Abstract

At this research, we have tried to identify the features and functions of concept products for digital house at near future in line with the life style of consumers and their needs. Although consumers' implicit needs has to be explored for developing future concept products, there has not been sufficient efforts to set up evaluation model to be applied during the product development. This research aims to identify the consumers' subjective response on 'concept products' in line with their life style, and evaluate the ways to relate the psychological needs to the products. For this research, 69 concept products have been evaluated by 23 participants aged between 20-30. Subjective responses of consumers were extracted by Q-methodology, and their preference responses on products were evaluated by their response from the life style scale. The concept products for future house were classified by three categories reflecting different psychological needs; 'Smart House Type', 'Sweet House Type', 'Selfish House Type'. Three types of concept products were also the examples of three different types of life styles through which are reflected on the products. At this research, we could identify how the consumers' life style and psychological needs are expressed on the specific functions and designs of consumer products. Through this research, we could propose a methodology to relate the consumer culture and life styles into the function and image of products.