Highlights in Art and Design
type: channel
description: Highlights in Art and Design (HIAAD) is a peer-reviewed journal published by Darcy & Roy Press. The mission of the journal is to provide an academic forum for discussing, sharing and disseminating the issues of art and design across the world. All articles published are rigorously and fast reviewed meeting the Journal Quality standards.
publisher: Darcy & Roy Press
language: en
publication name: Highlights in Art and Design
issn: 2957-8787
items: THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND MUSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF KHUURIIN ÜLGER
items: A Typological Study of Subtitle Translation in Chinese Mythological Animation Films and Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies
items: An Exploration and Analysis of Tianjin’s Fishing Culture
items: Intervention Mechanism and Empirical Research of Digital Art Therapy on Adolescent Anxiety
items: Integration of Intercultural Communication into College English Teaching for Media Majors
items: Analysis of Urban Renewal Hotspots and Trends Based on Citespace: A Case Study of WOS Data (2016-2025)
items: Research on Cultural and Creative Translation Design Based on SWOT Analysis
items: Integrating Huang Yanpei's Vocational Guidance View into Ideological and Political Courses in Media Colleges and Universities: Origin, Development, Integration Paths and Practical Enlightenment
items: A Study on Narrative Design for Health Tea Packaging Based on the Culture of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms
items: Design Practice and Effectiveness Research of Modular Concept in Sustainable Design of Consumer Electronic Products
items: Opposition to the 'Ecological Relocation' Project from the Evenki People
items: Identity Construction of Interactive Subjects in the Digital Media Era
items: Innovation in Digital Media Adaptation Design and Visual Presentation of Traditional Publishing Content
items: Where Spirits Still Speak: Chinese Mass Shamanism and the Unfinished Project of Modernity
items: Research on Inclusive Design of Kitchen Products for Aging Populations Based on Universal Design Principles
items: Study on Tonal Ambiguity and Timbre Thinking in Contemporary Chinese Art Song Creation
items: A Study on the Portrayal of Female Characters in Yu Opera
items: A Comparative Study of the Violin Graded Examination Systems in China and the United Kingdom
items: A Study on Erhu Arrangements of the Jiangnan Sizhu Works by Shen Fengquan
items: Exploration of Bird Totems in Contemporary Jewellery Design: Research on Bird Totem Jewellery Based on the Three-Level Function of Emotional Design
items: A Preliminary Study on Models for AI-based Arrangement Generation
items: A Study on the Pathways to Innovation in the Design of Enshi Nuo Mask Cultural and Creative Products Driven by AIGC
items: Strategies for Creating Rural Plant Landscapes in the Context of Rural Revitalization
items: Resistance as Belatedness: The Mechanism of Assimilation in Rhinoceros
items: The Dreamscape and the Prison Stage Space as Metaphor in The Peony Pavilion and Hamlet: A Philosophical Study
items: An Exploration of Interactive Characteristics in the Commercial Application of Installation Art: A Case Study of Gentle Monster's Physical Retail Outlets in China
items: Digital Transformation and Reform of Fashion Brands in the Digital Age: A Case Study of Gucci
items: A Comparison of Plant Carving Patterns in Ancient Huizhou with Those in Baroque and Rococo Styles
items: Construction of "Super Symbols" for Visual Images of Folk Shehuo and Strategies for Urban Brand Image Renewal
items: A Comparative Study of Chinese and British Ceramic Medicine Pots in the 17th and 18th Centuries

THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND MUSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF KHUURIIN ÜLGER
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description: This article examines the historical development, generic typology, and musical characteristics of khuuriin ülger (“tales of the fiddle”; Cl. Mong. quγur-un üliger), one of the forms of Mongolian traditional oral culture. Khuuriin ülger took shape during the 17th to19th centuries under the mutual influence of Mongolian–Chinese cultural exchange, and the syncretic character of its oral tradition constitutes the core feature of this art form. The melody and music of the khuur are not merely subsidiary elements; rather, they constitute the principal means by which narrative structure and psychological expression are organized.
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creator: JIRIMUTU
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-06-03
publication date: 2026-06-03
starting page: 17
ending page: 19
doi: 10.54097/vqa7w929

A Typological Study of Subtitle Translation in Chinese Mythological Animation Films and Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies
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description: Drawing on the theories of domestication and foreignization, high and low context culture, cultural discount, and Skopos, and adopting a qualitative method that combines textual analysis with comparative case study, this paper systematically examines the translation strategies applied to mythological terminology, philosophical concepts, and cultural symbols in the official English subtitles. The findings reveal three typological strategies. Cultural retention relies on transliteration or literal translation and is preferred for proper nouns and names of magical implements. Cultural adaptation relies on free translation or substitution and is preferred for philosophical concepts and moral implications. The hybrid strategy combines retention and adaptation and is preferred for core cultural symbols. The three strategies form a continuum extending from mythic authenticity to cross-cultural readability, coexist within the same film, and are governed by the type of culture-loaded word, the narrative function of the line, and the cognitive expectations of overseas audiences. The study proposes that successful subtitle translation must seek a dynamic balance between mythic authenticity and cross-cultural readability, and it offers a typological reference framework for the international dissemination of Chinese mythological animated films.
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creator: Tianjiao Liu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-31
publication date: 2026-05-31
starting page: 139
ending page: 142
doi: 10.54097/97tfa174

An Exploration and Analysis of Tianjin’s Fishing Culture
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description: Tianjin, located at the juncture of nine rivers and bordering the Bohai Sea, exemplifies a region where rivers and sea meet, famous for its fishing culture heritage. This paper systematically analyzes the resource foundation and characteristics of Tianjin’s fishing culture, including tangible fishing culture, intangible fishing culture, fishery production, and marine flavors, which are based on field surveys and literature reviews. The paper explores the main challenges facing fishing culture and proposes strategies for its protection and development, aiming to provide a reference for the preservation and transmission of Tianjin’s fishing culture.
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creator: Lili Xu
creator: Shinan Wang
creator: Wenting Cui
creator: Hailong Xu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 132
ending page: 138
doi: 10.54097/rdmzt069

Intervention Mechanism and Empirical Research of Digital Art Therapy on Adolescent Anxiety
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description: With the rapid development of digital technology and the increasing pressure on adolescents’ growth, anxiety has become one of the most prevalent mental health problems among adolescents worldwide. Digital art therapy, as an innovative integration of digital technology and traditional art therapy, has shown unique advantages in alleviating adolescent anxiety due to its interactivity, accessibility, and adaptability. This study explores the intervention mechanism of digital art therapy on adolescent anxiety, constructs a theoretical model of "emotional expression - cognitive adjustment - physiological relaxation", and verifies the effectiveness of digital art therapy through a randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 120 adolescents with mild to moderate anxiety were selected as subjects, divided into the experimental group (receiving 8-week digital art therapy intervention) and the control group (receiving no intervention). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and heart rate variability (HRV) were used to collect data before and after the intervention, and SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0 were used for statistical analysis. The results show that: (1) Digital art therapy can significantly reduce adolescent anxiety levels (t=8.723, p<0.001), and the effect size Cohen’s d=1.58, indicating a strong intervention effect; (2) The intervention mechanism is mainly reflected in three aspects: promoting emotional externalization and release, correcting cognitive biases related to anxiety, and reducing physiological arousal; (3) There are significant differences in the intervention effect among different genders, age groups, and anxiety levels, with a more significant effect on females, adolescents aged 14-16, and those with moderate anxiety. This study provides empirical evidence for the application of digital art therapy in adolescent mental health intervention, and puts forward targeted suggestions for optimizing the interventi…
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creator: Zhiqi Cao
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 121
ending page: 131
doi: 10.54097/qe97qy45

Integration of Intercultural Communication into College English Teaching for Media Majors
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description: With the deepening of globalization and the rapid development of the new media industry, cross-cultural media interactions have become increasingly frequent. Modern media professionals are required not only to master basic English skills, but also to develop qualified intercultural awareness and the ability to interpret cultural differences embedded in media texts. For students enrolled in media-related programs at communication universities, college English teaching should move beyond exam-oriented training and integrate language instruction closely with their professional features. It is necessary to incorporate intercultural thinking, media case analysis and cross-cultural expression practice into regular English classroom teaching. This study takes Liaoning Communication University as the research background and adopts questionnaire surveys, a one-semester comparative teaching experiment, and semi-structured student interviews as major research methods. It analyzes the current situation and existing deficiencies of intercultural communication cultivation within college English courses for media majors, and puts forward targeted and operable teaching strategies suitable for local media colleges. The results reveal that the integrated teaching mode embedded with intercultural elements can effectively enhance students’ sensitivity to cultural differences, comprehension of media-based cultural texts, and willingness to express personal viewpoints in cross-cultural English scenarios. This research summarizes practical teaching approaches that match the learning characteristics and talent training objectives of media undergraduates. It can provide practical references for college English teaching reform in similar communication universities, and also offer a real classroom case for the integration of intercultural communication education and media-oriented English instruction.
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creator: Mingfei Zhao
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 114
ending page: 120
doi: 10.54097/gg595h30

Analysis of Urban Renewal Hotspots and Trends Based on Citespace: A Case Study of WOS Data (2016-2025)
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description: Currently, as China’s urbanization shifts from high-speed growth to a new stage of high-quality growth, the role of urban renewal is becoming increasingly important. To explore the research trends and hot topics in urban renewal, and to provide diversified suggestions for the high-quality development of future urbanization, this study employs quantitative analysis methods and utilizes CiteSpace literature visualization software to conduct a visual analysis of core literature related to urban renewal in the World Society of Urban Renewal (WOS) from 2016 to 2025. The analysis reveals that: 1) Keyword clustering analysis shows that research on urban renewal from 2016 to 2025 can be mainly divided into 13 clusters; 2) Time trend analysis shows that it can be mainly divided into three stages: macro-level urban renewal (2016-2019), meso-level and environmental renewal (2020-2022), and community-level renewal (2023-2025).
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creator: Ziyao Zhang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 106
ending page: 113
doi: 10.54097/v1a9rn61

Research on Cultural and Creative Translation Design Based on SWOT Analysis
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description: Under the backdrop of the booming global cultural industry, this study takes the Beijing Grand Canal as its research object and employs the SWOT analysis method to examine its cultural and creative design environment. The study reveals that while the Beijing Grand Canal possesses rich cultural connotations and abundant materials for cultural and creative design, there are still deficiencies in cultural exploration and product innovation. To address these issues, this paper proposes strategies such as utilizing cultural resources, developing diversified cultural and creative products in line with market demand, and leveraging digital technology to enhance product innovation. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of brand building and storytelling marketing to increase product added value and consumer recognition. This research provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the development of the cultural and creative industry related to the Beijing Grand Canal.
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creator: Jiaqi Liu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 11
ending page: 16
doi: 10.54097/pbq9tf88

Integrating Huang Yanpei's Vocational Guidance View into Ideological and Political Courses in Media Colleges and Universities: Origin, Development, Integration Paths and Practical Enlightenment
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description: Based on Huang Yanpei's core thought of vocational guidance, "enabling the unemployed to have jobs and the employed to enjoy their jobs", and focusing on the school-running characteristics, professional attributes and industry employment orientation of media colleges and universities, this paper deeply integrates his views on professional literacy, person-job fit, dedication to work and harmony with others, and practical education with university courses (Ideology, Morality and the Rule of Law, Situation and Policy, Career Planning, Industry Ideological and Political Education, Integrated Media Ideological and Political Education, etc.), so as to solve the practical problems of media majors such as vague career cognition, lack of industry original aspiration, weak media literacy, utilitarian employment and deviation in professional values, and realize the trinity of ideological and political education, vocational education and industry education.
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creator: Bo Song
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 101
ending page: 105
doi: 10.54097/kzq8jm43

A Study on Narrative Design for Health Tea Packaging Based on the Culture of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms
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description: The Twenty-Four Solar Terms are not only a traditional Chinese system of temporal perception but also embody the practical logic of bodily health preservation in harmony with the seasons.” Currently, health tea packaging commonly suffers from issues such as the excessive accumulation of cultural symbols, narrative fragmentation, and a disconnect between function and meaning. This study uses the “Four Seasons Remedies” health tea brand as a design practice vehicle to explore narrative design strategies for packaging based on solar term culture. By defining three core concepts—packaging narrative design, cultural translation, and the logic of solar term wellness—the study proposes three design strategies: a strategy of structuring time into a narrative grammar, a visual translation strategy based on the symbolization of bodily sensations, and a structural material strategy based on the ritualization of behavior. The study demonstrates that transforming the temporal logic of solar term wellness into a narrative structure for packaging can effectively enhance the semantic depth of cultural products and the continuity of the user experience. This research provides a set of reusable strategic pathways for the packaging design of solar term-based cultural products.
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creator: Shuqi Yang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 6
ending page: 10
doi: 10.54097/gyb17v12

Design Practice and Effectiveness Research of Modular Concept in Sustainable Design of Consumer Electronic Products
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description: Faced with the global electronic waste crisis and resource constraints, the sustainable transformation of the consumer electronics industry has become imperative. Modular design is recognized as a pivotal strategy for implementing the circular economy due to its inherent potential in extending product lifespans, facilitating repair and upgrades, and promoting component recycling. This study employs a case deconstruction and mixed-methods research approach to explore the practical implementation and comprehensive effectiveness of modular design. Taking the representative product Fairphone as a case study, the research deconstructs its "design-business-user" triad innovation, revealing specific strategies in modular architecture, standardized interfaces, emotional connection, and service models. By integrating user surveys (N=150, N=15 for interviews) with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, the study assesses effectiveness across two dimensions: user behavior (repair intention, loyalty) and environmental benefits (carbon footprint, resource reduction). Results indicate that effective modular sustainable design is a systemic engineering approach that integrates forward-looking design, closed-loop business models, and deep user engagement. Finally, this study constructs an integrated design methodology framework and identifies core challenges—such as technical standardization and industrial ecology—to provide theoretical and practical guidance for sustainable innovation in consumer electronics.
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creator: Ziyi Pan
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 1
ending page: 5
doi: 10.54097/qtesmp17

Opposition to the 'Ecological Relocation' Project from the Evenki People
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description: At the end of 2003, the Chinese government finalized the "Ecological Relocation" project for the Ewenki ethnic minority in Northeast China, planning to relocate them to cities, raise reindeer in captivity, and implement new education. This move was strongly opposed by the Ewenki people, who refused to move away from their ancestral habitat. Starting from the spirit and philosophical culture of the Ewenki people, this article analyzes the core reasons for their opposition to immigration. The Ewenki people uphold the natural worship cosmology of animism, and their social development is deeply integrated with nature. They firmly oppose the destruction and excessive development of nature. However, the logging industry of the Han people in Ewenki settlements has already caused their dissatisfaction, and being forced to move away from the mountains and forests is seen as a violation of natural laws. In addition, the "ecological migration" project not only deprived the Ewenki people of their natural habitat but also challenged their spiritual culture centered on shamanism through the promotion of atheistic education. The forced shift in worldview brought about by policies and the isolation from nature continue to weaken and even lead to the extinction of the Ewenki culture. This article ultimately points out that the project is a disrespect and erosion of the Ewenki culture, and calls for diverse measures to be taken to save this precious minority culture.
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creator: Yiming Sun
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 95
ending page: 100
doi: 10.54097/twqx7a54

Identity Construction of Interactive Subjects in the Digital Media Era
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description: Background: With the continuous advancement of digitization, people's Ways to Create, Present, and Interact with Their Identity Have Changed Completely Now. Social Media's interactive function, such as users creating generated contents; algorithms recommend Contents and network Communication tools, form a basis for participants to create their own identity in a new Environment. In other words, how do interactive subjects create their own sense of identity in a novel Information Environment? Specifically, this includes Platforms' function, Audience awareness and Power Distribution to impact Subject's Self-Expression And Identity Re-naming. Based on publicly available data from the Pew Research Centre, Data ReportAl Global Digital Overviews and Statista Digital Media Reports as well as systematically reviewing peer-reviewed literature; We analysed trends in digital identity construction on major social media platforms. Result: In 2023, approximately 4.89 billion people globally used Social Media and spent about two-and-a-half hours every day interacting with it. Identity construction in the digital age exhibits certain features: planned display of oneself, fragmented audience structure, multiple contextualised persons. With greater implementation of algorithms mediates visibility-recognizable identitys. Final Answer: digital media has not dissolved identity but made it more fluid, performative, and contested. The theoretical basis should include platform affordances and algorithmic authorities that influence present-day identity building.
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creator: Jiawei Wei
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 88
ending page: 94
doi: 10.54097/ahrq5n80

Innovation in Digital Media Adaptation Design and Visual Presentation of Traditional Publishing Content
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description: In the digital age, the national reading mode is shifting towards digitization, and the traditional publishing industry is in urgent need of digital upgrading. The poor compatibility between content and digital carriers, as well as outdated visual presentation, is the main obstacle to the current development of the industry. This article is based on the annual report of China's digital publishing industry from 2024 to 2025, the 2024 Statistical Bulletin of Press and Publication, and industry practices. It summarizes the connotation and practical problems of digital adaptation of traditional publishing content, explores the adaptation design path and visual presentation optimization strategy, and provides an implementable guarantee plan. The practices of Science Press and China Cartographic Press have demonstrated that standardized content adaptation and innovative visual presentation yield remarkable results. The former's digital textbooks have garnered over 2,000 users, while the latter's AR products deliver immersive experiences, thereby significantly enhancing the reading completion rate of digital products and the efficiency of content dissemination (http: // m.toutiao.com/group/7610583127827743238/).Practice has shown that standardized content adaptation and innovative visual expression can revitalize traditional publishing resources, improve content dissemination efficiency, and enhance readers' reading experience. Research can provide practical reference for the digital transformation of traditional publishing units, and promote the value continuity and quality improvement of traditional content in the digital environment.
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creator: Leyang Xiao
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 78
ending page: 87
doi: 10.54097/3zx1r210

Where Spirits Still Speak: Chinese Mass Shamanism and the Unfinished Project of Modernity
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description: Although the Chinese state is officially secular, practices and beliefs often labeled as spiritual or religious have never disappeared from everyday life. In recent years, shamanism, frequently framed as distant, mysterious, and archaic, has attracted growing popular attention in China. Through an analysis of literary works, documentaries, social media discourse, and interview data, the paper first examines how artistic representations aestheticize and simplify shamanism. It then explores the social and cultural conditions underpinning the rise of Chinese mass shamanism, arguing that this phenomenon is a cultural response to contemporary China’s structural and affective predicaments, including the instrumentalism of diffused religion, social atomization, and the erosion of "the nearby". Finally, the paper situates Chinese mass shamanism within the broader framework of modernity’s entanglement with occultism, contending that it is a hybrid formation born of modernity’s failure to achieve complete disenchantment.
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creator: Yiming Sun
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 70
ending page: 77
doi: 10.54097/682wz346

Research on Inclusive Design of Kitchen Products for Aging Populations Based on Universal Design Principles
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description: An ageing population is a demographic trend of the twenty-first century, with a kitchen being recognized as a key setting in successful aging in place. Traditional kitchen products may have not been effective in helping the elderly due to a lack of personalization or stereotyping involved in the design process. This study proposes an approach towards developing an efficient tool for applying the principles of universal design into kitchen products designed for elderly people through implementing a multi-method approach, comprising four interconnected stages: user research, analytical synthesis, design practice, and systematic evaluation. Semi-structured interviews and contextual observations were conducted among 20 elderly individuals and 10 of their relatives living in urban areas in China. Qualitative data collected via semi-structured interviews and contextual observation were then analyzed in accordance with hierarchical task analysis combined with user journey mapping techniques in order to reveal the physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of product usage.In conclusion, an Inclusive Kitchen Product Design Framework has been developed, showing how the principles of universal design should be applied across three interacting levels of physical, interactive, and emotional experience. Three different kitchen product concepts were created as a proof of concept for the Inclusive Kitchen Product Design Framework: an inclusive induction cooktop, a lift-assisted storage system, and a multi-grip electric kettle. According to a formula combining interactions between the seven principles, their design solutions received composite inclusive design scores of 3.87, 4.12, and 3.65, respectively. It can be concluded that interactions between the seven principles do not simply add but multiply, with cross-level interactions providing greater value compared to being superior in all levels.
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creator: Wen Jiang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 53
ending page: 69
doi: 10.54097/rt2dgx33

Study on Tonal Ambiguity and Timbre Thinking in Contemporary Chinese Art Song Creation
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description: Contemporary Chinese art song, as a core carrier of the integration of Chinese traditional musical culture and Western modern composing techniques, has shown a diversified development trend in the process of cultural collision and inheritance. Tonal ambiguity and timbre thinking, as two key aesthetic and technical characteristics in its creation, have become important signs of the innovation and development of contemporary Chinese art song. This paper takes the creation practice of contemporary Chinese art song (since the 1980s) as the research object, combs the connotation and manifestation of tonal ambiguity and timbre thinking by using the research methods of musicology, statistics and case analysis, explores the internal connection between the two, analyzes the application rules and artistic value of tonal ambiguity and timbre thinking in specific works, and provides theoretical reference and practical enlightenment for the creation and development of contemporary Chinese art song. The research finds that tonal ambiguity in contemporary Chinese art song creation mainly manifests in the weakening of functional tonality, the superposition of multi-tonality and the free conversion of mode, which breaks the traditional tonal framework and enriches the emotional expression of the works; timbre thinking, on the other hand, realizes the innovation of sound color through the integration of national instrumental timbre, the expansion of vocal timbre and the exploration of electronic timbre, and constructs a unique audio-visual language of contemporary Chinese art song. There is a mutual promotion and complementary relationship between the two: tonal ambiguity provides a free space for the exertion of timbre thinking, and the innovation of timbre thinking further highlights the artistic connotation of tonal ambiguity. The research also shows that the application of tonal ambiguity and timbre thinking in contemporary Chinese art song creation has obvious generational chara…
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creator: Tianxiao Tan
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 45
ending page: 52
doi: 10.54097/n5tbek04

A Study on the Portrayal of Female Characters in Yu Opera
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description: Yu Opera, as a representative form of Yellow River opera culture in the Central Plains, possesses a distinctive artistic appeal. As one of the principal role types in Yu Opera, the Dan role has undergone a transition from male performers to female actresses and has gradually developed into a richer classification system with the inclusion of Wu Dan (martial female), Daoma Dan (female warrior), and Shuai Dan (female commander role), the latter being specifically developed for the role of Mu Guiying. Mu Guiying Takes Command (Mu Guiying Gua Shuai), a classic work in which Ma Jinfeng performed female roles, was adapted from the traditional Yu Opera Lao Zheng Dong. It portrays Mu Guiying as an outstanding female commander who is tactically astute, patriotic, powerful, and intrepid, and whose characterization carries profound feminist implications, thereby greatly promoting the portrayal of female characters in Yu Opera. Taking the classic excerpt “three cannonades outside the camp gate roar like thunder” (Yuan Men Wai San Sheng Pao Ru Tong Lei Zhen) from the 1954 version of Lao Zheng Dong and the 1979 version of Mu Guiying Takes Command (Mu Guiying Gua Shuai) as examples, this study explores the portrayal of female characters in Yu Opera through a comparative and analytical approach from three perspectives: the evolution of lyrics, the artistic treatment of singing, and emotional expression. It further examines the changes in the connotations of feminist development as reflected through these adaptations and transformations.
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creator: Weiyi Lin
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 33
ending page: 44
doi: 10.54097/nq2qpm34

A Comparative Study of the Violin Graded Examination Systems in China and the United Kingdom
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description: Originating from different socio-cultural backgrounds, the music graded examination systems of China and the United Kingdom exhibit evident differences from top level design to specific implementation measures. These differences are reflected in various aspects including the purpose of graded examinations, examination methods, and value orientations. The former can reflect to a greater extent the diversity of musical styles, pedagogical approaches, and academic research. The latter, however, tends to emphasize systematic technical training through standardized studies and classical repertoire. The two systems demonstrate a certain degree of complementarity, while also reflecting the differing concepts of music education and assessment standards in China and the United Kingdom.
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creator: Xingyuan Zhang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 27
ending page: 32
doi: 10.54097/txxn2w45

A Study on Erhu Arrangements of the Jiangnan Sizhu Works by Shen Fengquan
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description: Jiangnan Sizhu (string and wind instruments) is an instrumental ensemble form with distinct regional characteristics and wide influence. It is prevalent in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other areas, giving rise to local schools with their own distinctive features. Shen Fengquan is an extremely important representative figure in the development of Jiangnan Sizhu music in Zhejiang. This paper discusses Shen Fengquan’s life and career, as well as his relationship with Jiangnan Sizhu. Taking Slow Three Six, Purple Bamboo Melody, Yun Qing, and Zhonghua Six Clappers as examples, it analyzes Shen Fengquan’s adaptations of Jiangnan Sizhu music and his Erhu compositions and illustrates the characteristics of his musical creation and performance through score examples. It concludes that Shen Fengquan formed an Erhu performance style characterized by “soft, refined, light, and elegant”. Shen Fengquan realized a formal transformation of Erhu performance in Jiangnan Sizhu music from “ensemble performance” to “solo performance”. He transformed a large amount of improvised and indeterminate folk performance practice into precise and systematic musical scores and written theory, achieving a shift in Erhu transmission from “oral transmission” to “notation-based transmission”. He summarized scattered performance experiences into a “Zhejiang School” system of performance techniques that includes specific fingering, portamento, ornamentation, and rhythmic treatment, enabling Erhu performance to undergo a transformation toward systematization, teachability, and scientific standardization.
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creator: Yao Wang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 17
ending page: 26
doi: 10.54097/nyfeee41

Exploration of Bird Totems in Contemporary Jewellery Design: Research on Bird Totem Jewellery Based on the Three-Level Function of Emotional Design
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description: This research explores the reinterpretation of bird totems in contemporary jewellery through the lens of emotional design. As significant symbols in ancient China, bird totems embody cultural identity and spiritual meaning. However, they are rarely used in contemporary jewellery, and their emotional and cultural values are often overlooked. To address this gap, the study applies Donald Norman’s Three Levels of Emotional Design—visceral, behavioural, and reflective—to examine how jewellery design can create emotional connections with bird totem imagery. Grounded in symbolic constructivism and guided by practice-based methodology, the research integrates theoretical analysis with design experimentation. It investigates how visceral aesthetics stimulate behavioural interaction and ultimately foster reflective cultural resonance. The findings suggest that emotional design enhances sensory and interactive experiences while revitalizing the symbolic and spiritual significance of bird totems. This approach reveals their regenerative potential in contemporary jewellery and offers a new pathway for reinterpreting and transmitting traditional cultural symbols within a modern design context.
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creator: Yongchen Lyu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 8
ending page: 16
doi: 10.54097/e5phpk43

A Preliminary Study on Models for AI-based Arrangement Generation
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description: This paper systematically reviews the current research status and developmental trajectory of artificial intelligence in the field of music arrangement. Artificial intelligence simulates the creative process through computational models and has undergone a transition from symbol-based rule-driven algorithms to data-driven deep learning paradigms. By learning statistical regularities from massive music datasets, it enables the generation of melody, harmony, and rhythm. However, the structural complexity and artistic logic of polyphonic music remain the core challenges for AI-based arrangement. Current mainstream approaches include autoregressive neural generative models, variational autoencoders (VAE), and generative adversarial networks (GAN). This paper focuses on the analysis of the GAN-based MuseGAN model and its evolutionary framework, the Leadsheet Generation model. By introducing functional representations (melody and harmony) as structured prior conditions, Leadsheet Generation constructs a conditional generation mechanism, significantly improving the quality of music in terms of tonal consistency, textural repetition patterns, and auditory logic. This provides a new path for human–computer interactive music creation that balances controllability and artistic expressiveness.
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creator: Guo Zeng
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-28
publication date: 2026-05-28
starting page: 1
ending page: 7
doi: 10.54097/2qhrhh87

A Study on the Pathways to Innovation in the Design of Enshi Nuo Mask Cultural and Creative Products Driven by AIGC
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description: Against the backdrop of growing attention to digitalization and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, Enshi Nuo masks—as a distinctive cultural symbol of the Tujia region—face developmental challenges such as a generational gap in transmission, insufficient exploration of their cultural significance, and homogenization of cultural and creative products. The in-depth application of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AIGC) technology offers new possibilities for overcoming these challenges. This paper first elaborates on the technical principles of AIGC and its current applications in the field of cultural and creative design; second, it systematically examines the regional cultural context, artistic characteristics, and transmission challenges of Enshi Nuo masks; subsequently, it outlines an innovative pathway for AIGC to empower the cultural and creative design of Enshi Nuo masks; finally, using the generative design practice of the picture book The Little Carpenter and the Mask God as a case study, it demonstrates the end-to-end application of AIGC tools in plot generation, storyboarding, character development, and illustration. The study indicates that AIGC technology can effectively enhance design efficiency and revitalize the cultural representation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), but its successful application requires support from high-quality cultural databases and effective human-machine collaboration capabilities. In the future, we should adhere to the ethical boundaries of cultural authenticity and promote the deep integration of AIGC with the ICH cultural and creative industry.
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creator: Runxian Zhao
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-29
publication date: 2026-04-29
starting page: 26
ending page: 30
doi: 10.54097/y7mqt539

Strategies for Creating Rural Plant Landscapes in the Context of Rural Revitalization
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description: This study takes Fengjiang Village in Wenzhou City as an example, aiming to analyze the status quo and characteristics of rural plantscape creation through field investigation, and put forward design strategies in the comprehensive improvement and upgrading of Fengjiang Village in order to optimize the rural landscape and help rural revitalization. Based on the current situation of plant landscape in Fengjiang Village, combined with the strategy of rural revitalization, the design strategy is proposed by adopting methods such as field investigation and case study. Firstly, the landscape status quo of Fengjiang Village is analyzed, and the types of rural plantscape, the advantages and roles of creation are outlined; secondly, the strategy of creating plantscape in Zhoudian Village is proposed, including enriching plant configuration and enhancing landscape effect.Through the comprehensive improvement and upgrading of Fengjiang Village, the harmony, characteristics and economy of plant landscape have been realized, providing a good ecological environment for the construction of beautiful countryside and further promoting the implementation of rural revitalization.
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creator: Xueting Zhang
creator: Zhonggou Chen
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-29
publication date: 2026-04-29
starting page: 21
ending page: 25
doi: 10.54097/3evccg21

Resistance as Belatedness: The Mechanism of Assimilation in Rhinoceros
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description: Eugène Ionesco’s Rhinoceros is commonly regarded as an allegorical critique of fascism and collective assimilation. Yet in the play, those who first undergo “rhinocerization” are characters who pride themselves on rationality and emphasize logic and order, while the indolent and hesitant Bérenger remains the only figure who resists assimilation. Grounded in Ionesco’s anti-fascist position, this article reexamines the differentiation of forms of rationality within the play and argues that the mechanism of assimilation operates through the appropriation of formalized rational discourse that has lost its capacity for judgment. Bérenger’s resistance is not heroic in nature; rather, it takes the form of a belated stance that remains out of sync with the rhythm of assimilation.
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creator: Yiran Wang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-29
publication date: 2026-04-29
starting page: 18
ending page: 20
doi: 10.54097/dh754f76

The Dreamscape and the Prison Stage Space as Metaphor in The Peony Pavilion and Hamlet: A Philosophical Study
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description: This study undertakes a comparative analysis of the theatrical spaces in The Peony Pavilion and Hamlet, aiming to move beyond conventional interpretations centered on "ultimate sentiment" (qingzhi) and existentialism, and instead, to explore the cross-cultural philosophical dialogue encoded within their spatial symbolism. Employing the conceptual frameworks of the "dreamscape of ultimate sentiment" and the "prison of existence," the investigation focuses on the seminal spaces of the garden and the castle. Through close reading and semiotic analysis, it demonstrates how the highly stylized garden in The Peony Pavilion materializes an expressive, sentiment-driven worldview (qingben), while the realistic castle in Hamlet operates as a metaphor for existential confinement and rational inquiry. The research argues that these spatial configurations provide a foundational anchor for cross-cultural theatrical comparison. Their juxtaposition fosters an interpretive paradigm of "interstitial wisdom"—not as a simple binary opposition, but as a means to reveal the dialogic interplay between these two philosophical perspectives through the medium of stage space. This paradigm not only opens new pathways for theatrical theory and practice but also constructs a dialogic bridge, grounded in spatial representation, between the Eastern tszzradition of lyrical expressiveness and the Western tradition of rational speculation in dramaturgical philosophy.
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creator: Shanshan Yang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-29
publication date: 2026-04-29
starting page: 14
ending page: 17
doi: 10.54097/9302sx03

An Exploration of Interactive Characteristics in the Commercial Application of Installation Art: A Case Study of Gentle Monster's Physical Retail Outlets in China
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description: The development of installation art currently exhibits diverse transformations. As public aesthetic sensibilities continue to evolve, interactive installations hold a distinct advantage over other forms through their heightened engagement potential. The convergence of art and commerce has increasingly facilitated seamless connections between audiences and brands. The South Korean fashion brand Gentle Monster exemplifies this trend. This paper examines how the brand leverages marketing narratives, design storytelling, artist collaborations, and intellectual property to forge cross-sector partnerships. By analysing the specific methodologies employed in its physical exhibitions, it explores the triadic relationship between installation art, audiences, and brands. Through summarising audience engagement during on-site interactions, it investigates the unique characteristics of interactive installation art within brand retail contexts. This innovative art-marketing model is poised to become a significant opportunity for brands to redefine their intrinsic values and pioneer fresh approaches to commercial marketing.
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creator: Yilin Qian
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-29
publication date: 2026-04-29
starting page: 10
ending page: 13
doi: 10.54097/vq017g31

Digital Transformation and Reform of Fashion Brands in the Digital Age: A Case Study of Gucci
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description: This paper aims to explore the inevitability and complexity of the transformation faced by traditional luxury brands against the backdrop of the digital technology revolution. Taking the Italian luxury brand Gucci as a focal case, through a systematic analysis of its public strategies, marketing practices and industry reports, the paper deeply dissects the multi-dimensional motivations, core paths and inherent conflicts of its digital transformation. The study finds that Gucci's transformation is not a simple online migration of channels, but a systematic revolution that reconstructs the brand narrative, consumer interaction and value delivery system with a "digital native mindset". The key to its success lies in integrating the spirit of digital experimentation into the brand gene, and effectively reaching and engaging the new generation of consumers through omni-channel experience integration, social content creation and virtual product exploration. However, this process also exposes the profound tensions between craft tradition and digital efficiency, classic image and avant-garde experimentation, as well as hierarchical organization and agile culture. This study finally refines the strategic insights of Gucci's transformation, providing a reference framework and warnings for Chinese fashion brands in balancing inheritance and innovation, physical and virtual, elite and mass markets, and points out future research directions on the long-term performance evaluation and ethical boundaries of digital transformation.
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creator: Jiarui Zhang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-29
publication date: 2026-04-29
starting page: 6
ending page: 9
doi: 10.54097/z86de312

A Comparison of Plant Carving Patterns in Ancient Huizhou with Those in Baroque and Rococo Styles
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description: Although ancient Huizhou and the Baroque and Rococo sculpture arts of Europe belong to different times and spaces in the East and West, both were in the late feudal society and the transition to modern times, and both were passionate about expressing plant patterns, forming their own visual transformation systems with distinct styles. Through the comparative analysis of patterns, this paper reveals the differences in style and method of visual transformation of plant patterns between the two, thereby revealing the expression methods of traditional patterns under different cultural differences. The research finds that the plant patterns of Huizhou's three carvings have established a visual transformation system centered on Confucian ethics: in terms of shape, they usually use simplified or geometric forms for generalization, while in composition, they tend to emphasize symmetry and balance, and rely on homophonic symbolism and cultural allusions; while the visual transformation of plant patterns in the Baroque and Rococo periods shows a shift from religious symbolism to a focus on sensory experience. These differences between the East and the West respectively reflect the Confucian tradition of "investigating things to gain knowledge" and the transition of European decorative art from the Christian view of nature to the Enlightenment. This study provides a theoretical basis for the visual transformation of plant patterns under cultural differences.
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creator: Yimei Han
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-29
publication date: 2026-04-29
starting page: 1
ending page: 5
doi: 10.54097/q1trzd54

Construction of "Super Symbols" for Visual Images of Folk Shehuo and Strategies for Urban Brand Image Renewal
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description: Against the backdrop that urban brand building is generally trapped in the homogenization dilemma of "thousand cities with the same appearance", how to explore regional cultural resources and shape a distinctive urban image with high recognizability has become an important issue in the fields of urban governance and cultural inheritance. As a traditional folk activity carrying regional identity and collective memory, folk Shehuo contains abundant symbolic resources in its visual elements such as facial masks, costumes, props and dynamic rituals, which has the potential to be transformed into a "super symbol" for urban brands. Taking the visual image of folk Shehuo as the research object, this paper systematically discusses the construction logic of its "super symbol" and the interactive relationship between it and the renewal of urban brand image. From the dual perspectives of semiotics and urban brand theory, this paper proposes that the construction of "super symbol" follows a three-stage logic of "extraction–translation–reinforcement": in the extraction stage, core symbols with the greatest transformation potential are selected through the identification and screening of visual prototypes; in the translation stage, the gap between traditional symbols and the modern communication context is bridged through meaning reconstruction and formal recreation; in the reinforcement stage, symbols are transformed from abstract concepts into brand assets through mediatization and scenario-based implantation. On this basis, this paper constructs a four-dimensional strategy system for urban brand renewal: the positioning strategy anchors the core urban value through symbols; the narrative strategy takes symbols as the hub to drive the production of urban stories; the experience strategy transforms static symbols into participatory dynamic experiences; the governance strategy establishes a multi-stakeholder coordination mechanism to achieve a dynamic balance between symbol prote…
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creator: Xiaoshuang Sun
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-30
publication date: 2026-03-30
starting page: 61
ending page: 64
doi: 10.54097/e0ea3z04

A Comparative Study of Chinese and British Ceramic Medicine Pots in the 17th and 18th Centuries
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description: A large quantity of Chinese ceramics was imported to Britain in the 17th to the 18th centuries, which inspired the local production of medicine pots. Through physical comparisons, literature review, and image analysis, the author explored the similarities and differences between the ceramic medicine pots of China and Britain in shape, decoration, and craftsmanship, as well as the medical traditions, production conditions, and cultural contexts behind them. Despite visual convergence the shape and craftsmanship of the medicine pots of two countries differed, reflecting asynchronous style borrowing and technological diffusion, as well as the recipient's trade-off and re-creation based on local demands.
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creator: Chuying Liu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Highlights in Art and Design https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-30
publication date: 2026-03-30
starting page: 56
ending page: 60
doi: 10.54097/3pnjqa65