Journal of Visual Art and Design

Flexible and Demountable Urban Furniture Design Approach with H-Shaped Light Concrete Modules

Sevda Duygu Kolbay — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Flexibility and adaptability are primary needs in the design and organization of public spaces. The main objective of this study was to model a derivative grammar in designing public furniture units with a blockwork system that can adapt to the recreational potential of any urban area. The proposed design is aimed at being shaped in line with users’ requirements as the surrounding environment is continually transforming. Hence, the potential geometric arrangements of the proposed design are meant to enable different functional scenarios. The formation and differentiation parameters of the units can be associated and interpreted according to their shape variants. In this context, the compositional principles for arrangement of the proposed H-shaped blocks are defined by a set of rules. By means of morphological, derivative, and pragmatic evaluations, different compositional options were targeted to be turned into essential grammatical schemata within the scope of this study. Design references were achieved by procedural modeling with grammar-based algorithms. Generative prototypes were created by the formulation of algorithms as the vocabulary; the syntax was developed by a shape grammar.

Participatory Action For and Through Ecological Integrity: Toroidality as a Circular Design Model

Canberk Yurt, Deniz Deniz — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The ecological crisis corrupts natural cycles, damages networks of organisms, and disrupts the ecosystem equilibrium. In response to the ecological crisis, the concept of circularity proposes reformative actions. However, these actions are insufficient to reverse the crisis and achieve ecological integrity because they are non-holistic and based on human concerns and priorities. A more inclusive and integrative mindset is necessary for better-functioning circular processes. In this regard, this research presents a theoretical framework for an alternative circular design model – Toroidality – which is driven by collective knowledge and participatory action. Toroidality functions through the integrative capacity of collective knowledge and collaboration among human and non-human stakeholders in the ecosystem. Based on the intertwined cycles of collective knowledge and collective value-creation, Toroidality becomes a self-feeding circular design model. Through its four-phased circular design processes, Toroidality claims to generate solutions that have regenerative capacities. This article clarifies the conceptual background, theoretical framework and complementary notions to present the fundamentals of Toroidality. After this initial explanatory article, the dynamics of the phases and interactions among the stakeholders are aimed to be explored and reported in the following research, through a real-life case study.

Imaginary Scapes: The Reinvocation of Memory in Human-AI Artistic Collaboration

Deden Hendan Durahman, Yasraf Amir Piliang, Irma Damajanti, Armein Z.R. Langi — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The rise of generative AI has significantly transformed the creative process, altering artistic workflows and redefining the human role in artmaking. While some artists resist this shift, engaging with machine intelligence has become increasingly inevitable in today’s digital landscape. This paper explores the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on artistic practices and how such disruption may benefit rather than hinder creativity. Grounded in Jean Baudrillard’s concept of the hyperreal—particularly his theory of third-order simulation—it examines how AI generates realities that never existed but are perceived as real. These pseudo-realities challenge traditional notions of authenticity and memory in art. Through a performative research method and interdisciplinary approach, the author proposes the concept of ‘re-invocation’—a process of reclaiming the authority of human memory in collaboration with AI. This process is structured in iterative stages involving both human intention and algorithmic intervention. The study demonstrates that incorporating non-human memory has become an unavoidable aspect of art production in the generative AI era. Ultimately, it argues that re-invoking human memory through AI collaboration may offer a critical and innovative foundation for contemporary artistic expression.

Living with the Past in the Present – Korean Furniture and Home Décor Design at the Milan Design Week

Jessica Rossi — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article traces the historical outline of the development of design in South Korea. Foreign policies promoting Korean design will be discussed as evidence of the importance of K-design exports and to introduce the collaboration between Italian and Korean designers at Salone del Mobile. In 2023, the Korean government’s direct participation in Milan Design Week marked the 11^th year of the Korea Craft and Design Foundation’s (KCDF) participation in the Italian international fair. Each year, the foundation curates an exhibition showcasing Korean furniture and home décor which exemplify the fusion of traditional Korean craftsmanship and contemporary design sensibilities. Notably, for the 60^th anniversary of the Salone del Mobile in 2022, KCDF planned a special exhibition bridging Italian and Korean design cultures. This initiative facilitated a direct collaboration between Italian designer Francesco Faccin and Korean artisan Hur Sung-Ja, resulting in the realization of three projects. These projects serve as a benchmark for the reimagining and internationalization of traditional Korean crafts, epitomizing the concept idea of K-crafts. This article innovatively investigates the topic of Korean traditional crafts, highlighting the Korean government’s domestic policies aimed at promoting internationalization. Such policies seek to enhance Korean influence globally and strategically shape the future of K-Crafts.

Taiji’s Design Philosophy by Imagining New Practice Through Three Kingdoms Character Graphic Design

ChanJuan Tu, Yanjun Wang — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The present study examined the design philosophy of Taiji with the objective of developing a novel graphic design approach and substantiating its viability through a practical graphic design implementation. Application of the Taiji design philosophy was examined by using the characters from the Three Kingdoms in a graphic design practice as a case study. The objective was to assess the practicality and effectiveness of this design approach. The outcome of the research and subsequent discussion indicates that the Taiji design philosophy represents a novel framework for interdisciplinary investigation, encompassing a design methodology centered around the principles of yin and yang contrast as well as harmony and unity. The present findings hold significance in at least two distinct manners. One of the primary objectives was to illustrate how Taiji, when viewed as a philosophical concept, offers a systematic approach for the development of graphic creativity. Additionally, the yin-yang contrast and virtual-real relationship inherent in the Taiji design philosophy facilitate the transformation of two-dimensional space into a three-dimensional visual design concept for graphic designers. Undoubtedly, numerous issues regarding the underlying principles of Taiji’s design philosophy remain unresolved.

A Case Study on Motifs and Ornaments of Orang Asli Craft Design (Batek’s Tribe) in Kuala Lipis Pahang, Malaysia

Muhammad Faiz Sabri, Suhaila Mohd Saleh, Mohd Khairezan Rahmat — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Craft products are among the most intricate and unique artifacts produced by indigenous people in the Malay Peninsula. They have also become a major attraction for tourists to come and visit Malaysia. For hundreds of years, the indigenous people known as Orang Asli have extensively produced different art forms that reflect their philosophy and belief system. This study aimed to investigate in-depth the artistic expressions of craft motifs and ornaments produced by Orang Asli, specifically in Kuala Lipis Pahang, Malaysia. The objectives of this study were to determine the types of motifs in Orang Asli craftwork; to investigate the different elements of motifs that appear in Orang Asli craftwork; and to analyze the meaning embedded in selected motifs of Orang Asli craftwork. This study employed a case study approach through a series of interviews with experts, or traditional craftsmen, followed by observations as well as document analysis. This study highlights the beauty of traditional Orang Asli craftsmanship, which needs to be revisited and showcased in order to preserve their important culture and heritage for future generations.