User Value Priorities in Product Personalization and their Implications for Designing Future Additive Manufacturing Enabled Personalization Tools

Abstract

Product personalisation has gained growing attention as consumers increasingly seek products that reflect personal preferences, identity, and functional needs. Additive manufacturing (AM) supports such customisation through flexible, low-volume production, yet limited empirical evidence exists on how end users evaluate the value of personalised products. This study investigates end users’ perceived value of product personalisation by examining willingness to pay, purchase intention, and evaluations of six value components: functional, personal-expressive, aesthetic, unique, hedonic, and co-design value. An online questionnaire captured respondents’ assessments of personalised features, and descriptive analysis summarised value perceptions and behavioural responses. Findings indicate that functional value is the strongest driver of perceived benefit, with respondents showing clear willingness to pay when personalisation improves utility or performance. Aesthetic and personal-expressive attributes generated interest but resulted in lower willingness to pay unless supported by functional advantages. Hedonic and co-design value were positively acknowledged, suggesting that enjoyment, creativity, and guided involvement enhance emotional engagement during the personalisation process. Unique value increased perceived distinctiveness but demonstrated limited economic influence. Perceived value in personalised products is multidimensional but anchored primarily in functional and experiential benefits. These insights offer guidance for designers and AM practitioners by identifying value components that should inform the development of future AM-enabled personalisation tools that support meaningful and user-centred design engagement.