A Kansei-mediated protocol for transforming painting palettes into product aesthetics

To address users' increasingly diverse aesthetic and emotional needs, this study develops an innovative product color design framework based on Kansei. The proposed method transfers color from paintings (source) to consumer products (target) using Kansei as an intermediary, thereby enhancing the affective quality of color and the perceived design value. The framework initiates with cluster analysis to extract color feature groups (CFGs) from paintings. Subsequently, product color genomes (PCGs) are constructed through functional and structural analysis. Following this, subjective evaluation quantifies Kansei for both CFGs and PCGs, identifying representative groups linked to specific Kansei words. Finally, a Kansei-mediated mapping bridges painting CFGs and PCGs to execute the transfer. Validated using Chinese paintings and a coffee machine, the method effectively transfers painting color schemes, enriches product design, improves color quality, and supports culturally adaptive design within international marketing strategies.