An Integrated KANO–AHP–DEMATEL–VIKOR Framework for Sustainable Design Decision Evaluation of Museum Cultural and Creative Products

Museums widely regard cultural and creative products as both a major revenue stream and a means of revitalizing in-house cultural resources. However, traditional decision-making systems for Museum Cultural Creative Products (MCCP) design largely depend on subjective judgments, leading to inefficiency, resource waste, and weak market performance. To address these challenges and support sustainable design decision-making, this study proposes an integrated “KANO–AHP–DEMATEL–VIKOR” framework that combines qualitative and quantitative methods. First, consumer requirements are elicited through questionnaire-based interviews and literature review; the KANO model identifies key user needs, AHP determines their relative weights, and DEMATEL analyzes causal relationships among criteria. By integrating these results, the VIKOR method evaluates and ranks alternative designs, forming a comprehensive multi-criteria optimization process. To validate the framework, an empirical case of the Palace Museum’s refrigerator magnets is conducted, comparing computed rankings with actual sales data to verify predictive validity. The small discrepancy between the two indicates that the model effectively forecasts consumer acceptance across design alternatives. The major innovation of this research lies in its cross-method integration that bridges user perception analysis with quantitative sustainability evaluation, offering a replicable tool for early-stage decision-making of museum creative products. Accordingly, the framework enhances design efficiency, reduces evaluation subjectivity, and contributes to the economic and environmental sustainability of Museum Cultural Creative Products.