Culture Reference Product Design ---Case Study of Hans J.Wegner China Chair Design

Abstract

Recent research shows that culture can be referenced as product design inspiration.This culture reference product design method can make cultural inheritance ,at the same time create new modern design value comparing with traditional function improving design method and bionics design approach. So this paper take one case study to explain this culture reference product design value by semantic evaluation in the point of users.The meaning of this research is to prove this design method has positive value judging by users,so in future, this culture reference product design method may be applied in wider range. The case study of this paper is Hans J.Wegner China chair. Author discusses how Hans J.Wegner referenced traditional Chinese chairs into modern chair design,meanwhile find out the value of this reference design method .The method in this paper is mainly on questionnaire investigation﹑semantic differential evaluation(SD)﹑SPSS statistical analysis. The results of this paper include three parts,one is the high possibility of Hans J.Wegner China chair referenced design method from traditional Chinese round-backed armchair .The second one is Hans J.Wegner China chair and five traditional Chinese chair have discrepancy evaluating factors in SD evaluation system , Hans J.Wegner China chair takes aesthetic factor as the first factor because of organic modernism design approach combing with the aesthetical essence of round-backed armchair,while the five traditional Chinese chairs’ first evaluating factor is emotion owning to the ancient Chinese feudal social hierarchy influence of chair symbol for ruling power. The final result is that Hans J.Wegner China chair has positive value in modern design evaluation criteria . With the study of Hans J.Wegner China chair’s culture referenced design ,we can summary that culture reference design is one progressive and valuable modern design method .

Keywords: culture reference ,product design , China chair,semantic differential evaluation,positive value