While product design is intrinsically linked to brand building and to the definition of luxury, consumers’ sensitivity to luxury products and to design is usually addressed separately. Yet, for optimal marketing-oriented decisions, they need to be brought together. Furthermore, while design is intrinsically linked to luxury, little research focused on its influence on the symbolic and the economic value of brands. This research specifically delves into the mechanisms behind how brand-level attitudes can be influenced by product-level sensitivity to product design. Building on the value theory, it investigates to what extent the product design enhances luxury brands value. Based on a data set collected on 125 individuals, a partial least square analysis was used. It contributes and extends literature on branding, design and luxury in three distinct ways. Firstly, this research distinguishes two antecedents of the product design that are the social and the individual drivers. Secondly, it reveals the mediating role of the product design between social and individual drivers, on one hand, and luxury brands symbolic value (through brand love and brand equity), on the other hand. Thirdly, it confirms the creation of economic value through the positive influence on willingness to pay a premium price. In terms of managerial implications, this study reveals the importance for luxury brands to develop sensory branding through product design. It especially points out the added-value of design for luxury brands’ equity, its role in fostering brand love and in increasing luxury brands turnover.

• Aurélie Hemonnet-Goujot(Aix Marseille University-IAE, France)
• Pierre Valette-Florence(Grenoble Alpes University, IAE & CERAG, France)