FEA Consumer Needs Model: 25 Years Later

Abstract

This systematic review examined use of Lamb and Kallal’s (1992) Functional, Expressive, and Aesthetic (FEA) Consumer Needs Model and integrated Apparel Design (AD) Framework within scholarly journal publications. The 126 peer-reviewed articles citing Lamb and Kallal published in English between 1992 and 2017 were the focus of this article. We identify the breadth of citations across the 25-year time span, examine application of the FEA Model and/or the AD Framework, and identify and confirm use of the FEA Model as a theoretical framework. Authors used the consumer needs focus to assess FEA criteria for products targeted to various consumer groups and product types. Findings indicate that the FEA Model has been applied under a variety of conditions to understand consumer needs, inform the design process, confirm the utility of the model, and demonstrate the strength and flexibility of the FEA Model. Future research directions are suggested.