IDA: International Design and Art Journal

The impact of color on furniture preference in the context of user emotions: The case of the Thonet No. 14 Chair

Kübra Arslan İrey, Banu Apaydın, Ahmet Özcan — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines emotional responses evoked by colors and how these emotions influence furniture design, focusing on the iconic Thonet No. 14 Chair. An interactive simulation using PHP and JavaScript allowed potential consumers to perform a color-emotion matching task. Users viewed a 360-degree-rotatable Thonet No. 14 chair across 16 emotional contexts and chose from 12 color options. The primary aim is to explore the emotional effects of furniture color on users and incorporate these insights into the design process. Specifically designed for this research, the simulation represents an innovative model for future studies by integrating 3D visualization with user interaction. The research compares two groups: participants with formal color education and those without. A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative techniques was employed to evaluate how color influences visual perception in furniture design. Data were securely serialized and stored in JSON format to ensure integrity and ease of analysis. Despite limitations regarding age range, sample size, and the absence of real spatial context, the study demonstrates that color significantly shapes users’ affective responses to furniture. The results contribute to product design by highlighting the role of affective cognition and offering a replicable, scalable digital method for future studies.

Evaluation of environmental design students’ sectioning skill with the Turkish version of the Santa Barbara Solids Test

Kenan Eren Şansal, Güliz Taşdemir, Merve Şahin Kürşad — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Given the significance of sectioning skill in higher education and its malleability through training, it is imperative to measure this spatial skill and track its development by using an appropriate instrument. The Santa Barbara Solids Test is a spatial test that can be used for this purpose. However, it has been tested or used mainly with English-speaking science students. To determine whether a Turkish version of this test can be used in a culturally distinct population of design students, a two-phase study was therefore undertaken. The test’s validity and reliability were initially evaluated in 173 students. Next, another sample of 200 students took the test to assess whether test scores varied by student characteristics, as in the previous studies. The results demonstrated that the psychometric properties of the Turkish version were satisfactory. A significant correlation between students’ test scores and perceived spatial ability levels was found. Additionally, the test scores varied significantly by students’ experience, department, and gender. From these findings, it can be concluded that the Turkish version of the test is psychometrically sound and can be used to measure and monitor the development of sectioning skill in Turkish design students.

Place and movement: A case study of the relationship between spatial positioning and thigmotactic tendency

Hasan Basri Kartal, Asiye Nisa Kartal, İdris Eren Hatipoğlu — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thigmotaxis is the tendency to remain close to environmental boundaries. Involving tactile interaction with surfaces, thigmotaxis is associated with comfort, navigation, and perceived safety, and is linked to spatial behavior. While some studies have examined how environmental topology shapes movement and social behavior, research on thigmotaxis remains limited. The central question of this study is how spatial positioning preferences in architectural environments are shaped by individuals’ thigmotactic tendencies, perceived sense of security, and predisposition to agoraphobia. Accordingly, this research aims to investigate how psychological orientations influencing spatial choices -particularly thigmotaxis and agoraphobic tendencies- can be observed in real architectural settings. The scope of the study includes examining behavioral responses to spatial characteristics, such as enclosure and openness, within controlled built environments. In this study, the seating (positioning) preferences of 34 university students were observed in two different classroom settings. Subsequently, Likert-type questionnaires were used to measure thigmotactic tendency, agoraphobia, and perceived safety, and the relationships among these variables were analyzed. Participants’ spatial choices, psychological responses, and self-reported agoraphobia scores were recorded and evaluated. The findings indicate that participants showed stronger thigmotaxis in enclosed environments. The results also suggest that spatial configuration may be associated with movement and positioning patterns. The findings highlight the importance of considering psychological and behavioral diversity in spatial design. Addressing thigmotaxis may help create psychologically supportive architectural environments, particularly for individuals sensitive to open or poorly defined spaces.

AI-augmented learning in design education: A structural model of critical thinking and creative engagement

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates how AI integration and students’ perception of AI influence critical thinking and creativity among undergraduate design students in Ghanaian technical universities. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 394 students from three institutions. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to examine the interrelationships among the variables of this study, with results indicating that AI engagement plays a significant role in fostering both critical thinking and creative performance among students. Likewise, students’ perception and perceived challenges with AI had a notable positive effect on these outcomes. However, the moderating effects of gender and age on the relationship between AI variables and learning outcomes were not supported. These results contribute empirical clarity to an ongoing pedagogical debate: whether AI is a cognitive amplifier or undermines independent reasoning. In the Ghanaian context, where structured AI integration in design curricula remains limited, the findings suggest a compelling need to guide students in leveraging AI responsibly. The study confirms the role of generative AI in augmenting design cognition and calls for curricular frameworks that promote critical reflection alongside technological fluency. The findings have implications for curriculum developers, educators and policymakers aiming to future-proof design education in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Reimaging indigenous art and craftsmanship through sustainable capsule wardrobe clothing design: A culturally grounded design framework

Marzie Hatef Jalil, Jane Eleen Alison — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

With the rapid growth and globalization, indigenous knowledge is under mounting pressure to continue its social visibility and economic appropriateness. This paper discusses how Bidayuh cultural identity in Malaysia could be perpetuated by creating a model of a culturally based, sustainable capsule wardrobe as a preservation and adaptive continuity model. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, incorporating cultural documentation, studio-based experimentation, and consumer evaluation. In three stages; cultural grounding, sustainable experimental translation and social validation, the traditional Bidayuh motifs, the meaning of the symbolic colors and principles of craft were systematically rethought into capsule wardrobe clothes by the means of the sustainable techniques. To determine consumer perception and acceptance, a survey of 116 Gen Z respondents was conducted. The findings reveal that indigenous conservation is enhanced when cultural aspects are reinterpreted through wearable, integrated, and sustainability-based systems. The paper presents a framework of Culturally Grounded Sustainable Capsule Design, which places the concept of adaptive reinterpretation and not mere replication at the heart of cultural sustainability in Borneo. The framework provides a transferable framework on how to incorporate the indigenous knowledge in modern sustainable fashion based on ethical underpinning, balanced translation and empirical validation.

Art Nouveau in contemporary children’s picturebooks: Ornament, typography and page design

Şule Bayrak Yıldız — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines how Art Nouveau operates in two contemporary children’s picturebooks, Lisa Perrin’s After Alice (2015) and Júlia Sardà’s The Queen in the Cave (2021). It argues that in these books Art Nouveau works not merely as a historical decorative reference, but as a page-organizing system that shapes visual composition, directs the reader’s attention, and reinforces narrative atmosphere. The study focuses on the cover and interior-page illustrations of these two case studies. Methodologically, it employs qualitative comparative visual analysis, with particular attention to page architecture, line rhythm, color strategy, ornamental density, and typographic integration. The findings show that curvilinear motifs, botanical framing, borders, and serif typography do more than quote a historical style; they function as structural elements that support readability, visual continuity, and atmospheric coherence across the book. This is significant in the context of contemporary picturebooks because it suggests that historical ornament can remain active as a functional visual language rather than survive only as nostalgic decoration. In this sense, Art Nouveau continues to offer an adaptable design logic for contemporary illustration.

Simulation-supported energy retrofit in historic educational buildings: Ziya Gökalp Elementary School

Ruşen Ergün — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Energy retrofitting of historic buildings is important for sustainability. However, this is a difficult task due to regulations aimed at preserving historical values. This study aims to develop energy retrofit strategies for the 20th-century Ziya Gökalp Elementary School built as a type of project during Ottoman educational reforms. The method is predicated on a comparative analysis of the model created using DesignBuilder simulations, examining both the current state and retrofit scenarios. Energy performance retrofit scenarios have been developed with consideration for national and international guidelines, local climate conditions, and the building's cultural heritage value. Energy retrofit recommendations were made for the walls, attic floor, and window components. Energy, carbon emission and thermal comfort analyses were conducted for the current state of the building and proposed scenarios. As a result of the proposed scenarios, it was determined that energy conservation was achieved at a rate of 72.43%, the number of comfortable days increased by 31%, and operational carbon emissions decreased by 10.39%. It has been determined that the increase in embodied carbon can be offset by a decrease in operational carbon within two years. These results show that energy retrofits can be conducted without damaging historic educational buildings.

Production methods and applicability in different platform in modular logotype design

Münire Yıldız — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the digital age, where the variety of options is increasing, brands face the need to be noticeable and to remain relevant. In parallel, flexible, adaptable, and interactive systems are emerging in the understanding of brand identity, replacing static identity structures. These systems, which offer alternatives to traditional approaches, include approaches that can be shaped according to contextual conditions, are open to user interaction, and can be guided by algorithms. This study aims to contribute to the graphic design discipline as a contemporary design approach by addressing the theoretical and practical aspects of the modular logotype concept. Within the scope of the research, the production methods of modular logotype systems and their adaptability to different media environments are examined, revealing the role of these systems in corporate communication. The study, conducted using a qualitative research method, utilizes descriptive analysis and case study techniques; visual and content analysis is performed with examples from international designs. As a result of the examinations, it is predicted that dynamic logotypes with a modular structure, as an innovative brand identity tool that can effectively adapt to the changing communication environments of the digital age, are not only an aesthetic innovation but also possess strategic communication, serving as a guiding resource for both professional designers and brand managers.

Visual identity of urban space: Principles of forming the image of cities in Shandong Province, China

Xiangyang Li, Nataliia Skliarenko — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Urban visual identity constitutes a vital component in the contemporary dissemination of a city’s image. Whilst numerous cities incorporate diverse design approaches within their artistic practices, certain issues invariably arise, thereby undermining the unique value of the city. By examining the application of design practices in the visual identity of cities within Shandong Province of China, this study aims to establish a principled framework for local urban visual identity. The core of the research lies in the analysis of visual elements in the city through a mixed research methodology, in particular using a combination of questionnaires, comparative analysis and visual case studies. The questionnaire contained within the article comprises three sections, designed to present the public’s perception, judgement and expectations regarding visual elements. An analysis of urban case studies was also conducted to distill, summarize and corroborate the key principles of urban visual identity. Research indicates that elements such as city logos, iconic buildings, guide signs and public artworks are indispensable components of a city’s visual identity. This demonstrates the vital importance of establishing a framework comprising four principles of visual identity: uniqueness, identifiability, sustainability, and regionalism. Research has shown that urban visual identity is not only a means of visual beautification, but can also participate in the formation of urban spatial perception and local identity. This study can provide a reference for the optimization of urban visual image and related research in Shandong Province.

An evaluation of spatial user experience in transportation interiors: Berlin-Südkreuz Station and Wrocław Central Station

Özlem Kurt Çavuş — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines user experience (UX) in transportation interiors by conducting a comparative analysis of Berlin Südkreuz Station and Wrocław Central Bus Station. Stations and bus terminals, as key public transportation nodes, have increasingly evolved beyond their infrastructural role into cultural and social spaces where diverse users interact. This study aims to investigate how interior design components influence user perceptions, comfort, and satisfaction. A phenomenological approach is employed, utilizing user data obtained from open-source Google Maps reviews. User comments were transcribed, coded, and analyzed through content analysis to identify recurring themes, including accessibility and wayfinding, spatial comfort and hygiene, aesthetic value, security, additional functions, and impact on urban identity. The study findings highlight themes that stand out as critical factors determining user experience in transportation spaces. The additional amenities and integration of cultural features offered by these spaces contribute to the stations’ roles as mediators of urban identity and collective memory. By framing transportation hubs as user-centered public interior spaces, the study emphasizes the importance of holistic and inclusive design strategies. The results are expected to contribute to the literature by suggesting spatial user experience (SUE) themes that can guide future transportation-functional space design.

Spatial representations of ecological vandalism in dystopian science fiction cinema

Anday Türkmen — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the relationship between ecological vandalism and spatial representation in dystopian science fiction cinema. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study utilizes Seymour Chatman’s narrative analysis framework. The film universe of the study comprises dystopian science fiction works that thematically address the spatial consequences of ecological disasters. From this universe, three films were selected using purposeful sampling based on specific theoretical and content-related criteria. The selected films are: A Boy and His Dog (1975), Waterworld (1995), and Snowpiercer (2013). The analysis indicates that ecological vandalism transforms space into fragmented, mobile, or enclosed structures, and these transformations shape the cinematic narrative through atmosphere, plot structure, and symbolic representations. This study reveals cinema’s spatial representation of ecological crises, contributing to ecocritical film studies and offering new insights into the intersection of environment, narrative, and visual culture.