In this PhD research the design process components that can contribute to a better perceived product quality are studied. First the design process components are determined. Secondly the effect of these components on the perceived quality is studied. This research is mainly based on design processes of students. Therefore a comparison between the design processes of student designers and professionals is done to analyse to what extend the results can be generalized. Additionally the ability of designer teachers to estimate the product experience of end users is studied.@en

BACKGROUND: Designers develop their basic competences during their design education and these competences are later amplified and refined during their professional career. Therefore, one could expect that the design processes of professionals and of student designers are conducted differently, and that these processes consist of different components (steps, actions, methods, tools, etc. used in the design process). OBJECTIVE: The differences and similarities between the design processes of design students and professionals were studied. In addition the effect of the designers experience on the design process is studied. METHODS: The design processes of seating products of 19 professional designers, 15 master students and 16 bachelor students were compared in order to understand the differences in the components they apply in their design process. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences between professional designers and design students for eight out of fifteen of the components. The components for which differences were found were applied more frequently by professionals than by students. For six of the components significant positive correlations were found with the designer's experience. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences between the design processes of design students as well as similarities. The differences amongst others related to the designers' experience.@en