Towards intentional aesthetics within topology optimization by applying the principle of unity-in-variety

Abstract

Topology optimization is increasingly applied to design consumer products, for which aesthetics plays an important role to consumer acceptance. In industrial design, it is known that preferences or taste judgement obey certain rules or principles. These principles are not directly quantifiable, but can qualitatively predict and explain aesthetic responses. In this paper, we empirically evaluate whether or not these design principles are effective for increasing the appealingness of topology optimized shapes. Our starting point is an overarching principle known as Unity-in-Variety. Variety stimulates our interests, whilst unity helps us make sense of a design in its entirety. According to this principle, aesthetic appreciation is maximized when a balance in unity and variety is attained. Since designs from topology optimization often exhibit remarkable complexity and variety, we hypothesize that increasing unity is the key to reach a balance and thus to elevate aesthetic appreciation in topology optimization. In our experimental setup, designs from topology optimization were manually post-processed, with the intention to increase unity, by following the “principles of perceptual grouping”, known as Gestalt principles. Our user study shows that in 11 out of the 12 pairs of topology optimized designs and their modified counterparts, the modified designs are perceived by the majority as visually more appealing, confirming our hypothesis. These findings provide a good basis for improving the aesthetic pleasure of topology optimized designs, either manually or ultimately by integrating them in the topology optimization formulation. It is expected that this eventually will contribute to a wider acceptance of topology optimization for consumer product design.

Why we like to touch: Consumers' tactile esthetic appreciation explained by a balanced combination of unity and variety in product designs

“…Liu, Wu et al, 2022;R. Post et al, 2017), atmospherics of stores (Jang et al, 2018;Logkizidou, 2021), arrangements of objects (Van Geert & Wagemans, 2021), and a variety of products, such as chairs (Loos et al, 2022), clothes (Gray et al, 2014), and motorcycles (Nasar, 1987;R. A. G. Post et al, 2016).…”

“…The principle of UiV has received a significant amount of empirical support in the visual domain. The principle has been found to apply in the esthetic visual experience produced by things such as abstract patterns (Muth et al, 2021), web pages (Deng & Poole, 2012; W. Liu, Wu et al, 2022; R. Post et al, 2017), atmospherics of stores (Jang et al, 2018; Logkizidou, 2021), arrangements of objects (Van Geert & Wagemans, 2021), and a variety of products, such as chairs (Loos et al, 2022), clothes (Gray et al, 2014), and motorcycles (Nasar, 1987; R. A. G. Post et al, 2016). While UiV has not been empirically tested in the tactile domain fundamental psychological and brain research provides some indication that perceptual processes related to UiV in the visual domain may be shared with the tactile domain.…”

A Streamline-guided De-Homogenization Approach for Structural Design

“…We draw inspiration from prior work on structural design using principal stress lines (PSLs) [22,23,24]. The structures following principal stress directions are continuous, and this regularity is often appreciated in industrial design and architecture [25]. These prior explorations, however, make use of the principal stress directions in the stress field of a solid object with isotropic material.…”

A Streamline-Guided Dehomogenization Approach for Structural Design

“…We draw inspiration from prior work on a structural design using principal stress lines (PSLs) [23][24][25]. The structures following principal stress directions are continuous, and this regularity is often appreciated in industrial design and architecture [26]. These prior explorations, however, make use of the principal stress directions in the stress field of a solid object with isotropic material.…”