Design Dimensions Research Articles

Design Characteristics, Visual Qualities, and Walking Behavior in an Urban Park Setting

The design characteristics of urban parks’ pathways are important in facilitating leisure walking and maintaining the minimum rate of physical activity, thus improving public health. This study examined and explored the relationships between design characteristics as well as certain visual qualities of Cautin Park, the biggest urban park in the Araucanian Region of Chile, and the tendency for walking as well as walking behavior. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to examine the objectives. Several design attributes were found to be related to the tendency for walking and the walking behavior in this urban park, including greater pathway width, more vegetation, tranquility along the pathways, and more comfortable pathway environments for pets. Additionally, these correlations were assessed based on gender and age, and it was found that adolescents showed the greatest difference from other groups. For instance, adolescents walk significantly more along pathways with more connectivity to activity zones. Among the visual qualities, only legibility shows a significant correlation with the number of all types of pedestrians, as well as subgroups of adolescents, adult men, and adult women. These results were reviewed, and their implications were discussed. Urban planners and designers could apply these findings when designing future urban parks in this context.

Development of a spray-ejector condenser for the use in a negative CO2 emission gas power plant

One promising solution for developing low-emission power technologies is using gaseous fuel combustion in pure oxygen when the exhaust gas mixture is composed of H2O and CO2, and where CO2 is separated after steam condensation. The paper presents the results of computational analyses providing to the Spray-Ejector Condenser (SEC) development, which is one of the crucial components of the negative CO2 gas power plant (nCO2PP) cycle development. The proposed design of the ejector-condenser to ensure the high effectivity of vapor condensation and CO2 compression with preparation to separation, ready for application in gas power cycle, is a novelty of this research. Different computational techniques leading to the development and better understating of ejector operation were applied. The main operating conditions in the characteristic connected with the developed nCO2pp cycle points were investigated to evaluate the impact of the operating conditions on SEC performances. The amount of motive water needed for the cooling purpose is susceptible to the inlet water pressure and temperature and strongly affects the generated pressure of the suction stream. The preliminary results confirm that the SEC's basic design and geometrical dimensions can be applied in the negative CO2 power plant cycle. Results from CFD modeling give the possibility to investigate the turbulent flow of water/steam/CO2 mixture together with the condensation process occurring at this same time. It is found that the average droplet diameter and motive water supplying method significantly effects the condensation intensity. The further direction of the presented computational research activities and results is to test various designs of Spray-Ejector Condensers that will enable the evaluation of the direct contact condensation process and develop the final geometrical design.

Risk of incorrect choices due to uncertainty in BPS evaluations of conceptual-stage neighbourhood-scale building designs

At the conceptual-stage, building performance simulation (BPS) based evaluations are being increasingly used for tasks such as ranking of competing massing design proposals. However, such conceptual stage evaluations suffer from information deficiency in building level design attributes. The resulting uncertainty in performance evaluations raises questions regarding their usefulness for decision-making. We used a risk-based decision evaluation metric called expected opportunity loss to assess the reliability of a BPS-based ranking of conceptual stage massing schemes. We found daylighting assessments (spatial Daylight Autonomy) to be least reliable, with 22% chance of making an incorrect decision at the conceptual stage, followed by annual heating (15%) and cooling demand (8%). This work provides a structured framework for evaluating utility of conceptual stage BPS models and a purposeful basis for integration of BPS assessments in the design process, subject to level of design development.

Design dimensions of corporate venture capital programs—a systematic literature review

AbstractThere is a plethora of research on organisational design elements of corporate venture capital (CVC) programs. However, the fragmented nature of this vein of corporate venturing research has led to an inconsistent picture regarding the organisational design of CVC programs. The goal of this study is to provide a holistic picture for both scholars and practitioners by integrating empirical research on the design of CVC programs. Therefore, the study employs a systematic literature review approach including a sample of 41 studies published from 1987 to 2023. For a systematic assessment of design elements of CVC programs, an inductive concept development approach is used to illustrate four main design dimensions–personnel, corporate relationship management, investment operating model and portfolio relationship management–which reflect 69 descriptive design elements. While previous studies have mainly looked at individual design dimensions of CVC programs from a strategic perspective, this paper presents comprehensive view on organisational structures of CVC programs by identifying building blocks of CVC design according to chosen objectives and available typologies. By specifying and allocating design dimensions to structural types and objectives of CVC programs, this study may also serve as a foundation for further research on the concepts which prevent high rates of early abandonment of CVCs.

Enhancing Citizens’ Perceived Restoration Potential of Green Facades through Specific Architectural Attributes

Research on restorative environments has suggested green facades as a promising model for natural spaces in urban and densely populated areas. However, the impact of architectural design attributes of green building facades on perceived restoration potential is insufficiently researched. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between architectural design attributes of green building facades and perceived restoration potential. A discrete choice experiment was used. First, seven architectural design attributes (Value, Symmetry, Material, Balcony, Variety, Configuration, and Shape) were identified based on the Content Identifying Method. In the next step, a sample of 204 participants randomly selected a block and evaluated the perceived restoration potential of six pairs of designed images of different green facade scenarios based on the seven architectural design attributes. The results showed that low diversity in greenery was associated with greater influence, and people chose asymmetric greenery more often. Horizontal and scattered greenery was preferred over vertical and concentrated greenery, which had no significant effect on perceived restoration potential. Stone and cement used in green facades were the most influential factors in perceived restoration potential. These findings can aid designers in designing the green facade of residential buildings to increase perceived restoration potential.

DTCO optimizes critical path nets to improve chip performance with timing-aware OPC in deep ultraviolet lithography.

Design technology co-optimization (DTCO) is a potential approach to tackle the escalating expenses and complexities associated with pitch scaling. This strategy offers a promising solution by minimizing the required design dimensions and mitigating the pitch scaling trend. It is worth noting that lithography has played a significant role in dimensional scaling over time. This paper proposes a DTCO flow to reduce the impact of the process variation (PV) band and edge placement error (EPE). First, we performed the digital back-end design of the high-performance processor and got the test layout; second, we executed timing analysis on the test layout to get the critical path net that affects the chip performance; third, we proposed the timing-aware optimized optical proximity correction (OPC) method to optimize the PV band and EPE by adjusting the weights of critical path net merit points, optimizing the generation of the sub-resolution assistant feature, giving tighter EPE specs for merit points on the critical path net, and placing denser merit points as well as denser breakpoints for the critical path net to obtain greater freedom in the OPC process. Finally, it is verified that our proposed DTCO process can significantly reduce the EPE and lead to a slight decrease in the PV band of the chip while maintaining the same process windows.

Exploring Age-appropriate Design Attributes of Hospital Activity Rooms for Adolescent Patients

Although health professionals have recognized critical connections between health outcomes and physical hospital settings, research data on adolescent patients’ age-appropriate hospital design is insufficient, especially for activity rooms. To explore age-appropriate spatial needs and hospital room design attributes for adolescent patients, the present study examined their spatial needs in hospitals and their perceptions of hospital activity room photos. Thirty-two adolescent outpatients from a university hospital in Kentucky, aged between 15 and 18, completed the survey. Adolescents’ spatial needs during their hospital stays were surveyed on a 5-point Likert scale, and the highly rated need was to have privacy control, followed by the need for quiet places and activity places. The participants’ perceptions of the four hospital activity room photos were collected using twenty-two adjective words on a 5-point scale. The finding revealed that adolescent patients need activity rooms to meet and socialize with their peers during their hospital stays. The statistical analysis revealed enjoyable, controllable, and adult-like as the dominant design attributes of age-appropriate activity rooms for adolescent patients. Unlike activity areas in pediatric hospitals, adolescent hospital activity rooms should be enjoyable to adolescents and allow them to control privacy while providing opportunities to meet their peers.

Graphic Design of 3D Animation Scenes Based on Deep Learning and Information Security Technology

This paper aims to use the improved Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) model for Three Dimensional (3D) animation graphic design, improve the efficiency of 3D animation graphic design, and promote the accuracy of model recognition. It acquires 3D animated scene color images from different perspectives. This paper performs 3D visualization through point clouds, outputs high-quality point cloud results, and uses Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Earth-Mover (EM) distance, and Least Squares Method (LSM) to improve the GAN model. Finally, the effectiveness of the improved GAN in the graphic design of 3D animation scenes and the effects of different improved models in generating 3D animation scene images are analyzed. The results show that the computational loss amplitude of the improved GAN model using Label Smoothing processing deep convolutional neural network is between [2, 3]. The generator loss variation is smaller, and the image quality of the generated 3D animation scene is gradually improved. The training process of the LSM-improved model is more stable, and the loss value is lower than that of the EM distance improved model. The loss value of the generator is [0.3,0.5], and the loss value of the discriminator is [0.1,0.2]. The Inception score of the LSM-improved model is 0.0297 higher than that of the CNN-improved model and the EM distance improved model and 0.0198 higher than that of the GAN model.

Visitors’ satisfaction towards indoor environmental quality in Australian hotels and serviced apartments

Tourism is Australia’s fourth-largest exporting sector, yet insufficient research has been done on how satisfied guests are with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of Australian guest homes. This project utilised web-mining, natural language processing and aspect-based sentiment analysis to analyse visitors’ IEQ satisfaction in Australian tourist accommodations across ten tourism cities. By analysing 543,213 IEQ-related reviews from 1397 hotels and serviced apartments with two-stars and above at the Booking.com, guests’ text comments were classified by semi-supervised word-embedding based models into nine IEQ dimensions. Using a cutting-edge custom-trained bidirectional context-aware deep sequence model, sentiment scores were computed to estimate the degree of IEQ satisfaction. Results showed that guests were most dissatisfied with facilities, cleanliness and maintenance, and acoustics. IEQ dissatisfaction reduced as the buildings’ star ratings rose, except for thermal, lighting, exterior view, and layout and design dimensions. There was a small effect of seasonal fluctuations on the levels of dissatisfaction with thermal conditions, indoor air quality, and cleanliness and maintenance. All IEQ dimensions, excluding indoor air quality, showed small effects on the percentage of dissatisfied visitors across climate zones. During the pandemic, there was a significant decline in the guests’ evaluation scores. Notwithstanding, the IEQ satisfaction was scarcely affected by COVID-19, except for indoor air quality, cleanliness and maintenance, and facilities. This study’s findings can serve as a rationale for the Australian hospitality industry to enhance visitor satisfaction.

A Study of Creative Imagery in Public Service Posters Based on Design Cultural Codes Theory

This study, grounded in design culture code theory, rigorously explores the multifaceted impact of visual imagery on poster design. Uniting theory with practicality, it dissects the strategic, semiotic, and technical aspects of poster creation, illuminating how visual elements are strategically employed, convey nuanced meanings, and adhere to design principles. Notably, it scrutinizes the adaptability of these strategies across diverse socio-cultural contexts. The study enriches our comprehension of how visual choices endow posters with significance and emotional resonance. Furthermore, it contributes novel insights into the technical intricacies of visual design principles.By synthesizing theory and practice, with an emphasis on cross-cultural adaptability, this study advances our understanding of how visual imagery influences strategic, meaningful, and technical dimensions in poster design. It holds implications for design practitioners and offers inspiration for future research in this field. In humility, it contributes to the existing body of knowledge while paving the way for further exploration in the discipline.

Multi-level differentiation of short-term rental properties: A deep learning-based analysis of aesthetic design

This study aims to test the effects of differentiation on short-term rental performance along the dimension of aesthetic design. Online platforms display listing cover photos as search results, thus making aesthetic design a key element of differentiation. We hypothesize opposite impacts in two geographical scopes, local- and city-level, which answers an important question in differentiation literature of whom to compare to. Based on the assumption that localized competition has asymmetric influences, we introduce competition intensity as moderator. Hypotheses are tested with 96,196 listings from April 2021 to March 2022 in the Texas Airbnb market. We quantify aesthetic design by probability distribution scores over four design styles predicted by a pre-trained machine learning model. This study identifies differentiation benefits at local-level but discounts at city-level. Furthermore, it shows market intensity strengthens benefits and mitigates discounts regardless of the geographic scope. Finally, implications for aesthetic design as a strategic tool are discussed.

Multidisciplinary integrated optimal design process for optomechanical structures.

This paper presents an integrated design process for optomechanical structures based on multidisciplinary optimization. The proposed integrated optimal design process comprises a finite element analysis by ANSYS Workbench, the MATLAB optomechanical transfer program, an optical analysis by ZEMAX, and the multidisciplinary optimization solver by Isight. In ANSYS Workbench, the deformation of optical surfaces, structures, and responses according to the design requirements is calculated in one project. Then, Zernike polynomial coefficients are calculated from surface deformation data of optical surfaces through a MATLAB optomechanical transfer program. In ZEMAX, the Zernike polynomial coefficients are imported into optical surface models of an optical system; then, optical performance parameters, such as the wavefront error, optical aberration, MTF, and OPD, are calculated. In the Isight environment, automatic iterative computations are performed between these three programs and, as a result, the design dimensions of optomechanical structures are determined, satisfying the design requirements and improving the performance of an optical system. By using this integrated optimal design process, the optimal design and analysis for a complete optomechanical structure, as well as individual structure parts, can be performed successfully. In this paper, the optimal design problem for three parts of a Cassegrain telescope, which consists of a primary mirror with an outer diameter of 156mm and a secondary mirror with an outer diameter of 46mm, was taken as an example. By using optimal parts, the image wavefront error of the Cassegrain telescope was decreased from 29.9 to 16.1nm.

Built-in Analog Automatic Controls for Small Robots

One of the most promising methods for improving control efficiency is the parallel synthesis of commands by a group of computing devices. However, delays in digital-to-analog conversions and software processing, the need to synchronize calculations, and signal transmission coordination prevent the achievement of maximum performance in distributed systems. Problems can be solved by increasing the power of embedded microprocessors. This leads to an undesirable increase in design complexity, energy consumption, and dimensions of controls. For the miniaturization of embedded control systems, the article proposes to apply the principles of the indivisibility of physical processes in a technical system and the execution of control commands based on the functional combination of aggregates with analog logic devices (agents). A generalized model of changing the states of a technical system is considered, which sets the principles for switching on or off groups of units. The concept of an automaton of ternary logic is introduced, which determines the order of interaction of aggregates in the time domain. The synthesis of the block diagram of the automaton is carried out. In the mathematical model of the automaton, the operations of ternary logic receive a specific physical content in the form of retrospective processing of changes in the states of aggregates. It is shown that ternary logic automata can be combined into open and closed chains, setting hardware control algorithms units robot. The circuits for connecting automata controlled by elements of asynchronous logic are given. When connected in series, the automata control the order of switching on and off the units. Chains of three-valued logic automata can be arbitrarily long, determining the behavior of the system in the process of its operation. Due to the rejection of program control, such automata can operate in real time, limited only by the delay of signals in logic elements. An important advantage of the proposed technical solution is the unification of the automatic control system. The simplicity of the design of devices and the absence of additional add-ons make it possible to integrate such circuits into the controls of microminiature robots, reducing their weight and size parameters. Promising areas of application of analog automata are microelectromechanical and microelectronic devices.

Study on the Enhancement Path of Chinese Landscape Design in Northern Chinese City Communities

The northern region of China, rich in natural and cultural resources, boasts a unique and diverse community landscape due to its geographical and historical reasons. In the annals of Chinese history, Chinese-style landscapes originated in the southern regions and were scaled up in the northern regions under the governance of ruling elites. Presently, Chinese-style landscape design plays a pivotal role in the evolution of modern Chinese communities, showcasing the abundant traditional culture of the north, drawing more tourists, and stimulating local economic prosperity. Through the study of Chinese-style landscape designs in northern cities, we drew some significant conclusions. Prioritizing the expression and embodiment of traditional culture is paramount to improving landscape design. With its plethora of cultural resources like traditional architecture, crafts, and folk activities, integrating these elements into landscape design can create a distinctive and locally flavored touristic environment. Additionally, the study underscores the integration of landscape design with ecological conservation, emphasizing scientific planning and management to protect and harness natural resources, forging a sustainable community landscape. This study hopes to offer insights for the development and landscape design enhancement of northern Chinese cities. The author also seeks collaboration and dialogue with experts, scholars, and practitioners to further enrich and perfect the theoretical and practical dimensions of Chinese-style landscape design in northern cities, pushing forward industry innovation and progress.

DESIGN ATTRIBUTE PREFERENCES FOR SANTINIKETAN LEATHER BAGS

As a consequence of the retail-globalization through e-commerce platforms and social media, both domestic & international market opportunities have widened many folds for the Santiniketan Leather Bags, but at the same time the market have become intensely competitive with customers having a wide range of options. It is evident that in a highly competitive market, consumer focused product design is considered as a key competitive edge. This research aims to establish the relationship between product design and consumer preferences of Santiniketan leather bags based on various design attributes like silhouette, size, colour, function, and features. The study was conducted in two steps with the first step was to classify the design attributes based on existing product trends and demand collected from diverse sources like retailers, designers, artists, and manufacturers. Designs of the bags were thereafter sectioned into several benchmarking factors based on various attributes of design and variants of the same. In the second step, a descriptive cross-sectional consumer survey was performed to understand the consumer’s criteria of preferences. The outcome of the survey indicates clear inadequacy in the present design compositions of Santiniketan leather bags in the context of design trend and consumer preferences. The study concluded with proposing a preferential matrix for the stakeholders to design new bags meeting customers’ perception. This study is the first of its kind to explore consumer preferences for new product development in Santiniketan leather bags.

The hydro-cultural dimension in Water-Sensitive Urban Design for Kozhikode, India

Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) identifies water sensitivity as a goal for cities to strive for and develop towards. Certain cities may face rapidly changing socioeconomic and urban dynamics, or lack of data and documentation, greater than those in which WSUD has been conceptualized. Landscape-informed, design-based fieldwork methods of walking, observing, describing and drawing can help to understand how hydrological systems are linked to local water cultures and practices. This shifts the definition of water sensitivity away from a universal ideal future scenario to one that is mutable and determined by local qualities. The case of Kozhikode, India, illustrates how fieldwork and its forms of representation, with an emphasis on the design processes that WSUD calls for to be operationalized, can shed light on urban hydro-cultural dimensions. These dimensions extend hydrological indicators by incorporating cultural insights to be integrated into WSUD, thereby enhancing the context specificity and appropriateness of the concept. As such, design methodologies and the hydro-cultural dimension offer valuable contributions to WSUD and can facilitate its adoption worldwide.

Performance evaluation of the novel 3D-printed aquatic plant-microbial fuel cell assembly with Eichhornia crassipes

Plant-Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFCs) are a sustainable derivative of fuel cells that capitalizes on plant rhizodeposition to generate bioelectricity. In this study, the performance of the novel 3D-printed aquatic PMFC assembly with Eichhornia crassipes as the model plant was investigated. The design made use of 1.75 mm Protopasta Conductive Polylactic Acid (PLA) for the electrodes and 1.75 mm CCTREE Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) filaments for the separator. Three systems were prepared with three replicates each: PMFCs with the original design dimensions (System A), PMFCs with cathode-limited surface area variations (System B), and PMFCs with anode-limited surface area variations (System C). The maximum power density obtained by design was 82.54 µW/m2, while the average for each system is 26.99 µW/m2, 36.24 µW/m2, and 6.81 µW/m2, respectively. The effect of variations on electrode surface area ratio was also examined, and the results suggest that the design benefits from increasing the cathode surface area up to a cathode-anode surface area ratio of 2:1. This suggests that the cathode is the crucial component for this design due to it facilitating the rate-limiting step. Plant health was also found to be a contributing factor to PMFC performance, thereby suggesting that PMFCs are an interplay of several factors not limited to electrode surface area alone. The performance of the novel PMFC did not achieve those obtained from existing studies. Nevertheless, the result of this study indicates that 3D-printing technology is a possible retrofit for PMFC technology and can be utilized for scale-up and power amplification.

ANALYZING THE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS IN THE ONLINE-GAME DEVELOPMENT: A FRAMEWORK PROPOSAL USING THE DELPHI-TOPSIS METHOD

The online-game industry has increased exponentially in the last years, boosted by the global pandemic crisis, and it´s expected to continue growing. Moreover, specialized software (game engines) is used to develop online-games. This fast growth of both, online-game industry and game engines, shows the convenience for a better understanding of online-games´ development. Thus, this paper aims to define a critical success factors (CSF) framework in developing online-games, and it combines the Delphi and TOPSIS methodology. Concretely, its application follows. First, CSF were recognized from the literature. Second, they were verified by contacting software developers of the game engine Unity using Delphi methodology. Then, a numerical example of the TOPSIS methodology is shown. This method allowed to generate a framework of 21 critical factors, grouped in 3 dimensions: (1) Game content design, (2) Value added and (3) Game motivation. The results revealed that competition is the most important factor in the Social motivation construct. Also, Mission and tasks, and User interface are the most important factors in the Game content design dimension. Definitely, this framework provides a tool for decision making in the online-game development process. Keywords: TOPSIS, Delphi, online-games, video-games, game engine, critical factors, web software

Job Design Dimensions and Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria: PPMC Approach

The study empirically examined job design dimensions and performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria, a study of Calabar Municipality in Cross River State The specific objectives were to determine the relationship between job description, job specification, employees’ initiative and employee satisfaction, product quality and sales volume. The study adopted a correlational research design. A sample of two hundred and sixty-six (266) questionnaire was administered to respondent from a population of seven hundred and ninety-four (794), two hundred and forty-five copies were correctly filled and returned. Data from this study were gathered from primary sources with the aid of structured questionnaire. Pearson Product moment correlation (PPMC) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that job description, job specification and employees’ initiative had a significant relationship with employee satisfaction, product quality and sales volume of the manufacturing firms. The study recommended that the managers of the selected manufacturing firms in Calabar, Cross River State should ensure that jobs are described and assigned to the right person, at the right time by giving detailed information about the duties and responsibilities to be carried out by the job holder thereby enhancing employees’ satisfaction. Also, managers should design jobs that provide avenues for employees to plan, organize and control positions of their jobs by involving them in the decisions as to how and when a job should be designed to enhance performance

스포츠 브랜드의 친환경 제품 디자인속성이 브랜드 태도, 브랜드 이미지 및 구매의도에 미치는 영향

스포츠 브랜드의 친환경 제품 디자인속성이 브랜드 태도, 브랜드 이미지 및 구매의도에 미치는 영향