Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU)

Abstract Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: It has been over four decades since design disciplines, especially industrial design, started up in Iran. Particularly in the last two decades, these fields have seen remarkable educational growth, with design programs available in many state and private universities, even up to the doctoral level. In other words, design fields in Iran have developed in line with global trends and should not be considered undeveloped, fledgling, or even scarce. However, initial exploratory studies indicate that design areas, especially in fields like industrial design or fashion design, still suffer from low scientific and research status. This situation highlights shortcomings in policy-making related to design disciplines. One reason for this is that systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential in any scientific field, as they help assess the current state and guide future planning. However, in the field of design studies in Iran, there is a significant scientific gap. This gap undermines any planning or policy making in design studies, leading to a lack of concrete foundations. To gain a thorough understanding of the scientific status of design studies in Iran, the following question was posed: What is the quantitative and qualitative state of design studies in Iran? Answering this requires a benchmark, leading to the preliminary question of this research: What is the quantitative and qualitative state of design studies globally? To answer these two questions, a set of inquiries was formulated and addressed through various research and study stages.
Methods: This research is a meta-analysis study (based on the PRISMA method). In terms of data nature, this research is qualitative, and regarding data collection methods, it is a documentary research. A grounded theory categorization method was used to classify and analyze the data. After identifying the selected categories, a reasoning-based discussion and conclusion were developed. The research process started with a series of key questions, including: What is the state of design studies globally? What are the main areas and subfields of design studies? What are the statistics on researchers and academic research documents? And, what is the quantity and quality of articles related to design studies in Iranian (Persian-language) journals?
Findings: In this research, we initially identified thirty-three scientific journals in the field of design studies, focusing on the two databases JCR and SJR. Then, a sample of articles from 2010 to 2021 was categorized in detailed tables over three stages. This review indicates the existence of nine core categories, which are: “Design Methodology (Design Cognition),” “Philosophy and Theory of Design,” “Design Education,” “Communication of Design and Form,” “Design and Creativity,” “Specialized-Professional Studies,” “Interactive Design,” “Design Context,” and “History, Critique, and Aesthetics of Design.” In the second step, the research focused on the scientometrics of design studies in Iran, which generally underscores the weak presence of Iranian researchers on the international stage. No reputable specialized journals in Persian were identified; only six scientific journals were found that accept articles in the field of design studies. The findings show that, out of a total of 248 issues from these journals, only 168 articles are related to design studies. Of these, 112 are based on student theses (mostly at the master’s level), which also raises concerns about the quality of the articles.
Conclusion: The discussions around the findings reveal diverse outcomes, including the fact that design studies are experiencing significant growth worldwide, particularly in the UK and the USA. However, even at a global level, certain topics and dimensions of design remain underexplored, such as design economics, design aesthetics, design critique, design history, and traditional design. Overall, it appears that design studies have not seen substantial growth in interdisciplinary dimensions and have yet to establish a distinct discourse, despite being outward-facing. In other words, although design studies are growing globally, compared to other scientific fields, they still face challenges and imbalances across various domains. In analyzing the state of design studies in Iran, a range of information was gathered, revealing significant weaknesses in both quantitative and qualitative dimensions. These include the quantity and scientific structure of the research, the depth and impact of the research content, the lack of support and funding for research, especially from non-university institutions, and the misalignment of research with the country’s scientific, practical, and educational needs. Even in a superficial comparison with other scientific fields and the arts in Iran, design studies are in a notably poor condition.

Abstract Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Throughout history, humanity has maintained a close relationship with nature. However, the rapid urbanization in recent decades has severely limited human interaction with the natural world. In the past decades, nature has often been perceived solely as a foundation of resources and its systemic ecological processes that sustain our life have been largely overlooked. This disconnection has led to a growing sense of alienation from nature and a gradual decline in people’s appreciation for the natural environment. This phenomenon, known as the extinction experience syndrome, coined by Pyle, manifests as a general apathy towards environmental concerns. Consequently, there has been a loss of support and regard for nature. This research delves into the underlying causes of humanity’s passive and destructive orientation towards nature by providing a brief overview of the theories of extinction of experience and biophilia. Furthermore, it investigates the criteria of biophilic design as a means to bridge the gap between humans and nature. By examining various studies that draw inspiration from nature, this research explores the design criteria and practical patterns for urban furniture. The research objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of different indicators of urban furniture design, inspired by nature in biophilic design, that are efficient in reducing the disconnection between citizens and nature. The research draws upon previous studies to define the design patterns necessary for achieving this objective.
Methods: This research adopts a descriptive (causal-comparative) and qualitative methodology. The data was collected through a literature review of previous studies using the bibliographic research method to understand the components that influence the design. After studying and categorizing the design elements associated with nature-inspired approaches, the design indicators were extracted. To assess the effectiveness of these elements, a visual questionnaire was administered featuring six street benches: five benches that designed through nature-inspired elements and the other with a direct interaction with nature. A total of 220 questionnaires were distributed among residents of district six of Tehran.
Findings: The results demonstrate that the incorporation of elements inspired by nature, such as form, geometry, materials, texture, natural colors, mechanisms, and nature stimulation, in urban design evokes interconnectedness with nature and engenders a sense of being in nature among citizens. This, in turn, leads to indirect interaction with nature, thereby reducing the extinction of experience. The expansion of positive attitudes, behaviors, and emotional connections represents a valuable outcome of mitigating the loss of experiential connection. Notably, the mere presence of flower beds and plants adjacent to the urban bench, aimed at facilitating direct interaction with nature, did not fulfill citizens’ need for comfort and relaxation as effectively as the biomorphic bench. The integration with the surrounding context appears to stimulate deeper patterns in the citizen’s unconsciousness, creating a sense of active engagement with nature. These patterns establish alignment with the functions of nature and redefine nature as a positive element. It is evident that design, at this point, holds a more significant mission than merely creating visually appealing forms. By embracing nature as the main design mentor, human society can move towards sustainability and resilience. The research introduces five indicators as key elements of biophilic design for street furniture, aiming to facilitate indirect interaction with nature. These indicators can be categorized based on their level of effectiveness as follows: Nature evocation: This element, achieved through metaphorical designs inspired by natural elements, has the highest level of effectiveness. It satisfies the psychological and interactive needs of citizens by creating a sense of nature’s presence, even in situations where direct interaction with nature is limited due to the constraints of urban life. These metaphors connect individuals’ minds to natural patterns, evoking a connection with nature that may not exist in reality. Nature Textures: The use of nature textures in design serves as the second effective element. Incorporating textures such as plant textures, wood, wool, cotton, and stone plays a vital role in reminding individuals the nature’s value and stimulates their interest in the natural world. Natural Mechanisms: Employing natural mechanisms in design, known as biomimicry, represents the next effective element. By implementing nature’s mechanisms, designers can harness the wisdom of nature, not only leading to energy and material efficiency, but also connecting humans with instinctive patterns through the involvement of natural mechanisms. Natural Geometry and Form: The fourth effective element is the application of fractal geometry. Integrating fractal patterns and seamlessly blending them with the background can generate visual beauty that harmonizes with nature. The form, as the fifth indicator, complements the element of geometry. Designing shapes that emulate natural forms and structures aids in establishing a more profound connection to nature.
Conclusion: Urban lifestyles have resulted in a diminished opportunity for individuals to interact with nature and develop a positive orientation towards the natural environment. Given that a significant portion of urban areas is dedicated to structures and buildings, and daily life predominantly unfolds in built environments, incorporating biophilic design elements that encompass encounters with nature, association with nature, and natural experiences can compensate for the disconnection between humans and their ancient origins in nature. The application of these three aspects of biophilic design can be tailored to the nature of the product or space and, in the case of street benches, nature inspiration is particularly suitable. The five elements encompassing form, material, color and texture, geometry, mechanism, and nature evocation can recreate the sense of interacting with nature for users during their engagement with the product. This indirect interaction with nature, as defined by Kellert, represents a significant step towards reducing the disconnection between citizens and nature while enhancing their level of engagement with the nature.

Abstract Extended Abstract
Background and Objectives: The impairment of cognitive development, motor skills, fine motor skills, and the lack of coordination between the child’s eyes and motor organs can negatively impact the learning process at later ages and result in low self-esteem in children. Thus, it is crucial to consider the level of coordination between the child’s eyes and hands when designing products intended for children. The objective of this study is to assess the capability of children in creating products that necessitate eye-hand coordination during their use.
Methods: The research conducted was a semi-experimental intervention study. The study involved 20 children between the ages of 3 and 6 who attended a kindergarten in the Panj district of Tehran. The Purdue Pegboard test was used to evaluate the children’s manual dexterity and two-handed coordination. This test is commonly used to measure movement and cognitive skills in a variety of populations, including children, adults, the elderly, post-surgery patients, and those with special needs. The test evaluates both gross movements of arms, hands, and fingers as well as fine motor skills of the fingers. Additionally, the test can also be used to assess cognitive skills. To perform the test, the child was asked to place the pieces on the Purdue Pegboard with the right hand, left hand, and both hands, within a period of one minute, and five separate points were collected, which include the following is.
1. Right-hand privilege.
2. Left-hand score.
3. two-handed privilege.
4. The sum of the points of the hands, which is the sum of the points of the right hand + left hand + both hands.
Findings: The findings show that most four-, five- and six-year-old children had higher scores on the right hand than the left hand, which could be due to the influence of the dominant hand on the test process, but three-year-old children scored more on the left hand. Also, the findings ‌show that girls scored higher than boys in right hand, left hand, both hands and assembly. Most three-year-old children spent more than three seconds in choosing and deciding to place pieces, while this time was significantly reduced in five- and six-year-old children. The findings showed that the Eye-hand coordination in children increases with age. Most six-year-old children picked up and placed the pieces with two or three fingers, which shows that the child is at an acceptable level in terms of fine finger skills. But three- and four-year-old children were faced with tremors and lack of hand control when removing the parts and placing them, and even some three-year-old children used their other hand to place the parts to prevent tremors and control their hands. Contrary to what was expected, there is no significant relationship between gender and problem-solving skills, but the findings showed that boys try to create a new structure more than girls in the test process.
Conclusion: The research results show that the age variable has an effect on the speed of action and Eye-hand coordination as well as the fine dexterity of children’s fingers, and children at older ages have higher and better performance, which is consistent with the results of the study of Pehoski et al. (1997), Brito and Santos-Morales (2002) as well as Wilson et al. (1981). For this reason, necessary measures to improve movement skills should be taken into consideration from the age of three so that the child can improve his skills in the path of growth. Also, the results showed that girls have a higher operating speed in each hand and the assembly process than boys, which is in line with the results of Pehoski et al. and Brito and Santos-Morales. As Brito and Santos-Morales point out, the significant difference in the speed of action between boys and girls is due to the mental differences and neurological development of boys and girls, which affects the concentration and attention of children. The results of this research show that 6-year-old children have better performance in the assembly process, which is affected by cognitive skills, and it can be concluded that with increasing age, cognitive skills such as learning, memory, planning, etc. improve significantly in children. The difference in the scores of boys and girls in the assembly process also shows the influence of gender characteristics on cognitive processes in boys and girls. The observations of this research show that cognitive processes such as learning, memory, problem-solving skills, etc., have an impact on the Purdue Pegboard skill assessment test process, and in this regard, with the study of Bakhshipour et al. (2020), Koyler et al. (2020) and Findik et al. (2022) is aligned. In total, the results of this research showed that 33% of 6-year-old children, 50% of 5-year-old children, and 43.8% of 4-year-old children in the studied community have motor delays in their right and left hands and weakness in Eye-hand coordination. Also, 33% of 3-year-old children had movement delay in the right hand. This research can be used for researchers and designers in the field of children studies in the process of designing interactive environments as well as designing products such as personal accessories, toys, rehabilitation equipment and rehabilitation aids, services and systems. Designers should identify the cognitive, physical and movement characteristics of children in each age range and evaluate the child’s abilities to interact with the desired product because children’s abilities are very different and variable even in normal children of preschool age. Children in this age range try to improve their skills to gain independence and enter the next stages of life, and smart designers can help children in this way. The expectation is that through this approach, we will witness the development of effective and practical products for children.