Abstract
The purpose of this study is to derive effective design methods for expressing “Sabi,” one of the traditional aesthetic principles of Japan, within the context of contemporary industrial product design, including both appearance and user interface (UI). To achieve this goal, the study extracted 277 visual characteristics representing “Sabi” from traditional Japanese tea utensils. These characteristics were then systematically compared with 392 statements and behavioral records of the artisans who created the utensils, in order to infer their aesthetic intentions. As a result, five core expression features— “miniaturized,” “linear,” “technical,” “delicate,” and “vivid”—were identified. Furthermore, 14 concrete design techniques for applying “Sabi” in modern design contexts were developed. Based on these insights, prototype designs of industrial product appearances and UI elements were created to test the applicability of the derived methods. The results indicate that these techniques offer practical value in expressing traditional aesthetics through contemporary design.
Keywords
Aesthetic of Japan; Design Methods; Product Design; UI Design
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.324
Citation
Yoshitaka, S., Saki, T., Kanai, T.,and Yukiko, I.(2025) A Study on Design Expression Methods of the Traditional Japanese Aesthetic Concept "Sabi", in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.324
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
A Study on Design Expression Methods of the Traditional Japanese Aesthetic Concept "Sabi"
The purpose of this study is to derive effective design methods for expressing “Sabi,” one of the traditional aesthetic principles of Japan, within the context of contemporary industrial product design, including both appearance and user interface (UI). To achieve this goal, the study extracted 277 visual characteristics representing “Sabi” from traditional Japanese tea utensils. These characteristics were then systematically compared with 392 statements and behavioral records of the artisans who created the utensils, in order to infer their aesthetic intentions. As a result, five core expression features— “miniaturized,” “linear,” “technical,” “delicate,” and “vivid”—were identified. Furthermore, 14 concrete design techniques for applying “Sabi” in modern design contexts were developed. Based on these insights, prototype designs of industrial product appearances and UI elements were created to test the applicability of the derived methods. The results indicate that these techniques offer practical value in expressing traditional aesthetics through contemporary design.