Abstract
Abstract: Contemporary design for the elderly often grapples with a dual challenge: a diminishing cultural identity and weakening regional characteristics, issues magnified by the unique psychological and social needs of an aging population. Thisstudyconstructsathree-dimensional theoretical model encompassing cultural identity, regional ity, and design ethics. Through literature review, user research, and case studies, we reveal the profound impact of Cantonese cultural symbols on the emotional identity of the elderly. We propose four design principles and three design methods to systematically integrate cultural elements into product design. The validity of integrating Lingnan traditional craftsmanship with modern design is verified through an independent seating design practice, establishing a paradigm for elderly-friendly seating design with cultural recognizability. This research provides theoretical support for the construction of an age-friendly society from a regional cultural perspective and promotes the paradigm shift ofdesign for the elderly from functional satisfaction to cultural empowerment.
Keywords
Aging-Friendly Design; Cantonese Culture; Cultural Identity; Regionality
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.528
Citation
Huang, X.,and Huo, K.(2025) Cantonese Cultural Identity and Regional Design in Aging-Friendly Products, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.528
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 11 - Culture and Craft Design for Regenerative Practices
Cantonese Cultural Identity and Regional Design in Aging-Friendly Products
Abstract: Contemporary design for the elderly often grapples with a dual challenge: a diminishing cultural identity and weakening regional characteristics, issues magnified by the unique psychological and social needs of an aging population. Thisstudyconstructsathree-dimensional theoretical model encompassing cultural identity, regional ity, and design ethics. Through literature review, user research, and case studies, we reveal the profound impact of Cantonese cultural symbols on the emotional identity of the elderly. We propose four design principles and three design methods to systematically integrate cultural elements into product design. The validity of integrating Lingnan traditional craftsmanship with modern design is verified through an independent seating design practice, establishing a paradigm for elderly-friendly seating design with cultural recognizability. This research provides theoretical support for the construction of an age-friendly society from a regional cultural perspective and promotes the paradigm shift ofdesign for the elderly from functional satisfaction to cultural empowerment.