Investigating the Aesthetic Appraisal of Computer Based on the Unified Model of Aesthetic (UMA)

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.本研究基于美学统一模型（Unified Model of Aesthetics, UMA），探究产品设计的美学感知响应，重点考察六大核心变量：典型性、新颖性、统一性、多样性、联结性与自主性。本研究同时分析年龄与性别对美学偏好的影响机制。研究招募了234名中国籍受试者（女性占比46.4%，男性占比53.4%），通过在线问卷采用7点李克特量表对10张黑白电脑显示器图像进行美学评分。结果表明，典型性与新颖性、统一性与多样性、联结性与自主性之间均存在正线性相关关系，说明上述变量在塑造产品设计美学偏好的过程中各自独立发挥作用。研究1证实，受试者对典型性评分较高的设计具有显著偏好，这与MAYA原则（Most Advanced Yet Acceptable）相符——该原则指出，最具美学吸引力的设计应兼具新颖性与可识别性。研究2则显示，受试者更青睐兼顾统一性与多样性的设计，验证了「多样中求统一」可提升美学吸引力的理论观点。研究3发现，联结性对美学偏好具有显著正向影响，支持了「自主且联结」的理论主张。此外，年龄与性别会对上述美学偏好产生调节作用：随着年龄增长，男性对典型性与统一性的偏好逐渐增强，而女性的相关偏好则保持稳定且略低于男性；两类群体对新颖性与多样性的偏好随年龄增长保持同等水平。在社会属性层面，男性对联结性与自主性的偏好随年龄增长而强化，而女性的联结性偏好则维持稳定。整体而言，男性对六大美学变量的评分均高于女性，这暗示美学偏好可能存在感知层面或文化层面的性别差异。