Cultural lighting
Lighting emotions re-interpret the chinese cultural values in digitalization era
Keywords:
Cultural values, Interactive light, Product system, User-centred, Re-interpretation
Abstract
The article examines the relationship between Chinese cultural identity and technological innovation, specifically through the design of lighting systems. It analyses how light, between traditional symbolism and digital technologies, acts as an interpretative medium for Chinese cultural values and practices. Through case studies developed in a workshop at Jiangnan University, design practices that blend cultural heritage and interaction with immersive and participatory experiences are highlighted.
References
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- Yoon, H. (2008). Modern applications of classical Feng Shui principles in residential design. Asian Architecture Journal, 19(2), 85–97.
- Zhang, L. (2019). Cultural heritage and technology: Preserving traditions in the digital age. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Baker, S., & Jordan, P. W. (2006). Lighting design for emotional impact. Routledge.
- Bonacini, E., & Giaccone, S. C. (2021). Gamification and cultural institutions in cultural heritage promotion: A successful example from Italy. Cultural Trends, 31(1), 3–22.
- British Design Council. (2005). The “Double Diamond” design process model. Design Council.
- Brown, T. (2009). Change by design: How design thinking creates new alternatives for business and society. Harvard Business Press.
- Brown, T., & Wyatt, J. (2010). Design thinking for social innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 8(1), 30–35.
- Bruun, O. (2003). Fengshui in China: Geomantic divination between state orthodoxy and popular religion. NIAS Press.
- Carlgren, L., Rauth, I., & Elmquist, M. (2016). Framing design thinking: The concept in idea and enactment. Creativity and Innovation Management, 25(1), 38–57.
- Carroll, J. M., Rosson, M. B., Chin, G., & Koenemann, J. (2000). Requirements development in scenario-based design. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 24(12), 1156–1170.
- Castelli, C. T. (1999). Transitive design. Electa.
- Chen, M. (2022). Technology and traditional culture: A case study of digital cultural transfer in China. Oxford University Press.
- Cheng, Y., & Ma, H. (2020). Emotional interaction in smart objects: Feng Shui-inspired product design. Journal of Design Innovation, 12(3), 45–60.
- Czerwinski, M., & Van Wyk, M. (2002). The effect of ambient lighting on human emotions and behavior. Human-Computer Interaction, 17(3), 201–226.
- Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Springer.
- Desmet, P. M. A., & Hekkinen, M. (2018). Emotions in design: An overview of research and practical applications. International Journal of Design, 12(3), 23–34.
- Dunne, A., & Raby, F. (2013). Speculative everything: Design, fiction, and social dreaming. MIT Press.
- Duguet, A. M. (2005). Digital experience: Design, aesthetics and interactivity. Anarchive.
- Fu, L. (2018). The role of light in Chinese design and architecture. Beijing University Press.
- Goretti, G. (2017). Advanced craftmanship. Maestria avanzata. Percorsi di progetto tra innovazione e tradizione artigianale nei sistemi manifatturieri toscani. Aracne.
- Goretti, G. (2022). Mediatization in fashion: A focus on the rise of reflective emotions within China’s digital ecosystem. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Laurel, B. (1991). Computers as theatre. Addison-Wesley.
- Li, X., & Wang, H. (2021). Design and cultural identity in contemporary China. Springer.
- Liedtka, J. (2015). Perspective: Linking design thinking with innovation outcomes through cognitive bias reduction. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32(6), 925–938.
- Liu, X., & Song, Z. (2017). The impact of lighting on emotional design and spatial perception. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 47, 91–100.
- Lu, G.-D., & Needham, J. (2002). Celestial lancets: A history and rationale of acupuncture and moxa. Routledge.
- Mak, M. Y., & Ng, S. T. (2005). The art and science of Feng Shui: A study on architects’ perception. Building and Environment, 40(3), 427–434.
- Manzini, E. (2015). Design, when everybody designs: An introduction to design for social innovation. MIT Press.
- McCarthy, J., & Wright, P. (2004). Technology as experience. MIT Press.
- Norman, D. A. (2004). Emotional design: Why we love (or hate) everyday things. Basic Books.
- Norman, D. A. (2004). Affordance and design. Affordances and Design – Don Norman’s JND.org. Retrieved from http://www.jnd.org
- Skinner, S. (2011). The living earth manual of Feng Shui: Chinese geomancy. Golden Hoard Press.
- Tonkinwise, C. (2011). A taste for practices: Unrepressing style in design thinking. Design Studies, 32(6), 533–545.
- Unschuld, P. U. (1985). Medicine in China: A history of ideas. University of California Press.
- Xu, P. (2004). Feng-shui: A model for space planning and landscape design. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 21(4), 271–282.
- Xu, Y., & Zhao, Y. (2020). Interactive design and cultural preservation in China. Routledge.
- Yoon, H. (2008). Modern applications of classical Feng Shui principles in residential design. Asian Architecture Journal, 19(2), 85–97.
- Zhang, L. (2019). Cultural heritage and technology: Preserving traditions in the digital age. Palgrave Macmillan.
Published
2025-06-30
How to Cite
Goretti, G., & Dastoli, C. (2025). Cultural lighting: Lighting emotions re-interpret the chinese cultural values in digitalization era. AND Journal of Architecture, Cities and Architects, 1(47), 66-75. Retrieved from https://www.and-architettura.it/index.php/and/article/view/687
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2025 Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
