementia; (3) the elements of reminiscence or familiarity of the mentally handicapped elderly should be increased; (4) the process of gardening and planting can be used by two or four people to improve social and language skills. According to this study, an indoor gardening planting table game was developed. This game includes a group of flower combination prompt cards (including five flower groups: camellia, cherry blossom, chrysanthemum, kapok, and lotus), a group of color and number prompt rings, and a flower base, which provides planting of up to 25 flowers and is matched with the number prompt color rings; then, the combined flowers are planted into the base. In the final experience experiment, 7 participants with free movement of the upper limbs and mild or moderate dementia were selected by the MMSE and Barthel Index to participate in a 5-week experiment. After using a combination of progressive low-level, medium-level, and high-level flower combination tasks, the results showed that the overall performance of the elderly patients with mild or moderate dementia in the MMSE test was improved by the indoor gardening planting table game. However, the treatment effect-size presented a low effect magnitude.

Industrial design is an applied discipline that combines aesthetics and engineering. Through hands-on activities, students can better understand shapes and details in model making. The literature shows that hands-on courses help enhance students’ creativity, learning motivation, and interest. Model-making courses are one of the hands-on courses in industrial design programs. To enhance students’ learning enthusiasm in the practical course of this study, we introduced a “participatory teaching method”. To examine changes in students’ learning motivation after the new teaching method was introduced, the researchers conducted mid-term and final questionnaires and collected feedback on the students’ learning experiences. The results showed that the introduction of the participatory teaching method had a positive impact on students’ learning motivation, as they could participate in the planning and evaluation of course content. These results can serve as a reference for future course planning.

This study explores the correlation between learning about basic form factors and learning automotive exterior design (AED) for the first time. To help beginner AED students learn smoothly, we developed modular courses and proposed to teach basic form generation. Six modular assignments were developed for the courses on Form Theory and Transportation Design, and 22 and 20 students, respectively, completed all the assignments of each course. All students were guided to become familiar with the five form factors: proportion, contour, volume, surface, and detail. According to the student self-assessments and responses for the Form Theory course, students gained a statistically equivalent learning experience of form factors from the four assignments; however, they gained significantly different levels of understanding and confidence. There was also a significant difference in understanding form factors during AED clay modeling. Further, students considered that the last two assignments in the Form Theory course had a significantly stronger relationship with learning AED than the first two assignments did. These findings are conducive to ensuring improvements in the modular courses to help future students begin learning AED.

This study aims to improve the learning outcomes of students in industrial design practice. Using service experience inquiry, this research discusses the lack and hidden demand of student in industrial design practice courses. Six service potential demands are described as follows. (1) TA actively caring students, (2) Recording class discussion, (3) Teaching environment improving (4) Offering a discussing platform for teachers and students, (5) Clear design specifications and scoring standards, (6) Product design progress management. Based on the above issues, an Industrial Design Practice (IDP) is designed for mobile devices with a combination of consultation interacting teaching features to improve students' effectiveness learning in design practical courses.