Functional customization: Value creation by individual storage elements in the car interior

Abstract

The ease of use and the design proved to be crucial product characteristics of individually adaptable storage solutions. Positive emotions are contributing factors for a user's purchasing decision.

Visual customization: Diversity in color preferences in the automotive interior and implications for interior design

“…During times, in which owning a car becomes less attractive in cities and car‐sharing solutions increase in popularity, the human–product relationship changes intensively. As a continuous change of interior trim and upholstery for each customer of a car sharing business is seldom a competitive and cost‐effective way to reach customer satisfaction, further individualization techniques should be investigated such as customization by interior lighting and changing colors or flexible individualizable storage solutions by standardized interfaces . Nevertheless, the findings of the color preferences for car interiors should be taken into account for car sharing interiors.…”

“…To understand these mobility trends and their effects on the car as a product per se, the interaction between product and user needs to be investigated. A product generally gets modified slightly during the human–product relationship as sort of an assimilation such as the users' customization of smartphones by protective covers in different colors or with additional functions . Irrespective of ownership, apartments get painted and furnished in order for the inhabitants to feel at home; even unconventional items like car components can be turned into accessories for living rooms as furniture equipped with smart media interfaces (e.g., IKEA's Uppleva series).…”

“…Even prestigious objects like tablet PCs or smartphones are only customized by their owners with personal settings, Apps, or additional protective covers. Therefore, a variety, which is not fulfilled by the product itself, can be added later on by users with purchases of colorful covers made from silicone or plastic …”

“…Any interdependencies by exterior design aspects like form (body type, i.e., convertible, coupé, SUV, or sedan), shape (exterior design language created by stylistic elements), and color (painting) are excluded from the study. Given that the interior serves as an interaction threshold for driver and passenger, the importance of the interior car design for functional and aesthetic customization is a plausible conclusion …”

Modeling the relationship between the environment and human experiences

“…The environment may be close to the human body, i.e., the storage possibilities around the driver or passenger in a car [9] or a virtual reality system distracting the driver from discomfort [10]. The effect of people seated next to each other (neighbors) in an aircraft [11] and variations in posture, which result in more comfort [12], are examples of environments close to the body.…”