A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Framework for the Parametric Design of Garment Accessories Based on Consumer Affective Needs

Traditional garment accessory design often relies on designers’ subjective experience and emphasizes basic functionality while insufficiently addressing consumers’ affective needs. As emotional and aesthetic expectations for apparel continue to rise, accessory evaluation increasingly requires integrating function, aesthetics, and emotional experience. This study proposes a systematic framework for the design and optimization of garment accessory textures based on consumer affective needs, using zipper design as a case study. First, affective descriptors were collected using the affinity diagram method, and the semantic differential method evaluated the affective perceptions elicited by representative parametric samples. The G1 method determined descriptor weights, while quality function deployment identified four best-matched texture schemes for 3D modeling and physical prototyping. Subsequently, a multi-criteria evaluation system was established. Objective indicator weights were calculated using the CRITIC method, and the optimal design was determined through the TOPSIS framework. Finally, the eye-tracking experiment provides behavioral evidence from visual attention analysis supporting the proposed framework. The results reveal that functional-aesthetic integration dominates affective evaluation, alongside visual unity, proportional coordination and grip stability. Among the alternatives, the radial dotted texture achieved the highest affective compatibility. The proposed model effectively translates consumer affective needs into design decisions and provides a practical optimization approach for innovative garment accessory design.