USER-CENTERED DESIGN IN WARDROBES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i5.1394Keywords:
user-centered design, wardrobe, systematic review, smart furniture, inclusive designAbstract
The wardrobe, as a fundamental component of domestic space, mediates the daily ritual of clothing selection, storage, and self-presentation, yet its design has historically been driven by manufacturing conventions rather than systematic engagement with user needs. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review conducted a comprehensive literature search across Scopus and Web of Science. After strict screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 68 high-quality studies were finally included for systematic coding and thematic synthesis. Thematic synthesis yielded seven interconnected themes: user needs and requirements, ergonomic design, cognitive and behavioral dimensions, smart and intelligent wardrobes, customization and modular systems, accessibility and inclusive design, and cultural and aesthetic considerations. Findings reveal that UCD methods can substantially improve wardrobe usability, accessibility, and user satisfaction, yet the literature remains fragmented across disciplinary silos, methodologically constrained by short-duration laboratory studies. Three critical research gaps are identified: the absence of longitudinal field studies, insufficient participant diversity, limited real-world validation of smart wardrobe prototypes, poor integration across thematic domains, and neglect of sustainability as a design dimension. The review concludes by articulating a forward-looking research agenda and practical guidance for designers, manufacturers, and educators seeking to place the user at the center of wardrobe design.
References
[1] Abras, C., Maloney-Krichmar, D., Preece, J. (2004): User-centered design. – In: Bainbridge, W.S. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California 12p.
[2] Bonet-Olivencia, S., Carrillo-Leal, J., Rao, A., Sasangohar, F. (2024): User-centered design of a diabetes self-management tool for underserved populations. – Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 18(1): 22-29.
[3] Daggubati, L.S. (2024): Designing digital payment experiences: The crucial role of user-centered design and effective user feedback integration. – International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology 72(2): 27-29.
[4] Elworthy, H. (2026): Sonic essentialism and anti-gay policing in mid-century America, 1920-1960. – The UC Santa Barbara Undergraduate Journal of History 6(1): 34-46.
[5] Fu, K., Hu, S., Jiang, X., Jia, Q. (2020): Research on wardrobe design based on Kansei engineering. – International Journal of Smart Home 14(2): 1-14.
[6] Gharaei, B., Zadeh, S.M.S.H., Ghomeishi, M. (2024): Developing a neuroarchitecture-based user centered design for elementary schools in Tehran. – Ain Shams Engineering Journal 15(9): 12p.
[7] Heinze, L. (2021): Wardrobe stories: Sustainability and the everyday aesthetics of fashion consumption. – Continuum 35(6): 853-869.
[8] Jayakumar, S., Sounderajah, V., Normahani, P., Harling, L., Markar, S.R., Ashrafian, H., Darzi, A. (2022): Quality assessment standards in artificial intelligence diagnostic accuracy systematic reviews: A meta-research study. – npj Digital Medicine 5(1): 13p.
[9] Jones, M.I. (2023): A fleeting glimpse? ‘Sweden’s shop window in Sydney’ - the Sweden at David Jones’ Exposition of 1954. – Fabrications 33(2): 279-305.
[10] Ma, X., Chen, Y., Liang, Q., Wang, J. (2024): Wardrobe furniture color design based on interactive genetic algorithm. – BioResources 19(3): 6230-6246.
[11] Maguire, H., Fahy, F. (2022): Practising fashion and wardrobe studies: A geographical reframing? – Area 54(1): 69-77.
[12] McBee-Black, K. (2022): “Making life easier”: A case study exploring the development of adaptive apparel design innovations from a user-centered approach. – Fashion Practice 14(2): 203-224.
[13] Mellander, E., Petersson McIntyre, M. (2021): Fashionable detachments: Wardrobes, bodies and the desire to let go. – Consumption Markets & Culture 24(4): 343-356.
[14] Page, M.J., McKenzie, J.E., Bossuyt, P.M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T.C., Mulrow, C.D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J.M., Akl, E.A., Brennan, S.E. et al. (2022): The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. – Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública 46: 12p.
[15] Rana, M.R.I., McBee-Black, K., Swazan, I.S. (2024): Adaptive apparel for people with disabilities: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. – International Journal of Consumer Studies 48(3): 28p.
[16] Rethlefsen, M.L., Page, M.J. (2022): PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-S: Common questions on tracking records and the flow diagram. – Journal of the Medical Library Association 110(2): 253-257.
[17] Ryan, N., Vieira, D., Gyamfi, J., Ojo, T., Shelley, D., Ogedegbe, O., Iwelunmor, J., Peprah, E. (2022): Development of the ASSESS tool: A comprehenSive tool to Support rEporting and critical appraiSal of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods implementation reSearch outcomes. – Implementation Science Communications 3(1): 13p.
[18] Thompson, F., Rongen, F., Cowburn, I., Till, K. (2022): The impacts of sports schools on holistic athlete development: A mixed methods systematic review. – Sports Medicine 52(8): 1879-1917.
[19] Tovin, M.M., Wormley, M.E. (2023): Systematic development of standards for mixed methods reporting in rehabilitation health sciences research. – Physical Therapy 103(11): 11p.
[20] Valderrama-Ulloa, C., Sanhueza-Durán, F., Gálvez, N., Bahamondes, R., Andrade, L. (2026): Designing with age in mind: An empirical assessment of residential accessibility from older adults’ perspectives. – Disabilities 6(3): 20p.
[21] Yang, L., Kumar, R., Kaur, R., Babbar, A., Makhanshahi, G.S., Singh, A., Kumar, R., Bhowmik, A., Alawadi, A.H. (2024): Exploring the role of computer vision in product design and development: A comprehensive review. – International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing 18(6): 3633-3680.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 XIAO ZHEN WANG, Sharin MOKHTAR, HASZLIN SHAHARUDIN
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
