A Framework for Design-Led Cultural Renewal

Bamboo inlay is a Chinese craft technique that has been passed down for centuries. In recent years, due to changes in customs and occupations, younger generations have found it less attractive and have shown less interest in learning it. In addition, bamboo inlay products are costly because of the time and labor required to assemble the pieces. Despite efforts to protect it, bamboo inlay risks becoming a practice frozen in time. This study examines how bamboo inlay can be renewed through design-led innovation, developing new products, using alternative materials and colors, introducing contemporary production techniques, and infusing new meanings. Product prototypes developed with a group of industrial design students, supported by an expert craftsperson, are presented and analyzed. The findings show that students primarily innovated through new uses and product typologies, while differences among student, artisan, and instructor evaluations highlighted the need to balance contemporary reinterpretation with material knowledge and cultural continuity. These projects provide tangible examples of the potential of a conceptual framework, showing how traditional modes of making can be reinterpreted through a contemporary design approach. This research may be of interest to design researchers and practitioners concerned with the future of craft and intangible cultural heritage. Its broader aim is to explore how design can support the relevance, transformation, and cultural continuity of bamboo inlay, while also offering insights applicable to other crafts and contexts.