Optimization of Modular Wardrobe Design Using an Integrated IPA-CRITIC-TOPSIS Approach

Abstract

Compact living is becoming more common and thus the demand for personalized solutions has increased. Conventional wardrobes with fixed structures increasingly fail to meet users’ needs for clothing storage and spatial adaptability across life stages. Therefore, this study proposes an IPA-CRITIC-TOPSIS-based method to improve wardrobe space utilization while accommodating users’ dynamic storage requirements. First, modular wardrobe design criteria were derived from user interviews, an analysis of modular furniture design characteristics, and affinity diagramming (AD). Importance-performance analysis (IPA) was then applied to identify key criteria requiring priority improvement. Subsequently, the Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method was used to calculate information-based weights, thereby capturing the information content and intercriterion conflict embedded in the current evaluation matrix. Based on these findings, three modular wardrobe design alternatives were developed. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was then introduced to comprehensively rank and select the optimal alternative among multiple modular configuration schemes. The results indicate that damage-free assembly and disassembly, corner-space utilization, internal functional zoning, adjustability of storage accessories, and ease of clothing access and retrieval received the highest weights. The refined zoning-oriented alternative was identified as the optimal solution, and its ranking remained stable across different weighting scenarios.