Men, women and the maid: At home with the new rich

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Evolutionary Computation for Digital Artefact Design

This thesis presents novel systems for the automatic and semi-automatic design of digital artefacts. Currently, users wanting to create digital models, such as three-dimensional (3D) digital landscapes and website colour schemes, need to possess significant expertise, as the tools involved demand a high level of knowledge and skill. By developing an intuitive algorithmic process, founded on evolutionary computation (EC), this research enables non-specialist human designers to create digital assets more efficiently. This is achieved by replacing design activities that require significant manual input with algorithmic functions, thereby greatly improving the efficiency and accessibility of the practices involved. This research places an initial focus on the generation of 3D landscapes, but the latter aspect concentrates on the identification of text and background colour combinations more amenable to the reading process, particularly for readers with vision impairments. Choosing an ideal combination of colours requires knowledge of the cognitive and psychological procedures involved. Designers need to be aware of colour contrast ratios, brightness, and variations, which would require a series of aesthetic measurements if they are to be manually tested. In an effort to provide a colour design facility, this research offers algorithms that can generate colour schemes, based on the aforementioned principles, which can be used to derive an optimum scheme for a website. This research demonstrates a novel interactive genetic algorithm (IGA), coupled with the use of computational aesthetics, suitable for use in the evolution of terrain generation and digital landscape design. It also provides a tool for automatically creating EC-driven colour palettes for web design via evolutionary searches. Experimental trials use the EC framework developed from this research using both IGA technique and the computational aesthetic measures. Results indicate that the end-users can build any target digital landscape design with less inputs and more comfort, and if required can also automate the whole process to evolve aesthetically pleasing landscape designs. The results obtained for designing colour schemes for website design have proven that end-users can quickly develop a colour scheme, without the need for fine-tuning of colour combinations. Results can compete in quality the colour schemes that are designed by the professional website developers

The influence of colors in work and trade settings: Complementary colors, mood states and retail environment

This thesis seeks to discuss the influence of color in work and trade settings, to assess the implications of their applicability in both organizational behavior and retail environment. This investigation was sprung with a preliminary literature review about the influence of space and color in organizational behavior. Subsequently, our major research queries were outlined and three focal studies following a within-subject design about color thus ensued. We first sought to understand the emotional processes behind the choice of complementary colors. Bearing in mind that the literature about complementary colors and emotions is scarce, we analyzed the association between complementary colors and mood states (Chapter I). Through an experimental study, 39 participants were instructed to choose colored cards at four different moments through time, after the induction of an emotional state. Four emotion conditions were evoked by means of autobiographical recall (i.e., happiness, sadness, balanced mood, unbalanced mood). Findings showed that complementary colors were preferred in the unbalanced mood scenario, suggesting that the color choice might rely on partially conscious mechanisms aiming at regaining a balanced state. Secondly, we investigated the interrelation between anthropomorphic packaging and color choices (Chapter II). A total of 259 participants were exposed to non-anthropomorphic and anthropomorphic packaging, considering a product from the real market (Milaneza pasta). Four different color conditions were rated in terms of attractiveness and purchase intention. Our findings suggested that anthropomorphism influenced product’s attractiveness but did not affect purchase intention. Importantly, the green anthropomorphic package produced an almost complementary color contrast between the pasta and the package (vivid green vs. orange-red), leading to a higher color contrast perception that positively affected the product’s attractiveness. In the third study, 436 participants assessed two retail scenarios – orange store and blue store – and two products – chocolate and soap (Chapter III). The products varied in color (red, orange, blue and beige), and were assessed in both stand-alone and embedded in the store situations, through image manipulation. Our results showed that there was a triple interaction resulting from retail environment color × product color × product category. Accordingly, we reinforce the idea that color should not be considered individually, but always in the context where it is inserted. With these three studies, we aim to contribute to the knowledge about the influence of color in human behavior. Crucially, we validate our prediction concerning the presumed effect of complementary colors, both emotionally and in retail settings. Here, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.Nesta tese pretendemos discutir a influência da cor no comportamento organizacional e em contexto de marketing, assim como a aplicabilidade deste conhecimento. A investigação teve início com uma revisão de literatura acerca da influência do espaço e da cor no comportamento organizacional. De seguida, o nosso trabalho começou a delinear-se com maior definição, e foram desenvolvidos três estudos sobre cor, com design intra-sujeitos. Em primeiro lugar, tivemos como objetivo o entendimento sobre os processos emocionais que desencadeiam a escolha de cores complementares. Tendo em conta que a literatura sobre cores complementares e emoções é escassa, analisámos a associação entre cores complementares e estados emocionais (Capítulo I). Através de um estudo experimental intra-sujeitos, 39 participantes escolheram cartões coloridos em quatro momentos diferentes, depois da indução de um estado emocional. Foram induzidas quatro condições emocionais (i.e., felicidade, tristeza, equilíbrio emocional, desequilíbrio emocional) através da redação de um episódio autobiográfico. Os resultados revelaram que os cartões que apresentavam as cores complementares foram preferidos quando o desequilíbrio emocional foi evocado, sugerindo que a escolha de cores pode estar baseada em mecanismos psicológicos parcialmente conscientes, procurando de forma inconsciente recuperar um estado emocional mais equilibrado. Em segundo lugar, investigámos a inter-relação entre embalagens antropomórficas e escolhas de cores (Capítulo II). Um total de 259 participantes escolheram entre embalagens antropomórficas e não antropomórficas, considerando um produto existente no mercado (massa Milaneza). Foram avaliadas quatro cores diferentes em termos de atratividade do produto e intenção de compra. Os resultados mostraram que o antropomorfismo beneficia a atratividade do produto, mas não afeta a intenção de compra. Adicionalmente, a embalagem antropomórfica de cor verde produziu um contraste entre cores quase complementares entre si (verde vívido vs. laranja avermelhado), considerando a massa e a embalagem. Este maior contraste entre cores terá produzido uma perceção que afetou positivamente a atratividade do produto. No último estudo, 436 participantes compararam imagens de dois ambientes de loja – loja laranja e loja azul – e dois produtos – chocolate e sabão (Capítulo III). Os produtos analisados divergiam apenas na cor (vermelho, laranja, azul e bege) e foram avaliados de duas formas: (i) individualmente; e (ii) adicionados ao ambiente de loja através de manipulação digital da imagem. Os resultados demonstraram que houve uma tripla interação resultante do ambiente de loja × produto × categoria de produto. Validámos a ideia de que a cor não deve ser considerada individualmente, mas sempre no contexto onde está inserida. Com estes estudos, pretendemos contribuir para o conhecimento sobre a influência da cor no comportamento humano. O presumido efeito produzido pelas cores complementares, decorrente de fatores emocionais e de perceção, foi validado através da nossa investigação. Por último, implicações teóricas e práticas acerca destes resultados são discutidas

An investigation into the elements of a successful methodology for influencing contemporary interior design environment of tourist class globally-branded hotels based in China

The main purpose of the study is to investigate the possibility of achieving global hotel design diversification through the utilization of traditional cultural characteristics. The focus of this study is global hotel design in local countries of China. The research investigates using glocalisation design (which means the localization plus the globalization) in hotels, to challenge the global hotels’ design style that the same in many different countries and cities. This research addresses the relationship between local cultural element styles and the design of global branding hotel style efficacy within hotel in local countries of China. Relevant literature on the nature of global hotel design style was reviewed. Three stages of primary research (a critical review, observations and interviews) were also conducted in this study. The critical review examined the use of traditional local cultural elements in contemporary hotels. The observation studies identified the relationship between visitor behaviors and local cultural information within a range of global hotels. However, due to the fact that international tourists have different backgrounds and cultural knowledge, the international guests are not necessarily able to understand traditional local cultural information. In response to primary research findings, a novel design guideline will be created, this guideline is based on traditional design method and links between locations' culture and global hotel design style. Initial user testing indicated that the guideline was appropriate and did significantly improve global hotel design style. Hence, developing a common cultural symbol is becoming main research direction in this study which links with proportion, visual and local symbolism. The interviews further elicited interior design staff views and were used to test the hotel design guideline. A theoretical design reference model was developed. Initially based on the Le Corbusier design model, the model consists of three phases: analysis, design and assessment. A hotel design guideline was built and tested through user experience testing and expert interviews. Evaluation of this showed that the design guideline blending with global cultural points and local elements. The global cultural points can easy be accept and understand by foreign guest, meanwhile add some local cultural characteristic that can help guest understand local cultural information. The hotel design guideline that has been developed encourages the related global hotel design style, further shows the local cultural elements and ultimately improving global hotel design style

New Urban Decorum? City Aesthetics To And Fro

From the municipal and civic perspective, improving the environment responds to the idea “to make a more beautiful city”, answering to the jump from the industrial city to the metropolitan one, and then to the different attempts for ordering cities during the twentieth century. To and fro refers to the journey into the past and arriving in the present. Urban decorum raises the question of What? Who? Where? but especially the How? The issues raised by the “urban decorum” are not new. They emerge, firstly, from boredom inherent in urban life with the consequent need for self-expression and, secondly, from the grass-root processes based on mutual support that intend to take part in improving the quality of the built environment, of the urbanscape, in the city, empowering citizens in the process of “city making” and decision-making

Creating Business and Social Value: The Asian Way to Integrate CSR into Business Strategies

Launched in July 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. The Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. The Global Compact has gained great attraction around the world, helping it to become the largest global corporate citizenship initiative with 6,985 signatories- 5,206 from business and 1,779 from civil society and other non-business organizations - based in over 135 countries.United Nations, Global compact, human rights, labour, environment, anti-corruption