Design Research on Solar Term Culture-Responsive Eye Masks Based on Cultural Gene Theory

With the growing demand for integrating intangible cultural heritage (ICH) into modern lifestyles, embedding traditional cultural symbols into functional products has become a critical issue in design research.This study addresses the current lack of a systematic approach to incorporating the Twenty-Four Solar Terms-an important ICH element recognized by UNESCO-into health-related product design.Guided by Cultural Gene Theory, the research proposes a design model using sleep eye masks as the carrier to explore the integration of traditional visual imagery with contemporary wellness products.A total of 12 participants took part in semi-structured interviews to identify implicit cultural genes-such as seasonal health philosophies and physiological rhythms-supplementing four categories of explicit cultural genes (natural phenology, folk agricultural practices, decorative patterns, and traditional artifacts) extracted through literature review and visual data analysis.Based on these findings, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 221 valid responses to investigate users' cultural awareness, usage behaviors, and design preferences.The survey demonstrated high reliability and structural validity (Cronbach's = 0.866; KMO = 0.944).According to the results, four representative solar terms-Lichun, Lixia, Liqiu, and Lidong-were selected as design prototypes for the eye mask series.To evaluate the designs, 30 culturally aware users participated in a satisfaction assessment using a 7-point Likert scale.Results indicated high user satisfaction across all four products (average score = 6.21).The Lichun prototype received the highest rating in visual aesthetics (6.55), while the Lidong version excelled in functionality (6.43) and emotional resonance (6.38).These findings validate the applicability of the cultural gene translation model and highlight its value in enhancing cultural recognizability and emotional experience in functional product design.This study proposes an actionable model that integrates cultural sustainability with health-oriented product development, offering a replicable methodology and emotional design strategy for embedding intangible cultural heritage into everyday consumer experiences.