About the Journal
Cultural Heritage is an open-access multidisciplinary journal of science and technology for deconstructing traditional paradigms in the field of cultural heritage and exploring its dynamic relationship with future societies. The journal focuses on three core missions:
Critical Dialogue: Introducing ecological concepts and non-anthropocentric perspectives to reconstruct heritage value evaluation systems;
Technological Ethics and Future Imagination: Critically examining the reshaping of heritage forms by technologies such as artificial intelligence, the metaverse, and blockchain, and proposing sustainable ethical frameworks for digital heritage;
Interdisciplinary Laboratory: Promoting deep integration of design, architecture, ecology, data science, sociology, and heritage studies to incubate innovative practices with social intervention.
We welcome papers that examine diverse topics within the scope of the journal, including, but not limited to:
- Cultural Heritage Value and Future Challenges
Circular Economy and Heritage Conservation: Application design of low-carbon materials in cultural and creative products, and reuse design of waste materials in cultural heritage restoration (e.g., artistic regeneration of ancient architectural waste).
Ecological and Social Adaptation Strategies: Ecological engineering strategies for heritage in specific climatic regions (such as tide-proof facilities for coastal heritage and windbreak sand-fixation projects for arid zone heritage sites). Spatial design models for preventive protection of cultural heritage in extreme climates (e.g., movable protective covers, dynamic protection structures). Addressing social identity differences, exploring gamified education for youth and barrier-free experience design for people with disabilities to promote intergenerational transmission and inclusive sharing of heritage values.
Technological Ethics and Digital Heritage Challenges: Confronting ethical controversies of AI-generated heritage; addressing the survival risks of digital heritage and exploring 3D data format compatibility and intergenerational inheritance mechanisms for virtual heritage. Ethical disputes in commercial development of cultural heritage, and strategies for countering the appropriation of local cultural symbols in a globalized context.
Expansion of Value Theories and Evaluation Innovations: Breaking through traditional frameworks of history and aesthetics to explore emerging value dimensions such as ecological, emotional, and digital values; constructing inclusive evaluation systems with multi-stakeholder participation, integrating anthropological surveys, economic models, and design thinking tools to develop dynamic visual evaluation methodologies.
- Design Innovation and Digital Regeneration of Cultural Heritage
Interactive Design and Virtual Experience: Design of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) interactive systems for cultural heritage, application of digital twin technology in multi-sensory experiences, and UI/UX optimization for mobile-based cultural heritage communication.
Graphic Design and Cultural Communication: Artistic translation of 3D scan data, modern visual transformation of traditional patterns and symbols, and innovative expressions of digital media art in the dissemination of intangible cultural heritage.
Long-term Preservation and Reuse of Digital Assets: Design of blockchain-based copyright management systems for digital cultural relics; interface design of integrated databases for heterogeneous data (text, images, 3D models); cross-media transformation design of digital heritage, optimizing the design process from virtual modeling to physical derivatives.
- Interdisciplinary Integration of Traditional Craftsmanship and Modern Technology
Digital Protection of Handicrafts: Empowering traditional crafts with technologies such as 3D printing and laser engraving, such as digital replication and innovative design of woodcarving and embroidery.
Smart Tools and Intangible Heritage Inheritance: Development of interactive teaching platforms (e.g., AR intangible heritage skill teaching systems), and research on AI-assisted traditional pattern generation algorithms.
Contemporary Design Translation of Traditional Techniques: Material innovation for intangible cultural heritage crafts, and modernization design of craft production processes (e.g., modular production, personalized customization system development).
- Creative Transformation and Industrial Application of Cultural Heritage
Modern Product Design with Cultural Elements: Symbolic translation of traditional patterns in daily products, and innovative product development based on the functional prototypes of cultural relics.
Cultural and Creative Industry Design: Creative design expressions of cultural heritage in cultural and creative products; integrated design of industrial chains for characteristic resources in heritage sites (e.g., derivative development of intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship IP, packaging design with regional cultural themes); design practices of cultural heritage empowering rural revitalization (visual design of agricultural product brands, cultural tourism product development in traditional villages).
Service Design and Heritage Value Delivery: Design of experiential consumption scenarios themed on cultural heritage (craft workshops, immersive theaters); museum education service design based on user journeys (parent-child interactive installations, intergenerational cultural communication projects).
Value Transformation Pathways and Social Impacts: Studying the value realization mechanisms of "heritage+" integration models, including the integration of cultural tourism, agricultural innovation industrial chains, and the balance of social and economic benefits in industrial heritage transformation.
- Spatial Narrative and Experiential Design for Cultural Heritage
Narrative Restoration of Architectural Heritage: Scene-based narrative design in historical building renovations (e.g., museum exhibitions, immersive experiences in heritage parks).
Environmental Design and Cultural Landmark Creation: Experience optimization of tourism routes in cultural heritage sites, and research on the interactive relationship between public art installations and historical blocks.
Cross-media Spatial Design: Application of digital projection and audio-visual technologies in activating urban historical spaces, such as the visual language construction of ancient city wall light shows.
Heritage Adaptability in Architectural and Environmental Design: Spatial narrative design in historical building renovations, and ecological sustainability strategies for landscape planning in cultural heritage sites.
- Cultural Identity Construction in a Global Perspective
Design Discourse on Cultural Identity and Heritage Representation: Construction of visual identities for local cultural heritage in a global context (e.g., international expression strategies for national/regional cultural symbols); cross-regional design narratives of immigrant cultural heritage.
Cross-cultural Design Dialogue: Fusion practices of traditional Eastern aesthetics and Western modern design languages.
Cultural Output in the Digital Age: Communication design of cultural heritage on short-video and metaverse platforms, and innovative applications of local cultural elements in international brand collaborations.
Design Interventions for Conflict and Reconciliation: Emergency protection design for cultural heritage in war-torn areas, and research on public art interventions in cultural conflicts.
Submission Requirements and Interdisciplinary Features
Interdisciplinary Integration: Encouraging cross-disciplinary research between design and fields such as archaeology, materials science, and anthropology (e.g., integration of industrial design and cultural relic restoration technologies).
Technological Frontiers: Focusing on the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain (e.g., digital copyright management), and the metaverse on cultural heritage design.
Social Engagement: Highlighting design cases involving community collaboration and public education, such as participatory museum exhibition design or interactive installations at cultural heritage sites.
Ethics and Policy: Including analyses of cultural sensitivity in design practices, such as privacy and intellectual property issues in the digitalization of cultural heritage.
