Shaping digital luxury perception: The impact of curvature in website design

Abstract

Design-oriented studies play a pivotal role in shaping the future of hospitality, as they directly influence guest experience, operational efficiency, and even brand identity. This research pioneers the exploration of how font and corner curvature—two indispensable elements of website graphic design—affect the perception of luxury in digital branding through hedonic values and readability. Utilizing a mock-up luxury hotel website, we examined the effects of corner and font curvature through an experiment with 182 participants. The results show that: 1) both rounded corners and fonts increase the site's hedonic value, 2) rounded fonts improve readability, 3) hedonic value and readability significantly enhance luxury perception, and 4) sharp corners improve luxury perception. We recommend a combination of sharp corners and rounded fonts for luxury hotels, as sharp corners enhance luxury perception while rounded fonts improve readability and hedonic values. This approach balances brand identity with functionality and digital pleasure.