Abstract: The commons and difference between users and designers in perceiving product form is studied. The concepts of users’ perceptual image and designers’ perceptual image are introduced and explored, the matching model of them is put forward, and the key technologies and methods are discussed. Taken the MP3 music player form design as an example, protocol analysis, psychometric scale and design sketch etc. are adopted to analyze the acquiring and representing of users’ perceptual image and designers’ perceptual image, and test the model. Experimental results show that there is a distinct difference between users’ perceptual image and designers’ perceptual image, and it is necessary to study users’ perceptual image and find out the commonness and individualities before product design.

Key words: Ergonomic design, Image, Implicit, Perception, Product form design, Protocol analysis