Aesthetic Design Research Articles

An Analytical Study on the Interface Design of Mobile Shopping Application Based on Regional Cultural Design Elements

Regional cultural design elements are specific geographic cultures that are considered and integrated into the design of a product, service, or experience. These elements include values, beliefs, traditions, symbols, languages, aesthetic standards, and social habits. In mobile shopping application interface design, regional cultural elements can enhance the aesthetic feeling and enrich the design connotation. Designers should be based on the traditional Chinese regional culture background to create an interface aesthetic design that meets modern cultural needs, which is the key to attracting users to mobile shopping apps in the future.

Modern Clothing Design and Clothing Culture Communication Strategy Based on the Classical Network Model

Abstract At present, with the strengthening of China’s economic and cultural strength, “Chinese culture” is widely sought after. Therefore, incorporating cultural elements into clothing design can promote the spread of Chinese clothing culture. This paper proposes a classical network model based on the Internet’s background. A modal communication model of the culturalization process is built on this basis to combine the Internet and the network model. The survey and analysis of the effects of clothing culture on comfort and aesthetics of clothing design are being conducted. Consumers have a positive and active attitude towards clothing culture, with 3625 out of 7563 sample comments supporting the communication of clothing culture in the communication effect. The comfort of clothing is a top priority for 139 people when it comes to clothing design. Therefore, the aspect of comfort should be emphasized in clothing design, and the dissemination of clothing culture should be strengthened at the same time.

An Exploration of Augmented Reality User Interface Design for the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery Mobile Application

The main aim of this research is to develop a mobile application that features augmented reality (AR) functions in order to enhance the visitor experience at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery at the University of Leeds. Data for this study were collected using different questionnaire surveys, applying quantitative research methods to the survey results. This study is unable to encompass the entire range of theories concerned with interaction design. The reader should bear in mind that the study is grounded in user-centric principles. It is found that young audiences account for the majority of users who demonstrated positive reactions to augmented reality app technology. This demographic of users pay more attention to the entertainment value offered in interactive interfaces as well as the aesthetics of design. Although such users have not used the gallery’s AR app, they have high expectations for this project. Many substantive suggestions are put forward throughout the iterative design process. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the field of AR as well as human-computer interactions more widely. The findings offer further important contributions to the field of interactive experience.

The Role of Product Engineering Modelling in Aesthetic Design Education

By progressively embracing the general principles of integrated, parametric, interdisciplinary design that considers the manufacturing elements of the imagined product, the modern aesthetic designer is called upon to broaden their knowledge and abilities. Especially when there is a need to produce complex shapes, when cost-effective, there are also numerous 3D printing technologies available today, to be used both in the conceptual phase (prototyping) and for actual production. The present paper aims to propose a discussion on the role of product engineering modelling in aesthetic design education. The progress of new 3D parametric modelling tools available to aesthetic designers is discussed, with a focus on the most cutting-edge features that have been released recently. The importance of parametric design education in general and the positive effects its application can have in the design process will also be discussed.

Effect of different surface and heat treatments on the surface roughness, crystallography, and phase composition of high translucency zirconia for monolithic restorations

Statement of problemHigh translucency zirconia (HTZ) has gained popularity as an esthetic computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) material for monolithic restorations. A detailed comparison between different common surface and heat treatments with a non-treated HTZ control to explain the behavior of the material under stress is lacking. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different surface and heat treatments on the surface roughness parameters (SRPs), topography, crystallography, and phase composition of HTZ used for monolithic restorations. Material and methodsNinety Ø11.9×1.18-mm HTZ disks (Prettau Anterior) were milled, sintered, and distributed into 9 groups (n=10); 8 experimental (coarse diamond grinding GC, fine diamond grinding GF, fine diamond grinding and 3-step polishing kit GF+P1, fine diamond grinding and 3-step polishing kit and diamond paste GF+P1+DP, fine diamond grinding and 2-step polishing kit GF+P2, fine diamond grinding and GF+Gl, fine diamond grinding and 3-step polishing and glazing GF+P1+Gl, airborne-particle abrasion with 50-µm alumina), and a control group (C, as-sintered). SRPs (AveSa, AveSv, AveSz) and 3-dimensional (3D) images were obtained using a noncontact 3D-optic-profilometer. The crystal structure was determined with scanning electron microscopy. Phase composition was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Surface roughness parameters data were statistically analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test (α=.05). ResultsThe applied surface and heat treatment resulted in significantly different SRP mean values (P<.001) with different topographies. GC had the highest AveSa, AveSv, and AveSz mean values (0.95, 8.8, 17.4 µm, respectively) with significant microcracks. GF had significantly lower SRP with finer microcracks. GF+P1 had a significantly smoother surface, but GF+P2 resulted in SRP comparable with the GF group. GF+P1+DP had the smoothest homogenous surface (mean Sa: 0.08 µm). GF+P1 and GF+GL were equally effective, while GF+P1+GL was not superior. Airborne-particle abrasion produced a low Sa mean value (0.11 µm) with relatively high Sv and Sz mean values (5.9, 9.2 µm, respectively) and microcracks. A monoclinic phase was detected in all groups. All experimental groups had broadened XRD-peaks with lower intensity, suggesting the presence of the rhombohedral phase. ConclusionsThe different surface and heat treatments altered the HTZ crystals and their surface roughness with distinct topographies. Cubic crystal changes take place under stress as shown by the scanning electron microscope and the XRD diffraction pattern and may transform to the rhombohedral phase.

About the Need for a More Adequate Way to Get an Understanding of the Experiencing of Aesthetic Items.

We live in times when neuroscientific methods have become standard methods that many researchers can easily use. While this offers excellent opportunities to understand brain activities linked with aesthetic processing, we face the problem of using sophisticated techniques without a proper and valid theoretical foundation of aesthetics. A further problem arises from sophisticated methods often demanding strict constraints in presenting and experiencing aesthetic stimuli. However, when experiencing aesthetic items, contextual factors matter, e.g., social and situational affordances are essential in triggering a true and deep "Kunsterlebnis" (Experience of Art). Additionally, in Art, it is often not the artwork as an object that matters but the close relationship with and the processing of the artwork. However, art is only one facet of the whole aesthetic domain, beside, e.g., design, architecture, everyday aesthetics, dance, literature, music, and opera. In the present paper, I propose a dynamic and holistic aesthetic perspective that includes the respective context, situation, cognitive and affective traits and state of the beholder, ongoing processes of understanding, Zeitgeist, and other cultural factors, which can be applied to different aesthetic domains. When ignoring such temporal and dynamic factors, we will not understand the qualia of aesthetic processing. These considerations might help researchers in the field of aesthetics to better understand the experiencing of aesthetic items of all kinds-if we ignore these factors, we are missing the essence of experiencing aesthetic items, especially artworks. We aim to sensitize and inform readers about these ideas to inspire a deeper understanding of experiencing aesthetic items and the advancement of a theoretical framework addressing the experiencing of aesthetics from different domains.

Integration strategy of folk art elements in art design based on fuzzy numerical analysis method

Abstract This paper utilizes the fuzzy numerical analysis method to display the customary activities using rich artistic elements and stylistic changes so that the value and quality of the works can be significantly improved. Folk art influences are divided by nature, adjacent structure weights are estimated, the scale of matrix elements is evaluated, and the art design vector is adjusted. Comprehensively evaluate and assign art design factors, establish the fusion judgment set and fuzzy evaluation matrix, and complete the research on the fusion of folk art elements and art design by adopting the principle of maximum affiliation. According to fuzzy numerical analysis, the fusion score is 0.9, the overall art design aesthetics is improved, and the fusion effect is better.

“It Brings the Good Vibes”: Exploring Biomorphic Aesthetics in the Design of Soft Personal Robots

The flexible bodies of soft robots provide exciting new possibilities for interaction with humans. In this paper, we propose a novel design paradigm, Soft Biomorphism, for soft robots centered on the idea of amplifying their inherent biomorphic aesthetic qualities and activating these as affordances for human interaction. Following this approach, we developed a set of biomorphic soft robotic prototypes and conducted two studies to understand the effects of biomorphic design aesthetics on people’s impressions of these prototypes. Based on qualitative data collected through five workshop sessions, the first exploratory study (n = 10) sought to investigate the envisioned uses and types of interactions that prototypes elicited within the context of personal robots. We found that various uses were considered and that most participants associated the biomorphic aesthetic design with soft robots contributing to emotional and physical well-being. Building on these results, we conducted a second study (n = 32) to investigate if soft robots with enhanced biomorphic qualities are perceived as more appealing and appropriate for physical human–robot interaction aimed at supporting well-being. We did not find any statistically significant preference for biomorphic soft robots. However, we found statistically significant differences in appeal ratings post-interaction for some prototypes, suggesting that physical interaction with soft robots can impact the perceived appeal. Based on our findings, we highlight key issues to bear in mind when considering biomorphic aesthetics in soft personal robot designs and provide tentative design recommendations to combine biomorphic and geometric elements and align visual appearance, tactility, and movement in future robot designs.

Establishing the New York Hippodrome as an Intrinsically ‘American’ Entertainment Venue Through Publicity &amp; A Yankee Circus on Mars’s Performance Practice

Publicity materials heralded the New York Hippodrome as the world's largest theatre and the National Theatre. Managers Elmer Dundy and Fred Thompson based their claim for national status on the venue's size. Their ideology considered big to be better because it proclaimed success, efficiency, and the organisation and consumption of pleasurable experiences to be the responsibility of every American citizen-consumer. Using publicity, costume designs, sketches, illustrations, production stills, newspaper reports and a scrapbook, I explore their nationalistic vision. I demonstrate how the opening's entertainments performed Dundy and Thompson's populist Americanness through narrative, design aesthetics and moments that exceeded the dramatic frame. The first of the two night's productions, A Yankee Circus on Mars (1905), presented Mars as an idealised surrogate America. The production deliberately centred circus to designate their venue as ‘American’ due to circus's status as an intrinsically American entertainment. Circus provided practical benefits in filling the vast interior with spectacle and covering long stage waits. Presenting circus end-on in the New York Hippodrome designated the venue ‘American’, but created an experience that was akin to circus. Focusing on responses to aerial acts, I demonstrate the visual gains and visceral losses to experiencing aerialists within the Hippodrome space.

Escaping the Crowds: The Harmonious Environments of Sociability in Eighteenth-Century Writings

This article looks at the eighteenth-century ways of thinking about nature in connection with sociability and retirement by juxtaposing some of the poetry of the period with the discourses concerned with gardens and the aesthetics of garden design. In the writings of Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, Joseph Addison, William Gilpin, Elizabeth Montagu, and William Shenstone, the interest in the value of retirement as a much-needed respite from polite society is accompanied with some concern about the dangers of inactivity and idleness. Nature is thus supposed to offer an appropriately shaded, harmonious environment that provides spiritual reinvigoration and cultivation of taste, away from the tumult of urban crowds. In the poetry of Thomas Gray and William Blake, in turn, one may notice the evocation of nature as a more disturbing force, which, rather than merely confirming to the taste for harmony, seems to challenge some of the premises of polite culture. Paying attention to aesthetic thought, cultural history and poetic discourse, the article provides some insights into the complexity of the eighteenth-century aesthetics of nature.

Historicizing the Development of Private Universities in Nigeria, 1980-2020s

The paper discussed the development of private universities in Nigeria since its independence with a thrust from 1980s to 2020s. Private universities in Nigeria were first established in 1980s, but greeted with the challenges of discontinuity and continuity during cross-regime accounts in the civilian, military and the democratic dispensations of the post-independence era. Beyond the aesthetic architectural designs, the paper also discussed the issue of quality university education, the influence of the policy - 3rd National Development Plan; the Laws (Constitution) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979 and decrees 19 and 9 of 1984 and 1993 respectively, on the proliferation and operations of private universities, its relevance on Nigeria’s manpower needs and national development. As a qualitative study, historical research method was adopted, relying strongly on both primary and secondary sources of data; to generate dependable data for the analysis that have contributed to what the findings revealed as mainly the expansion of the content programmes and proliferation of private universities in the twenty-first century Nigeria. The recommendation of the study advocates for the establishment of private universities that would be adequately planned for and truly regulated, to complement public universities in terms of programmes, manpower needs and quality among others; so that Nigeria would adequately develop in order to effectively function in the comity of nations.

Dual-Band Nested Circularly Polarized Antenna Array for 5G Automotive Satellite Communications

Currently, 5G low-earth orbit satellite communications offer enhanced wireless coverage beyond the reach of 5G terrestrial networks, with important implications, particularly for automated and connected vehicles. Such wireless automotive mass-market applications demand well-designed compact user equipment antenna terminals offering non-terrestrial jointly with terrestrial communications. The antenna should be low-profile, conformal, and meet specific parameter values for gain and operational frequency bandwidth, tailored to the intended applications, in line with the aesthetic design requirements of passenger cars. This work presents an original concept for a dual-band nested circularly polarized automotive user terminal that operates at the S-band frequencies around 3.5 GHz and Ka-band frequencies around 28 GHz, namely within the 5G new-radio bands n78 and n257, respectively. The proposed terminal is designed to be integrated into the plastic components of a passenger vehicle. The arrays consist of 2 × 2 aperture-coupled corner-truncated microstrip slot patch antenna elements for the n78 band and of 4 × 4 single-layer edge-truncated microstrip circular slot patch antenna elements for the n257 band. The embedded arrays offer, across the two bands, respectively, 9.9 and 13.7 dBi measured realized gain and 3-dB axial ratio bandwidths of 100 and 1500 MHz for the n78 and n257 bands along the broadside direction. Detailed link budget calculations anticipate uplink data rates of 21 and 6 Mbit/s, respectively, deeming it suitable for various automotive mobility and Internet-of-Things applications.

Influence of aesthetic design elements on residential satisfaction in apartment based on Seoul apartment complex

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine the influence of aesthetic design elements on residential satisfaction in urban apartment complexes, focusing on elements that are generally considered less important. A total of 65 apartment complexes in Seoul, a city predominantly characterized by middle-class apartment living, were surveyed to assess residential satisfaction. Using multiple regression analysis, the relationships between the dependent variable (post-occupancy evaluation) and 28 independent variables were analyzed. The results revealed significant correlations between residential satisfaction and various independent variables. Specifically, three out of eight aesthetic design factors, namely the main complex entrance design, exterior mass design, and landscape design, were found to have a significant impact on residential satisfaction, collectively accounting for 17.16% of the total satisfaction variance. This finding suggests that aesthetic design elements play an increasingly important role in metro cities. The practical implications of this study are twofold. Firstly, it provides housing providers with strategic guidelines, emphasizing the significance of incorporating aesthetically pleasing design elements to enhance residential satisfaction. Secondly, the study offers potential customers valuable information regarding the importance of aesthetic design in their decision-making process when choosing residential properties. Overall, this research contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between aesthetic design elements and residential satisfaction in urban apartment complexes, shedding light on the growing importance of aesthetics in the housing market.

Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Design Incorporated into Design of Street Space in Small Cities

INTRODUCTION: At present, China's urbanization continues to develop, but the level of urban planning and design has not kept pace with the progress of development, especially the creation of street space in small cities, which is still not able to adapt to the current needs of people's cultural life. With the development of the economy and science and technology, artificial intelligence and other information technologies are constantly integrated into daily life. Therefore, utilizing artificial intelligence for street space design research is significant.&#x0D; OBJECTIVES: To improve the development level of artificial intelligence, information technology, and the application level of artificial intelligence in China; to solve the problem of the relatively low level of street space design in the current city, especially in small towns, to meet the needs of people's cultural life; to promote the improvement of the level of artificial intelligence in China for the convenience of civil life, and to further improve the level of street space design in China.&#x0D; METHODS: Firstly discusses the theories, such as the principles of street space design in small cities, to illustrate the necessity of integrating AI into street space design in small towns; secondly, the model established by AI is used to optimize the street space in small cities; finally, the feasibility of integrating AI design into street space design in small towns is illustrated through cases and examples.&#x0D; RESULTS: Street space design in small cities in China needs more design aesthetics, and artificial intelligence needs to be integrated into street space design. Artificial intelligence has a noticeable optimization effect on street space design, and using artificial intelligence can improve the design level of limited space. Also illustrates that artificial intelligence can be better integrated into the street space design of small cities through cases.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: In the context of the digital era, the street space design of small cities needs to apply artificial intelligence. In modernization-oriented urban construction, the street space design level of small towns should be further strengthened to improve the modernization level of cities.

Research on the design of somatosensory interactive games for autistic children based on art therapy.

There is no targeted drug treatment for autistic children. Educational intervention and rehabilitation are the main ways to improve the ability development of autistic children. However, there are great differences in the individual symptoms and abilities. It is an urgent need for educators, practitioners and parents of autistic children to find effective ways to improve their cognitive, social and motor abilities. The author cooperates with the therapist to study and design the somatosensory interaction game for autistic children, which is a formal attempt of art therapy on the treatment tool, with the purpose of studying an effective and safe art intervention method. In order to verify the effect, the author recruited 26 children with mild or moderate autism for a six-week empirical evaluation, and the participants were randomly assigned. Among them, 13 participants participated in the art therapy of the proposed somatosensory game group (the experimental group), and 13 participants participated the traditional picture book group (the control group) that improved the emotion, cognition and skills of children, and the design style was more popular with children. The aesthetic design in the picture book could have an intervention effect on the participants, and its artistic effect could serve as an effective reference for the interface design of the game group. The results showed that the two groups had a significant impact on the participants in different aspects. The game group improved not only in terms of concentration and special ability, but also in terms of physical coordination and activity enhancement, it is inferred that the core factors of game therapy are sub-intervention, interaction and feedback, icon design and color matching system; the picture book group has significant improvement in interpersonal relationship guidance and language learning and communication. The results show that it is necessary to take more comprehensive and richer preliminary research on the development of treatment products for autistic children. Because picture book education requires children's initial concentration, it is found that picture book therapy has high requirements for teachers' classroom control and relatively strict requirements for picture book content, and play therapy can be a good complement to these problems.

Application of aesthetics in architectural design under the background of big data and artificial intelligence

Architectural aesthetics improve the appearance and value of a building/construction structure based on shape, color, rigidity, etc., appealingly. It includes the maximum safety requirements, durability, structural ability, etc. Therefore the aesthetic implementation requires high-level data accumulation and analysis to satisfy the earlier constraints. This article develops a Selective Aesthetic Application Paradigm (SAAP) for meeting the user criteria in structural design for region-specific adaptability. The proposed paradigm gathers information on the region, people’s expectations, visibility, and structural performance for the aesthetic design application. The proportion considerations in the application are subject to vary according to the region’s adaptability and performance. The proportion of the accumulated data influence in the application is determined using deep learning. In the learning paradigm, two-layered configurations for region-adaptability and performance measures are trained to provide aesthetic design application recommendations. Based on the suggestion and recommendation, the deep learning module is trained to rectify design errors. The training is independent of the previous two error and adaptability verification layers. It is performed using the qualified (selected) aesthetic design with a previous history of user satisfaction.

Aesthetic landscape design in forest parks on the rehabilitation of patients with mood disorders

BackgroundMood disorders are mental illnesses characterized by mood or emotional changes. It mainly manifested as emotional highs or lows, as well as behavioral changes. Currently, medication and psychological therapy are the main methods. However, the current treatment methods have become increasingly ineffective in the long term. Therefore, research has applied the aesthetic landscape design in forest parks to the rehabilitation of patients with mood disorders, in order to alleviate their psychological problems.Subjects and MethodsThe subjects and methods of the study were 100 patients with mood disorders who were treated in a certain hospital from 2021 to 2022. They were divided into an observation group (A) and a control group (B) based on their admission time. The observation group used aesthetic landscape design from forest parks for treatment, while the control group used traditional treatment methods. After the experiment, SPSS20.0 software was used for data analysis.ResultsBefore intervention, the self-efficacy score of Group A was 23.81 ± 3.10 points, while that of Group B was 23.95 ± 3.17 points; After intervention, the score of Group A reached 31.74 ± 3.91 points, and after intervention, it was 28.12 ± 3.55 points. From the sleep status, the score of Group A after intervention was 24.39 ± 3.17 points, which was higher than Group B’s 22.04 ± 2.86 points.ConclusionsThe aesthetic landscape design methods in forest parks are effective for the rehabilitation of patients with mood disorders.AcknowledgementEducational Research Project of Fujian Education Department, China (No. JA13222). Science and Technology Project of Fujian Water Resources Department, China (No. MSK201917).

The positive impact of environmentally artistic design in cultural architecture on OCD audience

BackgroundRecurrent compulsive thoughts and behaviors caused by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) against the subjective wishes of the individual can lead to significant distress and anxiety for the patient. To improve the therapeutic effect on patients with severe OCD, to study the positive impact of environmental art design of cultural architecture under the characteristics of modern aesthetic psychology on patients with OCD.Subjects and MethodsTwenty-five patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were selected as the experimental group and another 25 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder as the control group. Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) was used to collect data on the two groups. Learning and appreciating seven days of aesthetic art design as a cycle and three cycles as a course of treatment. In each process, the two groups of patients were tested for obsessive-compulsive disorder scores until the end of 5 courses.ResultsThe mean scores of the experimental and control groups were 33 and 35 after one course of treatment and 22 and 36 after five treatment methods, respectively. The experimental group significantly improved symptom relief, emotion regulation, and psychological comfort, while the control group had no significant change.ConclusionsCreating a building environment with aesthetic value and emotional resonance can significantly alleviate the symptoms of OCD and improve the audience’s emotional regulation ability and psychological comfort. Therefore, attention should be paid to the application and publicity of aesthetic and psychological characteristics in cultural architecture design to provide comfortable environmental art experiences for obsessive-compulsive disorder audiences.

Effect of simulated gastric acid on aesthetical restorative CAD-CAM materials' microhardness and flexural strength.

Gastric acid, which is among erosive substances, gradually rises to the mouth in individuals with reflux and bulimia nervosa disorders, and this causes various effects on dental restorations. The objective of this study is in vitro investigation of gastric acid's effect on flexural strength and hardness on aesthetic restorative computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) materials. For this study, four materials have been used, namely Enamic (Vita), Superfect Zir (Aidite) Zirconia, IPS e.max CAD (Ivoclar Vivadent), and Mark II (Vita). From these four different materials, 24 samples with 14 × 4 × 1 dimensions in rectangular prism form are used, which makes a total of 96 samples. One group was separated as the control group, while the rest was allowed to wait at 37°C, 5 ml gastric acid for 96 hours. Hardness value and flexural strengths were measured as pre-exposure and post-exposure to gastric acid. There is a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the amount of decrease in the mean hardness after exposure to gastric acid compared to pre-exposure values (p: 0,000; P < 0,05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the amount of decrease in the post-exposure average flexural strength compared to the pre-exposure value (p: 0.063; P > 0.05). There is a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the average flexural strength after exposure to the acid. According to the data obtained, it was concluded that exposure to gastric acid affects the hardness and flexural strength properties of dental restorative ceramic materials.

Revitalizing Ming-Style on Contemporary Furniture Design For Sustainability

This study investigates how eco-friendly practices have contributed to the resurgence of Ming aesthetics in contemporary furniture design. The Ming dynasty left a legacy in the arts that continues to this day with its emphasis on minimalism, harmony, and refinement. As a way to accommodate progressive preferences and address the pressing demand for sustainability, these ideas are finding a fresh lease on life in the context of contemporary furniture design. This research looks into the feasibility of using eco-friendly materials and production methods to recreate Ming-era–inspired designs. Those with environmental values will appreciate the fresh take on design that emerges when traditional aesthetics are fused with eco-friendly processes. Through an examination of case studies and design prototypes, this study reveals how Ming-style concepts can be implemented into contemporary furniture without compromising sustainability. The findings demonstrate the blended approach's potential for producing eco-friendly, aesthetically beautiful furnishings. The report also highlights the significance of circular economies, waste reduction, and carbon footprint decrease as they relate to sustainable design concepts. More than just a gorgeous face, the fusion of Ming style and eco-friendliness demonstrates the power of bringing together elements from different eras. By reviving the Ming style from a sustainable perspective, furniture designers may pay homage to a fabled past while also contributing to the global imperative of sustainable design and consumption.