Current Research and Application Status of Mental Models in the Field of Design in China: A Literature-Based Approach

Objective: This study comprehensively analyzes the current status and overall characteristics of the application of mental models in the field of Chinese design literature. Methods: Design-related literature incorporating mental model applications, indexed by CNKI, served as the data source. Scientific literature visualization tools, VOSviewer and CiteSpace, were employed. A scientific knowledge map was constructed, visualizing aspects such as the distribution of literature by year, research institutions, authors, and keyword clusters to reveal the research trends. Conclusion: Research findings indicate an overall increasing trend in literature within the scope of this study. Leading institutions in engineering and management dominate the application of mental models in the field of Chinese design. Research focuses primarily on user satisfaction, needs, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), user experience, service design, and product design. Highly cited papers form the primary knowledge base, linking a significant portion of the research. Future development trends include cultural and creative design, CMF design, as well as the analysis of personalized and differentiated user demands. However, current research faces limitations such as a lack of apparent methodological innovation, limited research collaboration, and a scarcity of highly productive authors.