Nineteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Interdisciplinary design approaches have become vital in Graphic Design teaching, research, and scholarly activities in U.S. higher education. The objectives of this study are to articulate and disseminate knowledge based on my reflections on graphic design teaching, and collaborative research and scholarly activities the U.S. higher education between 2014 and 2024. Interdisciplinary design approaches can be employed by individuals and/or a team who possess different disciplines to investigate complex design situations and problems to generate advanced knowledge which is not possible to accomplish in a single discipline as well as create positive and sustainable solutions for stakeholders and participant communities. The methodologies were a mixed-methods research approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative methods in a single study and series of case studies. This involves multiple research methods for data collections, analysis, and evaluations on the effectiveness of teaching, research and scholarly activities. In this paper, multiple case studies of graphic design teaching, research, and scholarly activities are presented. Reflections and discussions of each case study are included.

Room 3 (Block H, Level 3) : 2025-02-26 11:25

Digital Enchantment

Rakshitha Raghunandan
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

This study explores how leading brands manage and execute brand activations on Roblox, focusing on strategies that enhance engagement and challenges unique to the virtual environment of the Metaverse. Using a mixed-methods approach, including case studies and interviews with developers and target audiences, the research examines the essential elements that contribute to successful brand activations. The presentation addresses critical project management challenges, such as balancing brand identity with creative possibilities within Roblox’s technical constraints and fostering community engagement to build brand loyalty. Key insights reveal how brands navigate the limitations of virtual assets, develop meaningful interactions, and adapt their brand narratives to resonate with digital-native audiences. Findings from this research provide valuable guidance for brands aiming to effectively align their strategic objectives with the dynamic and immersive potential of virtual environments like Roblox, offering practical insights into managing digital activations that support both brand goals and user experience.

Room 5 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-25 12:30

Insights into Perceived Authorship in Designer-AI Collaboration

Byungsoo Kim
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

This paper highlights teaching and research efforts aimed at exploring the integration of AI tools in design education, with a focus on perceptions of authorship in collaborative design processes. A study conducted within an AI and design workshop introduced second-year industrial design (ID) and interior architecture (IA) students to the use of AI during the idea refinement phase of their studio projects. Students utilized image prompts derived from their own work to generate AI-assisted designs, varying the level of AI influence from 0% to 100%. A survey (n=30, ID=12, IA=18) was administered to assess their perceptions of authorship at different contribution levels. The study results revealed no statistically significant differences between ID and IA students’ responses. A notable 33.3% of participants considered AI-generated outputs as their own creation up to a 50% prompt influence, while 46.4% reported comfort collaborating with AI and acknowledged its contributions. The findings underscore the importance of equipping students with the skills to effectively navigate AI collaboration, ensuring a balanced approach that values both human creativity and technological innovation.

Plenary Room (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-26 11:25

Cultural Identity

Xinxi Liu
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

In fashion, producers and consumers have long been fascinated with the differences, the 'exotic', ambiguity, and uncertainty through style-fashion dress (Tulloch, 2010; Kaiser, 2012). In the West, many designers like and are fascinated by the "exotic" brought by the difference between the Eastern culture and their local cultural codes. Some designers, through time, have been appropriating these codes without paying homage to the original culture. In this research, the author investigated the current status of cross-cultural design research in the field of fashion design, emphasizing that Italy and France, as one of the world's leading fashion design markets, occupy an essential position in the field of fashion. In addition, the researcher shows and analyzes the fashion design works produced by some famous Western designers after understanding and appreciating Chinese culture and then carries out a deeper analysis and summary relying on the framework of the Chinese clothing symbol system. The conclusions drawn can help those who do not grow up in this cultural context to understand the use of these specific regional cultural symbols in the field of fashion from the perspective of cultural appreciation, and meanwhile, provide case references for designers who want to design inspired by Chinese culture.

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Refresh

Anjali Saini
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

The COVID-19 pandemic created an increased burden on hospitals, creating problems of overcrowding and a shortage of caregivers, which directly increased 23% of the workload of nurses. “Refresh” is a project that enhances the care environment by creating in-between spaces to allow nurses to rest, maximizing the use of break time by boosting their spatial experience. The project ensures that accessibility is prioritized to allow efficiency by taking advantage of physical site strength as the old structure provides more open spaces between the block and windows opening to allow air circulation and natural lighting inside spaces. This created the possibility to integrate the outdoor spaces with indoor spaces. The transaction of space benefits the social factor by making better flexibility and balance that satisfies the time spent of the user between the departments, meets the job demand and gives more control over the environment. Using Bamboo, Jute, and concrete makes the nurse's workplace more interesting and eco-friendly. Jute net panels and bamboo frames add excitement with light and shadows. Jute is good for the environment as it absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. These materials locally sourced from Singapore not only support the economy but also reduce environmental footprint through minimized transportation. By using them, the workplace feels more connected to nature and more pleasant.

Room 3 (Block H, Level 3) : 2025-02-27 15:00

Augmented Environmental Graphics in Healthcare

Aprille Chua
Poster Session

Healthcare employees spend a significant amount of time in the workplace, and their wellbeing is often neglected. An excess of job demands and limited resources can negatively impact their physical and psychological wellbeing, ultimately affecting patient wellbeing. Research has shown that Environmental Graphic Design (EGD) or Augmented Reality (AR) technologies can improve the patient experience in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. However, no existing research has explored how these two elements – EGD and AR – might be used to enhance healthcare employees' wellbeing in this context. To address this gap, this design research has evolved into a multidisciplinary approach. By embracing cross-professional contributions, we explore a series of work recovery interventions (prototypes) that can be effectively implemented to enhance the well-being of healthcare employees in the healthcare context. This research is also relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlights the urgent need to prioritise our well-being. By focusing on the intersection of environmental design, technology, and employee wellbeing, this study aims to unlock new possibilities for enhancing healthcare employees' well-being. The findings of this study have the potential to shape the design and improvement of healthcare environments, focusing on interventions that promote work recovery and communication platforms and, ultimately create a positive work environment that benefits both employees and patients.

Room 3 (Block H, Level 3) : 2025-02-26 12:05

Bridging the Gap

Muhammad Al-Hmoud, Anna Merry
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Young adults globally are contending with profound stressors, encompassing economic adversities, occupational pressures, displacement, forced migration, food insecurity, and numerous other challenges. This paper examines individuals aged 18-24 in Jordan, specifically those enrolled in prominent private and public universities within the kingdom, delving into the nexus between design and mental health. This study explores how design methodologies and frameworks can address mental health challenges within this demographic in Jordan, with a particular focus on reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, which acts as a significant intercultural barrier to the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. The researcher collected data through implementing a mixed method approach that includes (Questionnaire, Interviews, and Focus Group). The findings of the study were categorised across various dimensions, including mental health issues, the impact on help-seeking behavior, the need for mental health awareness campaigns, preferences for visual and interactive media, the integration of cultural relevance, the importance of sustained engagement, and the promotion of early intervention. In conclusion, the study demonstrates a high level of mental health awareness among young adults aged 18 to 24. It serves as an invaluable reference for addressing the prevention and management of mental health disorders in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as upper-middle-income countries. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the potential of multimedia and digital media as essential tools for designing and implementing effective mental health campaigns.

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Enhancing Final Design Drawings

Terry Londy
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Designs begin by an idea, a curiosity, possibly seeking the answer to a complex problem though entrepreneurial direction or a client. Through the design process, creatives will develop several iterations through sketching, modeling, and prototyping to get closer to the proposed solution. As designers progress to the construction drawing phase, the solution is finalized and ready for fabrication. Early design phases, concept, and schematic specifically, are saturated with creativity and innovation by way of storytelling, renderings, and the use of tactile materials further building and expressing the need for the final design solution. Design drawings seem to lose many of the creative impactful elements when they are in the final phase for production. While earlier phases are rich in storytelling, selling or defining the innovative idea, the construction drawings are used as a tool to accurately inform the fabrication method and details of an object or structure. These drawings historically called blueprints, are monochromatic, lacking depth, and creativity. The drawings are used as a communication tool to create something beautiful while they themselves lack that quality. The study is framed around the question: “In what ways can final design drawings use storytelling, depth, and materials to illustrate a deeper connection to the final product? The study seeks to uncover the impact that a fabricated “dimensional design drawing” that is rich in color, story, and materials can bring a better connection to the final product.

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Designing for Disaster

Sukriti Singh
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

This project examines the issue of floods in metropolitan cities, focusing on their devastating impacts. Flooding is a severe event that leads to loss of life, environmental destruction, and economic disruption. According to the 2021 Global Natural Disaster Report by the National School of Security in Beijing, natural disasters claimed 10,492 lives worldwide that year, with floods accounting for the largest portion—4,393 deaths, or 41.87% of the total. In India, floods annually affect an average of 7.5 million hectares of land, claiming 1,600 lives, and causing damage to crops, homes, and public infrastructure amounting to Rs. 1,805 crores (NDMA). Floods also cause extensive damage to infrastructure, including buildings, transportation systems, and public spaces, exacerbating economic losses. Among this damage is the destruction of furniture and interior products, which often end up as debris, obstructing rescue operations. This project explores whether furniture can be designed into products that help people during disasters, rather than contributing to the debris. The central research question is: “How can we design adaptable furniture that enables people to withstand natural disasters like floods and build resilience?"

Room 5 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-27 15:00

Design Thinking in Creative Cutting to Reduce Waste and Increase Usability

Simrita Dass
Innovation Showcase

This research explores current practices within the fashion industry that are contributing to changes in the relationship between consumers and their clothing. Although there have been significant efforts towards establishing more sustainable practices, there is more that can be accomplished. Through an exploration of theoretical and practical methods of making, I argue that more informed fashion practises and habits of construction are required to initiate a shift in the way we produce and consume fashion. I propose and practice integration of design thinking at the early conceptualisation stages of garment making. I aim to provoke new ways of careful creative pattern cutting to produce outcomes that offer suitable alternatives to wasteful production, taking into consideration emotional fit, adaptability and multifunctionality. In this way, I hope to encourage more conscious garment consumption with reduced waste and increased usability.

Room 1 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-27 12:15

Bridging Identities

Ashley Stewart
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

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.

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Pursuit of Happiness in Chennai

Shwetha Raja
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

This research investigates the potential of design to foster happiness and well-being among young adults in Chennai, India, addressing the region’s low happiness levels as indicated by global reports. How can design play a role in augmenting happiness? By combining human-centered design and positive design frameworks, the study explores how carefully crafted design interventions can transform fleeting moments of happiness into long-term well-being. Drawing on historical, cultural, and psychological perspectives, the study examines the factors influencing happiness, including societal norms, mental health challenges, and environmental contexts. The methodology includes mixed methods research through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, and surveys assessing happiness levels and needs. A cultural probe kit to understand what happiness means to young adults in Chennai would also be used to collect and understand data on happiness in Chennai. The findings aim to provide actionable insights into how design can reshape behaviors, perceptions, and societal structures, contributing to a culture of happiness in Chennai. This research underscores the transformative potential of design as a tool for addressing mental health challenges and promoting holistic well-being, a fairly new concept in Chennai.

Room 6 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-26 16:05

Designing for Mental Health Through Singapore’s Cultural Lens

Saradevi Ng
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

In September 2024, Singapore revealed alarming rates of “1 in 3” young adults with symptoms of poor mental health. This news however is a recurrent trend catapulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This research investigates three key questions, how does Singapore’s cultural norms affect mental health among young adults? How can Singapore tap into cultural ways of being to heal as a collective and lastly how can a culture of care be built among young adults? Three research gaps were identified. Firstly, mental health is a western concept, with culturally different beliefs of mental health between East and West. Secondly, young adults, despite increased mental health awareness, struggle to manage their mental wellbeing. Thirdly, older generations exhibit greater adaptability compared to younger generations, prompting the potential to foster resilience through ancestral and cultural ways of wellbeing. This paper proposes a new approach to mental health through the combination of habit building and design thinking. Resilience building and design thinking shares similarities, as both processes are iterative rather than linear. Both incorporate elements of reframing challenges and coping with problems. This research aims to expand the boundaries of both design and approaches to mental wellbeing by utilising culturally appropriate, holistic approaches to mental health, in combination with design’s reiterative process. Hence, focusing on designing interventions for a more resilient and mentally healthy generation of Singapore young adults.

Room 6 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-25 12:30

Re-defining Belonging

Arundhathi Madanan
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

This research focuses on understanding and addressing sensory overload, a condition that affects up to 20% of the world’s population and is common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other sensory deficit disorders. Temple Grandin, an autism advocate, describes autism as “Seeing the world through a kaleidoscope and trying to listen to a radio station that is jammed with static at the same time. Add to that a broken volume control, which causes the volume to jump erratically from a loud boom to inaudible.” This metaphor captures the daily experience of sensory overload, which can hinder one’s independence and quality of life. In design, form and structure aren’t just about aesthetics and functionality—they reflect the relationship between the user and the product. The research aims to experience, empathize, and engage with the world of sensory overload as a furniture designer, designing a product that helps individuals navigate it safely and healthily. Adopting the SPELL (Structure, Positive, Empathy, Low Arousal, Links) framework with a design thinking approach, the research develops an experience that helps neurotypical audiences empathize with the neurodivergent community. It includes insights into autism in Singapore, the current state of inclusive spaces, sensory preferences, and conceptual prototypes through working closely with the autism community. It is about helping individuals gain control in a society that mislabels sensory disorders as defects and seeks to raise global awareness and promote inclusive design as the standard in all disciplines of design.

Room 6 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-27 16:20

The Impact of the Empathic User Experience Research Process on Design Students’ Empathy and Communication Skills

Eunmi Moon, Yoosun Kim, Jungmi Kim, Deana McDonagh
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Sustainable development in the design field requires innovation to keep pace with the evolving times. To achieve this, it is essential to understand users' needs and desires accurately and minimize unnecessary waste and consumption through sustainable design. Empathy and communication skills are the most critical competencies for designers who create sustainable, user-centered designs. Therefore, instead of solely focusing on design techniques or outcomes, developing the ability to communicate and empathize with users is essential. So, design curriculum changes are needed to prepare future design professionals adequately. Research on curriculum and teaching methods to enhance design students' empathic ability and communication skills is necessary. This study designs and implements an empathic user experience research process that emphasizes empathy and communication in design. It assesses how this process improves design students' ability to grow into future design professionals by enhancing their empathy and communication skills.

Room 1 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-27 15:00

The Role of Technology in the Construction of Social Reality in Everyday Life

Ayşe Dalyanoğlu, Ozge Merzali Celikoglu
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

In everyday life, individuals meaning their experiences and interactions within a social activity and organise their social lives. Language plays an important role as a tool in the process of objectifying individuals' experiences and constructing reality. Individuals begin the process of interpreting symbols and meanings are generated through subject-object interaction. User comments on online shopping platforms, which are frequently preferred these days, reflect the interactions and experiences of individuals with products and contain traces of everyday life. This study investigates the position of robot vacuum cleaner technology in everyday life and its effect on the construction of social reality. The role of the robot vacuum cleaner in changing the perception, way of thinking and doing housework habits on house cleaning is investigated. Based on the experiences of users, user comments about robot vacuum cleaners on the Trendyol platform are used as a data source. The data is analysed by content analysis. The method discusses the social reality reflected by robot vacuum cleaners in everyday life in a theoretical framework. As a result of the research, the experiences made meaningful by society through robot vacuum cleaners have gone through an intersubjective journey and the reality that society constructs for house cleaning in everyday life has been discovered as an objective representation. The interactions of society with each other and with technology affect the process of interpreting and meaning the product, as well as user behaviours, social norms, routines and mundanity.

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Designed BY not Designed for

Deana McDonagh, Eunmi Moon
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Focusing on the members within our communities who are often overlooked and underserved (e.g., aging and disability), can lead to a higher level of innovation for the designer. This paper discusses the newly established (dis)Ability Studio based in a traditional scientific and engineering institute, which provides a unique environment that supports individuals as contributors to knowledge rather than only research subjects. This studio supports diverse abilities and is underpinned by the goal that products, environments, services, and policies, need to be designed by rather than designed for if we acknowledge that the more typical abled-bodied designers can often miss the opportunity to integrate the 'voice' of the user. This discussion highlights an emerging design and disability community that enriches design education and design research projects. Two research projects are discussed (1) an omnidirectional hands-free self-balancing ballot chair and (2) an 'aging in place' housing system for life-long living. As a community let us go beyond the convenient sample to ensure we enable user-inspired innovation.

Plenary Room (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-26 15:45

Traceability by Design

Sheng Jin Ang
Poster Session

Used cooking oil (UCO) can be our carbon handprint, helping to reduce our carbon footprint. Transitioning to low-emission biofuels is crucial for achieving Net Zero 2050 objectives. However, gaps in traceability, ineffective UCO collection systems, and outdated sustainability practices impede genuine reductions in carbon footprints. This study examines how regenerative and traceable systems can validate biofuels while advancing sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. This research addresses critical challenges through extensive ethnographic fieldwork across the lifecycle of used cooking oil (UCO) to biofuels, gathering valuable insights from industry stakeholders, street food vendors, and UCO collectors. By integrating systems, service, and strategic design with approaches from the digital and circular economy, the study establishes a framework that optimises UCO collection, enhances transparency and traceability through innovative solutions, and encourages public participation in sustainable recycling initiatives. Applying various design frameworks reframes sustainability principles, enabling more efficient and scalable implementation. The outcome proposes a structured, transparent, and accountable UCO collection and validation system that fosters behavioural and cultural change while aligning with policy incentives, business viability, and community-driven action. By bridging technology, behavioural shifts, and industry regulations, this research illustrates how UCO can transition from waste to a regenerative energy resource, actively reducing emissions and restoring ecosystems. Ultimately, this research redefines UCO biofuels as a low-emission catalyst for net-positive environmental and social transformation, driving the shift toward a regenerative future.

Room 3 (Block H, Level 3) : 2025-02-26 12:05

Designing Child-friendly Data Collection Tools

Ganna Borzenkova
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

This paper reports on the development of a child-friendly data collection tool in the context of the Peer2Peer research project (http://peer-2-peer.co.uk/) which aims to investigate how design-based relational play can be used to encourage children with cerebral palsy, aged 7 to 10 years, to engage pro-actively in peer social interactions to support their social-emotional wellbeing. To collect relevant data about the determinants and difficulties of children’s participation in peer social interactions and making friends, we developed a child-friendly data collection tools: face-to-face questionnaire ‘Dino’ and ‘All about me’ profile pages. Both tools were developed to support and complement observations of the children, and semi-structured interviews with their parents and practitioners. Data collection took place at two special schools in the United Kingdom. ‘Dino’ questionnaire uses a narrative story about gamified virtual character – a little blue dinosaur Bella which guides children in completing the questionnaire. All the questions are connected through the storyline and prompts the children to share their own story, making children feel that they are playing with and helping the virtual character in the story rather than completing classroom tasks. For researchers, using fictional characters and storylines as a medium can help to shift roles and see issues more closely from the perspective of children with cerebral palsy, rather than imposing their own academic views and stereotypes on them. The tools contribute to the area of design for health and wellbeing and can be adopted and used by other researchers working with children with disabilities.

Room 2 (Block F, Level 2) : 2025-02-26 16:05

Osmotic Sensoria - a Neurodiverse Learning Space

Gigi Polo
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

In the ever-changing landscape of technology, young generations navigate the complexities of a technological world, it is imperative that we, the educators, understand the conditions that foster enriched learning environments that are truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive. As new technologies emerge, like MixReality, the Metaverse, and AI, we need to reshape the educational paradigm. Despite innovations and efforts to embrace different ways of thinking and creating, the Industrial Revolution model still stands as the norm. There is a pressing need for a paradigm shift, particularly in the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion, where neurodiverse learners often find themselves marginalized in traditional learning spaces. To contest the status quo, my project, Osmotic Sensoria, is a pop-up installation that explores ways to naturally, and organically, stimulate brain learning systems—neurodivergent and neurotypicals alike—through an immersive experience where multiple participants engage in guided play, kinetic learning, and multisensory stimulation (oral narrative, visual projections, and other) to enhance cognitive flexibility and creative thinking. Grounded in principles of human-centered design and informed by research in educational models and cognitive neuroscience, Osmotic Sensoria serves as a design-led research artifact—a living laboratory—that collects people’s group learning experience to open discourse about the future of education as it relates to neurodiversity within a DEI model.

Room 3 (Block H, Level 3) : 2025-02-26 16:05

Towards Hybridity

Felix Sng
Poster Session

In an era of rapidly evolving digital ecosystems, this research explores emerging design opportunities at the intersection of mixed reality, blockchain, and decentralisation. Through a speculative design lens, it examines how these convergent technologies reshape our interactions with objects and environments by extending physical-digital affordances. Practice-based experiments and prototypes reveal new ways of blending tangible and virtual realms, challenging existing notions of ownership, materiality, and creative engagement. By integrating immersive media, blockchain systems, and hybrid objects, the work demonstrates how designers might build multi-dimensional experiences for digitally native communities. In exploring these synergies, the research also considers how ephemeral digital content can inform lasting, tangible experiences, emphasising new modes of user engagement while contextualising these technological advancements within broader speculative design frameworks.

Room 7 (Posters - Block F, Level 1) : 2025-02-26 12:05

Volumisation as a Methodology

Darius Ou
Poster Session

3D printing has revolutionised various design disciplines such as product, fashion, and industrial design. However, its impact on graphic design remains largely unexplored. Despite the component word “print” in 3D-printing and graphic design’s pedigree in print, both fields have seemingly no direct involvement or overlap in development. This presents a unique opportunity to explore innovations in both fields, whether by reimagining the 3D printer as a printing press or integrating graphic design’s print-craft sensibilities into additive manufacturing. This paper investigates methods that reveal parallels between object-making and mark-making workflows, while also exploring how these seemingly orthogonal approaches can converge within a unified framework. It presents various experimental methods and strategies that interrogate the dimensional-biases associated with various design disciplines and expand the notion of "print" in relation to additive manufacturing.

Room 3 (Block H, Level 3) : 2025-02-26 12:05

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