Translating Snake Locomotion into Hair Design : A Synectics-Based Formative Study Using Generative AI

This study aimed to explore how the 2025 trend keywords—Snake Sense, generative artificial intelligence, and Synectics—can be creatively applied to beauty design, with a focus on hair design. Drawing inspiration from the biological movement patterns of snakes, particularly lateral undulation and sidewinding, these dynamic motions were analyzed as formative design languages. Through the Synectics method, the study employed analogical thinking using the prompt: “What if a snake’s movement were a hair design?” to generate innovative design ideas. Initial hand-drawn sketches were developed by the researcher and then visualized using the generative AI platform ‘Midjourney’, resulting in 16 conceptual designs. From these, four were selected for final analysis. The outcomes effectively translated the curvilinear and rotational qualities of snake movements such as finger waves and spiral waves into digital hair design forms. This integration of emotional motifs and digital tools emphasizes the creative potential of reinterpreting natural forms within AI-driven environments. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that nature-inspired, emotionally expressive design languages can be successfully reimagined in digital contexts. It offers a foundational reference for the future integration of generative AI and Synectics in beauty design research and practice.