Embellishing ceramic tiles with symbolic textile design patterns for interior space

Abstract

This practice-based research through Design (RTD) study focuses on the integration of cultural heritage symbols into contemporary interior design practice through the embellishment of ceramic tiles with symbolic textile patterns. Anchored in symbolic interactionism and employing design thinking from multiple disciplines, the study creates a series of ceramic prototypes inspired by Ghanaian Adinkra symbols. Through iterative studio practice, digital simulation, and reflective analysis, the study demonstrates how culturally embedded symbols can be translated into functional design elements that foster cultural awareness, identity, and narrative in interior spaces. The research makes a theoretical contribution to design theory through the development and articulation of generalizable and transferable principles for culturally sustainable design practice, including deep symbolic understanding, intentional symbolic translation, chromatic cultural coding, and spatial meaning alignment; while also positioning the developed design tiles as RTD research artefacts that incorporate cultural innovations and insights.