Symmetrical Traditional Patterns and User Perception: A Study on Innovation in Home Textile Design

With the increasing diversification of modern home textile design (HTD), the integration of traditional cultural elements has become an important trend. This study investigates the impact of symmetry in traditional patterns on the optimization of home textile product design and examines its role in consumer acceptance. First, the affinity diagram method was employed to collect core affective vocabularies. Based on a selection of home textile products incorporating traditional patterns available in the market, a questionnaire was developed to solicit consumers’ evaluations of these affective descriptors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to extract key perceptual dimensions, with particular emphasis on the influence of pattern symmetry on consumer perception. Subsequently, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was applied to determine the relative weights of the affective terms. Incorporating expert input, five representative traditional patterns from the Homespun Fabric of Jiangnan (HFoJ) were selected and reinterpreted with a focus on symmetrical design. Through the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method, the effective vocabularies were mapped to the redesigned patterns, leading to the identification of the scheme that most effectively embodied the symmetrical principle for integration into HTD. Finally, the Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) was used to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of multiple design alternatives. The optimal design was selected and subsequently validated through consumer feedback to assess its market feasibility. This study contributes a symmetric approach to the application of symmetry in traditional pattern design, offering both traditional insights and practical guidance for the modernization and innovative transformation of cultural elements in HTD.