Speaking metaphorically in product design

by Rosenzweig, Kristen Tanya.

This thesis focuses on communicating messages through product design. As background, an explanation of the existence of design language is given and design language elements are defined using semiotics. A design language element communication disk is introduced to show the seven forms the elements can communicate. The second part of the thesis focuses on how people cognitively classify information. Metaphors are introduced as a type of cognitive classification and an effective way to communicate through product design. The final part of the thesis incorporates the design language element communication disk from the first part of the thesis with the cognitive classification information from the second part to provide a design research methodology. The methodology enables the designer to discover a metaphor that resonates with the user, understand how the user cognitively classifies the metaphor, and then organize the attributes and design language elements to communicate effectively through the product design. iii iv