Arts and Humanities Commons^™

As A Strategic Tool, How Can Design Revitalize Local Brands And Regional Economies?, Chi-Pin Su, Chang Yi, Wei-Jyun Chen, Hsin-Pei Tsai, Shu-Ting Ai

IASDR Conference Series

Focusing on the T22 Revitalizing Local Industry via Design Program in Yingge, this study explores how design, as a strategic tool, can engage with traditional ceramic industry clusters and address industrial decline and gaps in local governance. Through a practice-based and participatory design approach, the project developed rebranding, knowledge building, spatial transformation, cross-sector collaboration, and platform creation. The social impact was assessed through the B4SI framework. From 2019 to 2024, the project facilitated 44 design collaborations, developed 44 local talents, and drew over 57,000 participations to on-site activities. The Pottsware Yinggooo was established as a local governance platform. The findings …

Beyond Active And Passive: A "Middle-Voice" Human–Ai Collaboration Framework For Enhancing Creativity Through Interdisciplinary Workshops, Yo Tomura, Toshikatsu Kiuchi, Taisei Saito, Ayano Suzuki, Shinjiro Machida, Chie Fukada, Tomohisa Norisuye, Toshimichi Ohmura, Yasuko Kato, Kazutoshi Tsuda

IASDR Conference Series

The recent surge of generative AI has accelerated arguments on whether it can facilitate and hamper creative thought processes. In this work, we explore a framework for human–AI co-creativity within a closed academic community. We designed a multi-session interdisciplinary workshop in which university researchers created a custom GPT-based conversational assistant collaboratively and had guided interactions with the assistant. In these workshops, we presented a novel "middle-voice" (chūdō-teki in Japanese) co-creation methodology, where AI was placed on an equal footing as a co- creator, not as a tool nor as a source of wisdom. We also gathered qualitative data on how …

Investigating The Usage Of Generative Ai In Design Education: Bridging University Policies And Student Practices, Lujin Mao, Ziyue Tang, Mengyao Qi, Jeffrey C. F. Ho, Gerhard Bruyns, Kun-Pyo Lee, Zhibin Zhou

IASDR Conference Series

Generative AI (GenAI) is reshaping design education, leading to the emergence of new university policies and evolving student practices. This study offers a comparative review of 17 institutional policies and 38 empirical studies on design students’ engagement with GenAI. Using inductive analysis, we developed a synthesized set of themes that capture both regulatory guidance and practical usage. Our findings indicate that while institutional policies emphasize responsible use, general-purpose recommendations, and abstract competency aims, student practices are characterized by situated judgment, iterative workflows, and profession-oriented skill development. These contrasts point to areas where institutional frameworks may fall short in addressing the …

Empathy In The Headset: Exploring Affective Computing Through Ai In Virtual Reality, Po-Wei Chiu, Tiburcio Schöniger, Chris Wu

IASDR Conference Series

Advancements in affective computing highlight the growing potential of virtual reality (VR)–based conversational agents to provide emotional support during distressing experiences. This pilot study employed a convergent mixed-methods design to examine how a VR-based empathetic agent influences users’ emotional states, perceived empathy, and trust after recalling negative personal memories. Five participants completed an emotion-induction task followed by a 15-minute supportive dialogue with an AI agent in an immersive VR environment. Quantitative measures indicated general mood improvement with a slight rise in tension, likely reflecting residual arousal rather than discomfort with the agent. Qualitative analysis identified three key themes: technical friction …

Connecting Generations With Asynchronous Messages: Designing Objects For Intergenerational, Asynchronous Communication, Yuliy Sobol, Ev Licht, Fabian Hemmert, Helene Wicht, Tobias Möller-Lindenhoff

IASDR Conference Series

In today's globalised and technologically advanced world, differences in technical skills and communication preferences between the different generations can make interactions between them challenging. This paper explores the design of products that facilitate joyful, asynchronous communication between different age groups, with a focus on fostering emotional presence and connection despite physical distance. Two speculative design artifacts for communication were developed and tested by design students as part of a semester project. Our observations indicate that designs for effective intergenerational communication should include surprising and playful elements, promote familiarity and intimacy while considering the physical and social context of the users. …

No Data, No Time: Designing For Healthcare Using Proxy Datasets And Micro‐Workshops With Clinicians, Mihnea Stefan Calota, Janetyi‐Ching Huang

IASDR Conference Series

Designing for healthcare is uniquely challenging when designers have limited access to data and clinicians have little time to engage in the design process. In this work, we reflect on our experiences as design researchers working in Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) to offer practical tactics for overcoming these constraints. We present a case study demonstrating a rapid, iterative approach that leverages open‐source proxy data and remote micro‐workshops with clinicians. This method allows us to derive meaningful in‐ sights without requiring extensive healthcare datasets or prolonged clinician engagement. From our pro‐ cess, we extract key lessons to guide designers seeking to …

Exploring Design Opportunities For Positive User Experiences With House Plants In The Context Of Smart Technologies, Choeun Park, Chajoong Kim, James Andrew Self

IASDR Conference Series

This study aims to explore how emerging smart technologies such as IoT, autonomous devices and mobility systems can be integrated into house plants to facilitate positive emotions as an affective product. Through semi-structured interviews with fifteen young adults (aged 20–30) in South Korea, we collected their positive and negative experiences of plant care. To examine the influence of positive emotion in house plants, we adopted the theoretical framework of positive experiences and thematic ally coded the data according to three different constructs: Object (aesthetic value), Instrument (usability), and Enabler (self-identity and relational value). The results revealed that experiences as an …

A Pseudo-Haptic Approach To Alleviate Cognitive Fatigue In Virtual Reality Strength Training, Rintaro Ichida, Yuuta Tanaka, Naoto Yoshida

IASDR Conference Series

We investigated two pseudo-haptic feedback techniques for virtual reality (VR) strength training aimed at modulating perceived weight and cognitive fatigue. Both methods visually amplified the motion of a real dumbbell relative to users’ physical movement: a nonlinear transformation that preserved spatial alignment at the start and end of each motion, and a constant gain that uniformly scaled displacement without endpoint consistency. Experimental results showed that the constant gain approach led to greater reductions in perceived weight compared to the nonlinear method, particularly during the early stages of training, while the nonlinear method had only marginal effects. The constant gain technique …

Development Of A Breath-Synchronized Interactive Device For Sensory Rooms, Rina Katsube, Toshiaki Uchiyama, Shinichi Koyama

IASDR Conference Series

A sensory room is a space where people with symptoms of sensory hypersensitivity can temporarily rest and escape from stimuli such as sound and light. This study aims to increase the relaxation effect in sensory rooms by developing an interactive device that operates in synchronization with the user's breathing. A non-contact breath estimation using an RGB-Depth camera sensor, the system transforms physical structures in accordance with the user's breath. The device applies biofeedback technology that utilizes biometric information to the sensory room environment to achieve real-time optimization based on the physiological state of the individual user. The device was evaluated …

Making Sense Of Transdisciplinary Sensemaking Of Behavioral And Engine Data In Production Print, Arganka Yahya, Fred De Jong, Lin-Lin Chen, Mathias Funk

IASDR Conference Series

Understanding operator practices in high-tech environments is critical, not only for improving product and workflow, but also as a design challenge. While these environments collect wealth of data, it is insufficient to understand the practice of operators. We present a research prototype that enhances engine data with operator movement data to facilitate sensemaking of operator practices. Through a transdisciplinary sensemaking session with R&D professionals, we investigated how experts perceive the prototype to make sense of the combined data. Analysis was grounded on Data/Frame Theory of Sensemaking to suggest implications on data, design, and expert sensemaking process. Results show that experts …

Attuned Design Practice: A Design Vocabulary For Embodied Knowing, Anne Marleen Olthof, Jouke Verlinden, Somaya Ben Allouch

IASDR Conference Series

This poster introduces Attuned Design Practice (ADP), a concept that examines how design practice can be used to interpret and articulate alternative understandings of studying human-computer relationships, by prior it ising ‘embodied knowing’ as an alternative design vocabulary. We shortly introduce the current state of scientific research in general, explain the notion of ‘attunement’, and show an existing framework that has inspired us to start an eighteen-months field study of body-based inquiry in the domains of Design, Art and Technology. In our field study, we have explored developmental paths of scientific and artistic inquiry towards constructing embodied knowledge, and have …

Kawaii As Interface Grammar: Reframing Emotional Design In Post-Usability Cultures, Haopeng Wu, Mia Tanio, Wonseok Yang

IASDR Conference Series

In the context of post-usability cultures, where users increasingly seek emotional resonance over mere functionality, this study explores the potential of kawaii as a communicative grammar in interface icon design. Adopting a three-phase methodology— (1) UI audit of 31 mobile applications, (2) metaphor extraction across 101 apps to identify dominant icon types, and (3) an evaluation experiment involving 21 participants rating 12 heart-shaped icon stimuli—this research investigates how subtle visual modifications along three design axes (stroke thickness, curvature and fullness, spatial balance) influence users’ kawaii perception. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) revealed that moderately thick, rounded, and slightly imbalanced forms tend to …

Designing Co-Creation Tools For Interdisciplinary Design Thinking Education, Sooyeon Leem, Hyelin Ko

IASDR Conference Series

Interdisciplinary design thinking education often faces challenges in communication, problem framing, and team alignment, especially under flipped-classroom models. This paper introduces DThinkLab, a structured visual collaboration tool designed to support grounding, clarification, and reflection in team- based design thinking projects. Drawing from prior research and user interviews, the tool integrates step-based templates, role-based contributions, and AI-driven prompts to scaffold reasoning and mutual understanding. A planned pilot in university-level courses will test its effectiveness in addressing communication gaps and supporting educator facilitation.

Semantic Sonification Of Visual Art: Translating Contextual Information Into Structured Musical Layers For Multisensory Exhibition Experiences, Chunjing Xin, Juan Carlos Chacon Quintero, Hisa Maria Martinez Nimi

IASDR Conference Series

This research explores the potential of semantic sonification as a method to enhance the interpretation of abstract visual art in exhibition contexts. By translating contextual elements—such as historical background, artistic intent, and socio-political context—into structured musical layers, the study investigates whether system-generated music can support meaning-making and emotional engagement among viewers. A custom interactive system was developed to capture visual artworks, analyze their semantic attributes using AI, and generate short musical pieces that evolve in complexity based on user interaction. The study contributes to the field of multisensory exhibition design by proposing a sonification-based approach to enhance art accessibility and …

Circu.Ai: Accelerating Circular Product Design And Material Decision-Making, Ya-Han Li, Yu-Hsuan Wu, Chia-Chen Hu

IASDR Conference Series

Amid global sustainability trends and regulatory pressures, designers require more efficient and credible tools for circular material selection in early-stage product development. Current data sources are fragmented and lack transparency, impeding contextual recommendations and appearance evaluations, which creates a critical bottleneck in implementing circular design. To address this pain point, this study proposes a material selection support prototype that integrates generative AI recommendations with visual simulation. Adopting a three-phase Research-Through-Design (RTD) methodology, we have completed Phase 1. A core functional prototype was developed for preliminary concept validation at an international trade show, where we collected valuable feedback from designers and …

Companion Practice In Between Dogs And Owners; Co-Designing Urine Marking In Urban Space, Oh Hirano, Hinako Makita, Nanako Okusa, Hiroya Tanaka

IASDR Conference Series

Dog marking behavior in urban spaces is problematized as a factor causing corrosion of public property and soil damage. Conventionally, various solutions have been considered for this problem, including the application of repellents and water-flushable toilets for dogs, but all have remained human- centered approaches, consequently reducing dogs' place in urban space. Through four phases of prototyping, this study developed the "Dog-Pee Spot" a product that attracts and aggregates dog marking behavior. The prototyping process revealed complex dog agency where social behavioral patterns of dogs in outdoor spaces intersect with becoming-with owners connected through leashes. Furthermore, in Co-Design practice that …

Analysing Visitor Behaviour In Interactive Immersive Art Experiences And Exploring Their Potential In Art And Design History Education, Srutinwita Roy, Saurabh Tewari, Rana Shinde

IASDR Conference Series

This paper presents a first-hand account of an immersive, interactive exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s works. Unlike traditional museum visits, this exhibit featured touch-sensitive walls and multi-sensory engagement, making it highly interactive and captivating. Alongside Da Vinci’s artworks, his design prototypes were displayed, offering a comprehensive view of his creativity. Visitors across age groups engaged enthusiastically, with children and young adults particularly drawn to the dynamic presentation. The author uses participatory observation method to study visitor behaviour, focusing on interactions, engagement, and interest levels. Findings suggest that such formats can serve as powerful pedagogical tools in Art and Design history …

Innovating The Electoral Experience: A Public Service Design Study Of Taiwan's Electoral System, Mu-En Lin, Li-Ning Huang, Chih-Lu Lin, Junyu Chen, Nai-Wen Fan, Shu-Ting Ai, Chi-Yi Chang

IASDR Conference Series

This study adopts a public service design perspective to address the lack of professional design involvement in Taiwan’s election system. Within the constraints of existing laws and administrative procedures, the research proposes feasible, immediately applicable optimization strategies. Through cross-sector collaboration with the Central Election Commission, the study focuses on key voter-facing elements—such as election bulletins, polling station signage, and voting booths—introducing standardized, templated, and modular designs to resolve systemic issues like visual clutter and operational inefficiency. Using methods including user journey analysis, institutional research, and prototype testing, the project combines SOP guidelines and digital tools to improve information clarity and …

Research On The Immersive Experience Design Of Intangible Cultural Heritage Dance Based On Body Schema Theory, Wensi Dai, Yan Shuo

IASDR Conference Series

This study explores immersive experience design for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) dance based on Body Schema Theory. By analyzing the triadic elements of body schema— corporeal subject, active space, and bodily imagery—we establish a theoretical framework for enhancing ICH dance transmission through digital immersion. Three design methodologies are proposed: coexistence of real-virtual dance bodies, construction of body- field interactive dance spaces, and reconstruction of inner cultural order. These approaches address challenges of homogenized symbol interpretation and low audience engagement by integrating multisensory feedback, physiological signal mapping, and culturally embedded narrative interaction. Case studies demonstrate how bodily perception and spatial dynamics …

Investigating The Application Potential Of Smart Wearable Technology In Craft Practical Instruction, Tzu-Hsu Chiu, Chen-Kuei Fan

IASDR Conference Series

Practical teaching, widely used in vocational education, faces challenges such as blocked views for rear students and reversed perspectives causing misunderstandings. With technological progress, smart glasses offer new possibilities for teaching. This study explored the potential of integrating smart glasses into craft practical teaching, focusing on jewelry and pottery. Conducted in two stages, it involved classroom observations and interviews, followed by teaching experiments evaluated via student questionnaires and teacher interviews. Findings revealed issues like obstructed views and reversed angles. Results showed that: 1. smart glasses’ first-person projections improved visibility; 2. recorded videos supported student review. However, teachers and students noted …

Avian Experience In Urban Grotto: Ecological Soundscapes As A Biosemiotic Methodology In Multispecies Ethnographic Research And More-Than-Human Communication, Qingyu Zhang, Francesca Valsecchi

IASDR Conference Series

Ecological soundscapes, once primarily regarded as carriers of environmental information, are increasingly understood as immersive, embodied experiences that offer experiential and ontological access to more-than-human worlds. Situated within the framework of more-than-human design, this research challenges anthropocentric paradigms by foregrounding ecological soundscapes as dynamic, sentient agencies that convey environmental meaning and social structures among non-human species. Through field-based, autoethnographic inquiry on crow vocal is ation in Vienna, the project 1) articulates a hybrid methodological approach combining deep listening, soundscape walks, and bio acoustic analysis; and 2) establishes a sonification process that translates the data from the multispecies ethnographic research into …

The Choreography Of Sympoiesis: A Speculative Design To Reshape Modern Equestrian Concepts, Heyu Shao

IASDR Conference Series

This study explores the interactive relationship between humans and horses in equestrian practice, proposing that through long-term coexistence and riding, humans are not only tamers but are also shaped by horses. Using speculative design, the author created two new equestrian devices—the “Sym- Bridle” and the “WaveSync Saddle”—to visualize and amplify the subtle flows of force and sensory feedback between rider and horse. These works challenge the notion of one-way control, reframing riding as a process of mutual adjustment and embodied dialogue. Building on this, the author introduces the post-human figure “Equiarch”, imagining the bodily, behavioral, and cognitive transformations emerging from …

Ar-Based Community Public Art Design: A Public Participation Perspective, Zane Liu, Tuotuo Yang, Xiaon Ma

IASDR Conference Series

This study investigates the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) into community public art, focusing on both public participation experience and outcomes. A model based on Intrinsic Motivation (IM), Participation Efficacy (PE), and Positive Group Affect (PGA) is tested via SEM to identify key factors influencing engagement and inform design strategies. Hands-on community workshops validate the model’s applicability, while an AHP–TOPSIS framework evaluates and ranks three co-created design proposals. The research provides a public-centered, media-adaptive approach for supporting and enhancing public participation in community art.

Using Midjourney For Ultra-Personalization Of Workwear With Multiple Self-Expressions – Exploring Opportunities And Risks, Svetlana Mironcika, Joep Frens, Kristina Andersen, Stephan Wensveen

IASDR Conference Series

Many wearable products are mass-personalized based on user data and produced through digital fabrication. This approach is known as ultra-personalization. Earlier work on ultra-personalization rarely discusses the perceived opportunities and risks associated with the practice or tools that allow future users to engage in the design process. This project explores the use of Midjourney (generative AI tool) in ultra-personalization for style and the design of garments that embody multiple self- expressions in the context of workwear. Study participants (five future wearers, two fashion designers, a lab manager, and a digital fabrication specialist) iteratively designed workwear with the help of Midjourney. …

A Study On Design Expression Methods Of The Traditional Japanese Aesthetic Concept "Sabi", Sugimoto Yoshitaka, Tanaka Saki, Tanaka Kanai, Iioka Yukiko

IASDR Conference Series

The purpose of this study is to derive effective design methods for expressing “Sabi,” one of the traditional aesthetic principles of Japan, within the context of contemporary industrial product design, including both appearance and user interface (UI). To achieve this goal, the study extracted 277 visual characteristics representing “Sabi” from traditional Japanese tea utensils. These characteristics were then systematically compared with 392 statements and behavioral records of the artisans who created the utensils, in order to infer their aesthetic intentions. As a result, five core expression features— “miniaturized,” “linear,” “technical,” “delicate,” and “vivid”—were identified. Furthermore, 14 concrete design techniques for …

A Burlesque: The Shimmering Body Of Revealing, Lola Montgomery

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

A Burlesque: The Shimmer Manuscript is a hybrid critical–creative work that examines burlesque as an embodied methodology and a mode of knowledge production. Drawing from my two decades as a performer–scholar, the work reframes glamour, desire, and adornment as epistemological practices rather than theatrical ornamentation. The project is significant in that it expands understandings of performance studies, autotheory, and feminist aesthetics by foregrounding the performer’s body as an intelligent, sensing, world-making apparatus.

The methodology is creative practice research and archive-driven, integrating backstage documentation, AI-assisted photomontage, and theoretical reflection. The work draws from poststructuralist and feminist frameworks (Irigaray, Deleuze & Guattari, …

Subculture And Identity As An Escape From The Societal Norms Of Power Imbalance And Authoritative Abuse, Sarah Goldberg

Bachelor of Fine Arts Theses

No abstract provided.

Overflowing: A Visual Memoir, Margaret Gonzalez

Honors Projects

My collection, Overflowing: A Visual Memoir, is a series of mixed-media collages bound into a book, depicting formative experiences that have shaped who I am during my time at Grand Valley State University. They are an autobiographical exploration of self-discovery, expression, gratitude, and turbulence. I fell in love with the art of collage after creating a piece inspired by Hanna Höch for my History of Photography class. Since then, I have continued making collages. I haven’t gotten to take many art classes at Grand Valley, but creating has always been a constant in my life. So, I wanted to culminate …

Recall, Sadie Almand, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

LAURIE WHITEHILL PURCHASE PRIZE | $375 Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.

21st Cent., Archival, (East) Asian, Authentic-(Chinese)-American, Calligraphic Scroll, 074326827-Chdkjl, Karen Hu, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.