Design and Product Development

FEA Consumer Needs Model: Looking Forward, Looking Back

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Abstract

The FEA Consumer Needs Model (Lamb & Kallal,1992) considers Functional, Expressive and Aesthetic criteria for apparel design. Since 1992, use of this model has gone beyond preparing student designers to understand consumer needs to use as a theoretical framework by practicing designers and design scholars. We assessed use of the FEA Consumer Needs Model and Apparel Design Framework within scholarly publications and found the paper has been cited by more than 100 different first authors; some with multiple publications citing the article, demonstrating its relevance and impact over time. In applications of this conceptual framework, authors used the consumer needs focus to assess FEA criteria for products for various consumer groups. Some altered the model by not including all three criteria, or adding additional criteria. Design solutions included functional design for health and well-being, sports apparel and smart clothing, fashion apparel, textiles, costumes, fashion history as inspiration, and non-apparel items.

How to Cite:

Orzada, B. T. & Kallal, M., (2016) “FEA Consumer Needs Model: Looking Forward, Looking Back”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 73(1).