Abstract: Ajrak, a traditional block-printed textile of Sindh, is distinguished by its complex geometric designs, symbolic motifs, and deep cultural meaning. This study investigates Ajrak motifs through the analytical lens of geometry, symmetry, and proportional relationships, with an emphasis on the Golden Ratio. Five selected Ajrak motifs, including borders, were digitally reconstructed and geometrically measured, allowing for a detailed comparison of the actual motif proportions with a golden ratio value of 1:1.618. The visual analysis revealed the application of circular (radial) symmetry in motifs such as Riyal and Chānp, bilateral symmetry in motifs like Jaleyb, as well as proportional structuring within two borders. While proportional measurements such as 1.52, 1.64, 1.83, and 1.91 approximate the Golden Ratio, the data also demonstrate noticeable variation across motifs, suggesting an intuitive rather than mathematically exact proportional construction. Overall, the findings indicate that Ajrak artisans employ sophisticated geometric principles, including star polygons, concentric circles, repeated units, and mirrored motifs, to achieve visual harmony through symmetry and proportional balance. This study highlights how the aesthetic appeal of Ajrak is rooted not only in cultural heritage and traditional craft knowledge but also in the underlying mathematical order. By understanding these geometric foundations, this research enriches the contemporary appreciation of Ajrak and contributes new analytical insights into Islamic-influenced textile geometry and vernacular design knowledge.

Abstract: This paper assesses the current state of professional design practice in light of the American pragmatist philosopher John Dewey’s conception of inquiry as leading from a state of indeterminacy to a state of comparative resolution or determinacy. In the past several decades, design practice has made great progress in ways illuminated by the problematic of indeterminacy/determinacy. In particular, user-centered design, focused on making artifacts easy for individuals to use through the effective management of design affordances, epitomizes design practice pursued as a simple reduction of indeterminacy. Today, however, the program of user-centered design has reached a point at which costs stemming from the approach have begun to outweigh the benefits. In products such as the modern smart phone, the paradigm of user-centeredness is now contributing to the emergence of new problems like social isolation, viral misinformation, and political polarization. At the same time, rapidly emerging algorithmic technologies including artificial intelligence are already replacing human designers, based on the technologies’ superior capacity to offer a progressively refined series of solutions aimed at individuals. Responding to these dynamics, recent design literature proposes that a more inclusive frame of reference for design practice, transcending the individualistic user-centered paradigm, is now needed. A renewed reflection on the Deweyan theory of inquiry can help illuminate a way forward for the design of communications devices, interfaces and networks, emphasizing the sense of possibility that forms the essential meaning of indeterminacy in Dewey’s philosophy. The paper concludes with a call for designers to commit to a program of facilitating more robust social and political connections among users: a program that acknowledges the irreducible pluralism and conflict in human affairs, but seeks to replace the epistemic isolation and antagonism characterizing modern digital communications about public matters with more genuinely related forms of “agonistic” engagement.

Abstract: With the continuous advancement of urbanization, urban biodiversity has been increasingly threatened. Solitary bees are important pollinators that play a significant and unique role within urban ecosystems; however, their populations have declined sharply in recent years, with many species approaching extinction. The design to be discussed aims to protect urban biodiversity by creating a series of bee nests for solitary bees within the city.

The nests are integrated with urban public facilities and horticultural products, utilizing 3D ceramic printing technology to create habitats that align with the natural behaviors of solitary bees and ensure strong ecological connectivity. These nests are designed to blend organically into the urban environment and human activities, with the goal of restoring solitary bee populations in cities.

This study analyzes the habitats required by solitary bees from three perspectives: behavioral habits, living spaces, and nest structures. Through literature review and case studies, it examines the critical decline in solitary bee populations, identifies design requirements for bee nests, and explores methods for their seamless integration into urban environments. The 3D ceramic printing technology employed in this design features a distinctive layered texture and unique shaping properties. Extensive research and experimentation were conducted on materials and processes to unify the design’s structure, form, and function.