Investigating the Aesthetic Appraisal of Computer Based on the Unified Model of Aesthetic (UMA)
Description
This study investigates aesthetic responses to product design through the Unified Model of Aesthetics (UMA), focusing on six key variables: typicality, novelty, unity, variety, connectedness, and autonomy. The research examines how age and gender influence aesthetic preferences. A sample of 234 participants from China (46.4% female, 53.4% male) assessed ten black-and-white images of computer monitors using a seven-point Likert scale in an online questionnaire. Results indicate positive linear relationships between typicality and novelty, unity and variety, and connectedness and autonomy, suggesting that these variables function independently in shaping aesthetic preferences for design products. Study 1 demonstrates a high preference for designs rated highly on typicality, aligning with the MAYA principle (Most Advanced Yet Acceptable), which posits that the most aesthetically pleasing designs are novel and recognizable. Study 2 highlights a preference for designs that balance unity and variety, supporting the idea that "unity-in-variety" enhances aesthetic appeal. Study 3 reveals that connectedness significantly contributes to aesthetic preference, supporting the idea that "Autonomous, yet Connected". Age and gender influence these preferences. Males show a growing preference for typicality and unity as they age, while females maintain consistent but slightly lower preferences. Both genders value novelty and variety equally as they age. Socially, males' preferences for connectedness and autonomy intensify with age, while females' connectedness preferences remain stable. Overall, male rated the six aesthetic variables higher than females, suggesting possible perceptual or cultural differences in aesthetic preferences.
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The online survey used in Study 1 involved ten black-and-white stimulus images presented one at a time against a white background to minimize distractions and focus on aesthetic judgments. Each image was accompanied by a set of statements, which participants rated on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from "disagree" to "agree." These ratings helped assess their aesthetic preferences based on perceived characteristics of the stimuli, such as typicality, novelty, uniformity, and social relevance. The final rating for each stimulus was based on the "Pleasing to See" scale, a validated measure adapted from Blijlevens et al. (2014, 2017), to capture overall aesthetic preference. Upon completing the ratings for one stimulus, the following image was presented, continuing until all were rated.