Search Results (154)

Masstige fashion brands present a promising alternative to both luxury and fast fashion in the context of sustainability, offering an affordable yet prestigious option. However, these brands face the challenge of leveraging digital transformation tools while balancing prestige and accessibility. With its visual appeal, interactive features, and daily usage, Instagram Stories is a highly engaging communication tool for masstige brands. Despite its importance, ephemeral brand communication remains an underexplored area. This study investigates how young consumers interpret and decode Instagram Stories featuring human models from masstige fashion brands that represent identitary values Sexuality and Seduction, Seasonality, and Renewal. Using mind mapping and focus group discussions with 75 frequent Instagram users, findings reveal that audiences actively reinterpret brand messages, sometimes reshaping their intended meaning. Highly stylized celebrities led to skepticism or disengagement, while authentic, everyday portrayals fostered positive engagement. Sexualized imagery was often reframed as functional rather than aspirational. The study reveals that while brands aim to communicate identitary values such as Sexuality and Seduction, these are usually reinterpreted or even rejected by users in favor of values like comfort, simplicity, or emotional authenticity. Conversely, values like Seasonality, Renewal, and Quality were more consistently recognized and positively decoded, suggesting a more substantial alignment between brand encoding and audience perception in those domains. Full article

In the recent K-12 educational literature, arts-based data visualization has been positioned as a compelling means of rendering data science and statistical learning accessible, motivating, and empowering for youth, as data users and producers. However, the only research to attend carefully to youth’s data-based, artistic storytelling practices has been limited in scope to specific storytelling mechanisms, like youth’s metaphor usage. Engaging in design-based research, we sought to understand the art and design decisions that youth make and the data-based arguments and stories that youth tell through their arts-based data visualizations. We drew upon embodied theory to acknowledge the holistic, synergistic, and situated nature of student learning and making. Corresponding with emerging accounts of youth arts-based data visualization practices, we saw regular evidence of art, storytelling, and personal subjectivities intertwining. Contributing to this literature, we found that these intersections surfaced in a number of domains, including youth’s pictorial symbolism, visual encoding strategies, and data decisions like manifold pictorial symbols arranged to support complex, multilayered, ambiguous narratives; qualitative data melding community and personal lived experience; and singular statements making persuasive appeals. This integration of art, story, agency, and embodiment often manifested in ways that seemed to jostle against traditional notions of and norms surrounding data science. Full article

In structural health monitoring, visual inspection remains vital for detecting damage, especially in concealed elements such as columns and beams. To improve damage localization, many studies have investigated and implemented deep learning into damage detection frameworks. However, the practicality of such models is often limited by their computational demands, and the relative accuracy may suffer if input features lack sensitivity to localized damage. This study introduces an efficient method for estimating damage locations and severity in buildings using a neural network array. A synthetic dataset is first generated from a simplified building model that includes floor flexural behavior and reflects the target dynamics of the structures. A dense, single-layer neural network array is initially trained with full floor accelerations, then pruned iteratively via the Lottery Ticket Hypothesis to retain only the most effective sub-networks. Subsequently, critical event measurements are input into the pruned array to estimate story-wise stiffness reductions. The approach is validated through numerical simulation of a six-story model and further verified via shake table tests on a scaled twin-tower steel-frame building. Results show that the pruned neural network array based on the Lottery Ticket Hypothesis achieves high accuracy in identifying stiffness reductions while significantly reducing computational load and outperforming full-input models in both efficiency and precision. Full article

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interaction, communication, and emotional regulation, often requiring specialized educational approaches. Traditional teaching methods may not meet the needs of children with ASD, while visual and interactive formats tend to be more effective. This study examines the use of a virtual reality (VR) visual novel incorporating social stories to support social–emotional learning in children with Level 1 ASD. The intervention used an interactive, choice-based VR environment simulating everyday social situations. Four primary school students participated in a one-week case study, during which they engaged with the VR prototype. Teachers observed the students and provided feedback through questionnaires and interviews. Results showed high engagement with observable social communication behaviors and emotional responses in one participant but no consistent short-term changes across the group. All teachers expressed positive views, noting the tool’s visual clarity, ease of use, and alignment with ASD learners’ needs. Usability challenges were minimal but included pacing delays and difficulties managing impulsive behavior. Although limited by sample size and short duration, the findings indicate that VR visual novels are a promising and acceptable approach for practicing social–emotional skills in inclusive classrooms. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects and enhance adaptability. Full article

In the digital era, social networks play a crucial role in promoting university cultural events and enhancing accessibility, interaction, and student engagement. This study examines the impact of the communication strategies employed by the West University of Timisoara (UVT) to promote the initiative “At UVT, Culture is Capital” within the framework of Timisoara 2023—European Capital of Culture. This research employs a mixed methodology, combining a quantitative analysis of the performance of Facebook and Instagram posts with a qualitative examination of communication strategies. The results reveal that, despite Generation Z’s preference for visual platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Facebook continues to be an effective channel for promoting university cultural events. This effectiveness stems from trust in the information shared and the strengthened community surrounding the university. Key factors contributing to the campaign’s success included the prominence of guest speakers, high-quality visual and textual content, and the organization of interactive giveaway campaigns. There was also a notable increase in student participation in events and an enhanced sense of belonging to the university community. The findings suggest incorporating more dynamic media formats, such as reels and stories, to boost engagement and explore emerging platforms favored by younger audiences. This research contributes to understanding how universities can effectively leverage social media to promote cultural events and foster a more engaged academic community. Full article

This article investigated the potential of the digital storytelling method, within the setting of an undergraduate digital design studio, to create compelling learning experiences in architectural education. The study explored how enabling students to express their architectural concepts through digital storytelling can impact their visual communication skills and design thinking. Specifically, the research evaluated the effect of this method on student engagement, creativity, and conceptual understanding. The content analysis of student digital stories revealed four emergent categories: informative (educational-informative), inspiring (imagination-personal development), problem-solving (critical solution), and empathy and understanding (social sustainability). The study also observed the beneficial role of information and digital communication technologies in fostering positive student attitudes toward digital storytelling within a social constructivist learning environment. The integration of digital technologies and the exploration of the sources of the students’ conceptual inspiration were key components of this approach. The findings suggest that digital storytelling is a valuable instructional tool for consistently articulating the design process, from the initial concepts to the analysis, visualization, and expression. Furthermore, this method appeared to enhance the students’ creative thinking during the design process and contribute to the development of more robust conceptual design skills. Full article

Background/Objectives: This article addresses an exploratory design study in the framework of the REMIND research study, which is focused on the importance of cultural and biographical components for the cognitive and sensory stimulation of persons with dementia. Through a case study conducted at a Day Centre from the Alzheimer Portugal association, it aims to demonstrate the relevance of including cultural elements in sensory stimulation artefacts for persons with dementia. It is hypothesised that the inclusion of cultural elements central to the biographical stories of these persons will have greater potential to stimulate their senses and reminiscences. In the context of this study, this hypothesis was explored through textile artefacts. Methods: Methods included participant observation, sensory and visual ethnography, interviews, focus groups, and a participatory design approach involving women with moderate and advanced Alzheimer’s disease and health professionals. Due to the severely compromised verbal communication abilities of some of the women, beyond-verbal communication strategies were adopted. Results: The results showed that textiles with a cultural presence tended to elicit greater reactions and reminiscences of events associated with the women’s life stories. Crochet artefacts were of particular relevance: women’s involvement in activities with crochet artefacts was substantially higher and, in certain cases of women with moderate dementia, these artefacts activated positive memories of the person, suggesting the potential of crochet for sensory stimulation. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis; however, further research exploring other cultural elements and involving a broader demographic is needed. Based on the results obtained, a sensory blanket was developed, which is already in use at the Centre. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have distinct oral care needs and challenges, yet research on their care experiences, exploring caregiver and provider perspectives, is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the barriers and facilitators to oral care for children with DS, as reported by caregivers and dental professionals. Methods: In this qualitative inquiry, semi-structured questions were used to elicit narratives describing oral care experiences from one caregiver focus group (n = 5), individual caregiver interviews (n = 9), and individual dentist interviews (n = 8). The transcripts were coded and thematically analyzed. Results: Three themes emerged in both groups. The first theme, Access, described the challenges in locating a dentist willing and knowledgeable about how to treat children with DS, and the variability in experiences between different contexts (i.e., community-based vs. specialty clinics). The second theme, Pre-visit Preparation, noted the potential impact of dental trauma on dental visits and recommended the use of preparation strategies, such as desensitization appointments, strategic scheduling, and visual or verbal scripts or social stories, to introduce dental encounters. The final theme, Dental Encounters, dealt with the importance of communication and interpersonal connection, as well as concerns about and support for active/passive immobilization techniques and pharmacological intervention. Sensory strategies for auditory, tactile, and vestibular input were discussed, in addition to distraction techniques, the timing and pacing of dental encounters, and parental presence/absence. Conclusions: Tailoring dental care around the unique sensory and behavioral needs of children with DS and building effective partnerships between children, parents, and dentists were emphasized for optimizing the dental care experiences of children with DS. Full article

María de Zayas’ Tarde llega el desengaño, the fourth tale in her Desengaños amorosos (1641), is one of the most studied novellas in the collection. The reader’s curiosity may stem in part from the main model for the tale, the Apuleian story of Cupid and Psyche, which has curiositas as its central motivation. Nevertheless, this essay argues that one of the reasons that the tale has attracted so much attention has to do with the vividness of its scenes, the chromatic design that Zayas uses to write for the eyes and the relationship of these topics to curiosity. The text induces characters and readers to marvel not only at a colorful scene but also to seek to understand the choice of colors in eight impacting ekphrasis in the novella. These colors color emotions and arouse our curiosity regarding scene, symbol, shade, and character. In addition, Zayas alludes to a painting included in one of Marguerite de Navarre’s novellas to further arouse curiosity and visual memory. Full article

With the intensification of aging populations and economic development, installing elevators in existing residential buildings has become crucial for achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). While elevator retrofits improve accessibility, they may also compromise living quality through obstructed ventilation, reduced daylighting, visual interference, and noise pollution. Despite provincial guidelines in China specifying elevator types for retrofitting, the lack of clear selection criteria complicates implementation. This study addresses the challenge of scientifically selecting elevator types that balance accessibility improvements with minimal impact on residential environments. Focusing on 50 operational elevator retrofits in eight Beijing communities employing eight half-landing elevator models from the Beijing Multi-story Residential Elevator Retrofit Guidelines, we establish a comprehensive evaluation framework integrating objective measurements (indoor ventilation, noise, daylighting, and external visibility) and subjective resident assessments. Taking Xicheng District’s Yutaoyuan Community as a case study, this research identifies the optimal elevator configuration through a multi-criteria analysis. The proposed methodology offers two key contributions: (1) a practical elevator selection system providing technical and theoretical support for nationwide retrofitting projects, and (2) a quantifiable assessment tool aligning with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda for urban renewal objectives. Full article

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts social, communication, and emotional skills, presenting significant challenges in learning and social interaction. Traditional teaching approaches often fail to engage children with ASD, highlighting the need for innovative solutions. This study investigates the potential of virtual reality (VR) visual novels, incorporating social stories, as a tool to enhance social skills in children with ASD Level 1. Through a comprehensive literature review, the research evaluates VR environments that blend the interactive, choice-based structure of visual novels with immersive social narratives. Key aspects such as empathy, communication, and emotional regulation are analyzed to assess whether VR-based social stories provide better learning outcomes compared to conventional 2D methods. The findings aim to inform about the application of VR technologies in educational interventions, demonstrating how immersive learning experiences can promote essential social competencies in children with ASD. Full article

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney depicts a love story between Frances, a Dublin college student, and Nick, a married, middle-class actor. The author creatively integrates film narrative and digital media narrative into the novel, thus employing different media for expression. When the novel was successfully adapted into a TV series in 2022, fan participation, media interviews, and actors’ interpretations fleshed out the characters, extending the process of cross-media remediation. Frances gradually accomplishes self-construal in the process of cross-media narrative, searching for the individual self, relational self, and collective self. In this article, Frances’ individual, collective, and relational selves are analyzed by exploring the effects of film and digital media narrative and cross-media remediation. We develop new perspectives on the interaction of multiple media and the intersection of narrative techniques. In breaking down the barriers between the text and the real world, millennials’ breakups, adherence to communist ideals, and awakening of female consciousness are well depicted. Due to Rooney’s cross-media narrative, the novel’s features could also bring the readers a film-like experience, thus making it suitable for visual adaptation. Full article

Background: The Automated Test of Embodied Cognition (ATEC) is a new system for measuring cognition in action that uses cognitively demanding physical tasks and motion capture technology. Rhythm is one of the domains assessed by the ATEC across a number of tasks and is a domain for which there is no broadly accepted neurocognitive measure. Method: Rhythm was assessed in a sample of 104 participants that included those at risk of cognitive decline and community controls. At-risk participants were also administered standard measures of executive functioning (EF), verbal list-learning, story memory, visual memory, and pre-morbid IQ. Results: The ATEC Rhythm Domain was found in the factor analysis with Varimax rotation to be loaded distinctly on the EF factor. ATEC Rhythm was significantly correlated with EF neurocognitive measures, and, in a Chi-square analysis, significantly differentiated the community control participants from those at risk for cognitive decline. ATEC Rhythm was significantly correlated with story memory and visual memory but not verbal list-learning. Age was negatively correlated with ATEC Rhythm, and women performed slightly better than men. ATEC Rhythm was also significantly correlated with the years of education and an estimate of pre-morbid IQ. Discussion: ATEC Rhythm was found to have discriminant and concurrent validity with EF measures and was significantly correlated with measures of story memory and visual memory, but not verbal list-learning. We speculate on rhythm’s relationship to story narrative and visual sequencing, and on rhythm’s relationship to cognitive reserve, as represented by education and the pre-morbid IQ estimate. Conclusions: The ATEC is a promising new measure that provides a systematic assessment of rhythm as a domain of embodied cognition. It may be useful in studies of neurodevelopment and neurocognitive decline, and it may be especially useful in assessing the effects of interventions that use physical activities, including dance and music therapies. Full article

Modern packaging must be efficient, safe, and attractively designed, while also minimizing unnecessary waste. Eco-design principles, such as material reduction, reusability, and minimal environmental impact, were central to this study. We applied these principles to the development of innovative, multipurpose gift packaging and labels, optimizing material use, eliminating unnecessary printing, and integrating sustainable features such as a structural design which requires no gluing. Alongside choosing eco-friendly materials, namely corrugated cardboard and a biodegradable paper label, eco-design guidelines in packaging and label creation were followed. Packaging of unconventional shape without printing and different versions of labels for bottles and packaging were designed. Graphic elements included on the labels are the logo, illustration, 18th Century font, and lines of varying thicknesses. To provide additional information and enhance product appeal while reducing printing, an interactive element was incorporated. In the conducted study, the respondents of a survey and focus groups evaluated the quality, price range, and visual appeal of packaging and labels. For the augmented reality application, a label with a QR code was created. A scenario and a visual story board were created, and an animation activated via the QR code was produced. The usage experience was tested by the focus groups, who provided feedback on the animation and the overall experience. This iterative process ensured that the packaging and labels met both functional and experiential expectations. Full article

This paper presents a case study from the Archaeological and Via Flaminia Museum in Cagli (Italy), developed within the ERASMUS+ Next-Museum project, which explores inclusive approaches through the digital transformation of small museums and their connection to the surrounding territory. A key goal was to “return” bronze statuettes to the museum, symbolically compensating the community for their absence. The initiative integrates accessibility and multisensory storytelling following “Design for All” principles. Three installations were implemented: tactile replicas of the statuettes produced through 3D printing, a sensorized table for interactive storytelling, and a story map displayed on a touchscreen for exploring local archaeological heritage. The design prioritized inclusivity, particularly for visitors with visual impairments, while addressing practical constraints such as the need for a mobile and flexible setup within a limited budget. Verification and validation tests were conducted with visually impaired participants during the pre-opening phase, and the installations were later evaluated using the User Experience Questionnaire, complemented by qualitative feedback. These evaluations highlight the potential of phygital experiences to foster engagement with cultural heritage while addressing technological and design challenges. Full article