The Research Of Product Form Design Based On Metaphor

Metaphor, which originally belongs to the scope of the linguistics, is a kind of rhetorical device in linguistics. However, with the constant study of metaphor, it is not only a linguistic phenomenon, but also widely used in the design of product form as a type of human cognitive phenomenon. The metaphor is a cognitive activity which means explain or understand an experience in one field through using experiences in another field. It is an exchange between different minds and also a way to express ideas and emotions. In the design of product form, designers associate the familiar things with product form and transform the format of familiar things into the product form. This process will convey to the users a wider and deeper meaning. Therefore, the research of product form design based on the metaphor has a significant meaning.In this paper, it has a deep understanding of metaphor refers to its meanings and characteristics, provides the theory basis of research about metaphor in product form by studying the Chinese and West's developmental history of metaphor. Besides, the paper has analyzed the product form and symbol, stated the relationship between the product form and metaphor, divided the metaphor of product form in the history of industrial design into some phases and summarized the characteristics of product form in each phase. It also has discussed the formation of the metaphor in product form, analyzed the choice of tenor and vehicle in the metaphor of product form and relationship between tenor and vehicle. On the basis of Cognitive Psychology, the paper has analyzed the human cognitive process of metaphor in the product form according to the human information processing mode. By analyzing the design example of specific product form, it has concluded the conveyed meaning of metaphor, the design principle and method of metaphor, then apply this method to the practice of product form design.