Shaping Perceptions
Language Design Translating Scents into Colours and Shapes: Colour's Leading Role in Synaesthesia View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Lucía Molatore
The market for scented products like perfumes and air fresheners is growing annually (Forbes, 2023). However, e-commerce platforms offer anosmic experiences, requiring users to imagine scents based on descriptions that emphasize experiences rather than the scents themselves. In a unique approach, since 2018, Universidad Anáhuac, in collaboration with Olfativa Home, has been developing images designed to evoke olfactory synaesthesia. This paper presents the key findings of our work, focusing on a method that translates scents into images with specific characteristics. Firstly, simple layouts must generate modules that allow for repetition. Secondly, the applied colour palettes must be precise. Our research focuses on the role of colour in achieving effective synaesthesia in the market. We found that simple layouts must generate modules that allow for repetition, and the applied colour palettes must be precise. Yet, the most intriguing discovery lies in how colours interact with each other. Concepts such as warm and cold only hold meaning when discussing isolated colours. When colours relate to other tones, various effects emerge—opaque and light tones, for example, can either enhance luminosity or diminish it as colours continuously influence each other. Moreover, we discovered that altering the colour palette within two equally functional shape compositions completely changes the olfactory-visual sensation. Interestingly, this effect is not reciprocal: if a colour palette remains, modifying the shapes does not impact synaesthesia.
Photographs, Home, and Space: "Objects" Evolution in Residential Interior Design View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Ziyuan Yang,
Yuji Li
Interior design is not only transcended the portrayal by professional designers to delineate a home's layout, but encompasses the influence of human interaction with space. The historical study of spatial design serves as a mirror reflecting the transformation of individuals and nations. This paper adopts a bottom-up perspective to examine the evolution of residential interior space design in China. Through the documentation of interior spaces via familial photography, the analysis delineates the morphological characteristics of domestic objects and the dynamics of their spatial relationships, thereby elucidating the paradigmatic shifts in interior design practices. Grounded in lifestyle and material culture theory, the investigation engages in interviews with 30 participants in the northern China, performing image analysis on the family photos, to discern the factors underpinning the evolution of domestic spaces. Since the 1980s, the lifestyle of the Chinese populace has been influenced by a confluence of political, economic, and cultural determinants. These transformative influences are manifest in the alteration of objects populating in the domestic spaces, manifesting as distinct area characteristics. This paper delves into the intrinsic rationale and determinants underlying the metamorphosis of objects within domestic spaces, offering an underexplored "object-centric" lens through which to comprehend the progression of modern Chinese residential interior design.
Cultural Rooted Creativity as a Manifestation of Symbols, Heroes and Rituals : The Study of Portuguese Costumes View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
João Barata,
Carolina Fadigas
Creativity depends on the interaction and reciprocity among the creator/self, one’s creativity, community, and culture as stated by Glăveanu (2010). This study advocates that cultural manifestations can be divided in several levels according to Hofstede (1983) and colleagues (2010, 1990). The costumes are designs to represent the very own cultural language and translate national symbolic manifestations. Portuguese Costumes are part of the national lexicon and major messages are understood by its community. This research analyzes the costumes/image of three heroes (Amália Rodrigues, Zé Povinho and Olivia the Boss/Olivia Seamstress), six symbols (black shawl as past, student’s black capes as future, Zé Povinho’s costume, Zé Povinho ofensive gesture, Olivia the Boss/Olivia Seamstress Denim trousers as symbol of labor, Salazar as oppression) and one ritual (Fado representing saudade and Amália).
Featured Bridging Identities: Mediating Authenticity in Nigerian Visual Design Practices View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Ashley Stewart
Nigerian visual design, rooted in traditional art forms such as Igbo Uli motifs, Yoruba Adire patterns, and Northern Nigerian geometric designs, offers a dynamic lens for exploring cultural authenticity in a globalized world. This study examines how these symbols are reimagined through modern visual communication channels like digital typography, animation, film, and social media, positioning Nigerian designers as agents of cultural preservation and innovation. Grounded in postcolonial theory, the research addresses tensions between continuity and change in global design practices. Semiotics decodes cultural narratives within visual forms, while actor-network theory (ANT) maps relationships among designers, technologies, and audiences. Visual culture theory highlights the broader role of media in shaping societal perceptions and identities. Using a qualitative methodology, the study integrates visual ethnography to document traditional and modern design practices, alongside content analysis to compare artifacts and their digital adaptations. Case studies of branding campaigns and advertisements explore practical applications of cultural motifs, while participatory workshops engage designers in co-creating digital reinterpretations of traditional art. Critical discourse analysis examines public narratives, including social media and international reception. The research advocates for an inclusive global visual grammar that respects local narratives and addresses intellectual property concerns to sustain Nigerian visual heritage. By bridging local and global identities, Nigerian designers emerge as cultural mediators, redefining universal design principles through innovative visual representations.
