“To some people, a car is a kind of extension of the self—it seems to send a message about what kind of person one is and one’s sense of values and style.†Designers have been using an understanding of sociology, anthropology and psychology to design automobiles that appeal to consumers on an emotional level…
Over at MSN Sympatico, there’s a great article about how automobiles are designed to appeal to the emotions and represent the values of their owners. Brand or product personalities are designed to appeal to the personality of the buyer (or what the buyer would like to portray).
For more on product personalities, see:
Brand Personality and Trust
Designing Emotional Software
Emotion, Arousal, Attention and Flow on Slideshare
The Personality of Apple’s Products