28 Emotional Value-Oriented Derivative Design of ACG IP Peripherals: A Narrative-Symbol-Emotion Translation Model

Abstract

The global ACG derivative market, projected to exceed ¥280 billion by 2024[2], reflects a paradigm shift from commodity consumption to emotional value co-creation. Existing design frameworks (e.g., Norman’s tripartite model[7]) fail to address the systematic translation of narrative-driven emotional valence into tangible product semantics, resulting in superficial symbol replication and diminished user engagement.
This study introduces the Narrative-Symbol-Emotion (NSA) Translation Model, validated through a mixed-methods design centered on Arknights—a narrative-rich mobile game featuring the tragic Oripathylore. Key innovations include: A three-stage translation framework mapping IP narratives to product functionalities(e.g., "gradual loss" → time-unlocking mechanisms); Empirical validation of material-emotion correlations(e.g., flocking ABS yielding 6.1/7 companionship scores); Development of Layered Emotional Prototyping methodology integrating HRV and UCLA loneliness metrics. Findings reveal that tactile-affinitive materials and narrative-aligned interactions significantly amplify emotional resonance. Notably, the Weather-Linked Storage Boxreduced loneliness scores by 18.2% over 2-week usage (p=0.012). This research establishes a theoretical foundation for narrative-centric IP derivatives and provides actionable design heuristics for emotional value engineering.