Consumers' Concepts of Materials

User needs and wants dictate the way products are designed, produced, used and disposed of. The creation of emotional attachment with possessions is one way of approaching sustainable consumer-product relationships. This research aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the role materials play in the interaction and emotional attachment consumers have with their products. A study determined the consumers'' concepts of six materials currently used in product design. The study findings show both physical and emotional consumer concepts of the six materials. It is, however, the interaction of these concepts that is the most significant finding of this research. Each material concept is not only judged emotionally by consumers in its own right but in relation to other concepts as well. The interaction of the consumers'' concepts of materials can considerably effect the emotional judgement made about the material and the appropriateness of its application. This research makes a significant contribution to knowledge regarding the effect materials have on the consumers by identifying how materials can prompt emotional judgements and thereby alter the product user experience.