Evaluating Perceptual Quality of Office Chair Surface Materials Through Visual-Tactile Synesthesia Assessment

Abstract

In the context of increasing demands for health, comfort, and aesthetic quality in office environments, this study investigated how surface materials of office chairs influence users’ emotional responses through visual–tactile perception. Ten typical office chair surface material samples were sourced from manufacturers and evaluated in a controlled laboratory setting. Participants provided feedback via a semantic differential questionnaire, designed using the Kawakita Jiro (KJ) method and expert screening. Visual-tactile evaluation data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing factor analysis to explore perceptual groupings and latent emotional dimensions. Results showed four material clusters aligned with different user needs, including support, comfort, skin-friendliness, and breathability. Factor analysis extracted four core dimensions: physical comfort, thermal-affective feedback, quality–breathability trade-off, and material essence. To further support material selection, a method was established using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to clarify the weight of each perceptual factor. This study integrated Kansei engineering with visual-tactile synesthesia theory to construct a multidimensional evaluation framework, providing implications for the design of office chairs with greater attention to emotional and health-related factors.