NC State
BioResources
Jasińska, A., Sydor, M., and Hitka, M. (2024). “Optimizing dimensions in furniture design: A literature review,” BioResources 19(3), 4727-4748.

Abstract

Wooden furniture design necessitates the integration of both technological requirements and aesthetic considerations. To guide designers in achieving this balance, this article explores how established design principles, such as proportions and preferred numerical sequences, can inform decision-making for both technological and aesthetic aspects. The goal is to demonstrate how these principles can be integrated with modern CAD tools. In reviewing the scientific literature, this study compiled and compared mathematical and non-mathematical models that support dimensional decision-making. These models included ancient canons (Egyptian, Greek, and Roman) alongside those of Leonardo da Vinci, Palladio, Dürer, Le Corbusier, Zeising, McCallum, and Brock. Additionally, the article examines numeral systems used in modern technology, such as Renard’s series and convenient numbers. It is proposed that designers should experiment with geometric design templates to achieve balanced proportions. All geometric design principles contribute to aesthetics, creativity and effectiveness in design. The literature identifies two groups of dimensional design templates: organic, inspired by the human body or the Fibonacci sequence, and inorganic, based on numerical order. It’s impossible to pinpoint a single “optimal algorithm” to support dimensional decisions in design. Specific geometric design principles serve as valuable tools, not the ultimate answer.


Download PDF

Full Article

Optimizing Dimensions in Furniture Design: A Literature Review

Anna Jasińska,a,* Maciej Sydor,a and Miloš Hitka b

Wooden furniture design necessitates the integration of both technological requirements and aesthetic considerations. To guide designers in achieving this balance, this article explores how established design principles, such as proportions and preferred numerical sequences, can inform decision-making for both technological and aesthetic aspects. The goal is to demonstrate how these principles can be integrated with modern CAD tools. In reviewing the scientific literature, this study compiled and compared mathematical and non-mathematical models that support dimensional decision-making. These models included ancient canons (Egyptian, Greek, and Roman) alongside those of Leonardo da Vinci, Palladio, Dürer, Le Corbusier, Zeising, McCallum, and Brock. Additionally, the article examines numeral systems used in modern technology, such as Renard’s series and convenient numbers. It is proposed that designers should experiment with geometric design templates to achieve balanced proportions. All geometric design principles contribute to aesthetics, creativity and effectiveness in design. The literature identifies two groups of dimensional design templates: organic, inspired by the human body or the Fibonacci sequence, and inorganic, based on numerical order. It’s impossible to pinpoint a single “optimal algorithm” to support dimensional decisions in design. Specific geometric design principles serve as valuable tools, not the ultimate answer.

DOI: 10.15376/biores.19.3.4727-4748

Keywords: Decision making; Design; Preferred value systems; Aesthetic and technological evaluation; CAD objects

Contact information: a: Poznań University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; b: Technical University in Zvolen, Department of Economics, Management and Business, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia;

* Corresponding author: anna.jasinska@up.poznan.pl

INTRODUCTION

Designers consider many dimensional product variants when designing spaces, buildings, and smaller forms, such as furniture. Design in a CAD environment provides additional ease of alternative testing and almost unlimited design possibilities. Analyzing alternative courses of action is an essential part of the decision-making process. Therefore, design is a creative process of constant search for new forms and assimilation of known solutions (Falessi et al. 2011). Design engineering literature identifies different techniques for making choices among alternatives but does not provide clear guidance on which technique is more appropriate than another and under what circumstances. The best possible decision-making technique probably does not yet exist, but some techniques are more prone to specific difficulties (Polikar 2006; Jasińska and Sydor 2021). According to Falessi et al. (2011), some decision-making techniques are more vulnerable to specific challenges than others. Ideally, architects could choose a technique based on the problems they want to avoid. However, lacking empirical evidence hinders understanding of which circumstances lead to particular difficulties with specific techniques. This makes it difficult to predict the challenges that might arise.

For overcoming the design process complexity, an adaptive approach to the key meta-decision of how to make design decisions is necessary (Harman 2007). Many types of decisions include selections, acceptances, evaluations, and constructions. Each type, in turn, is assigned an approach that the decision-maker should follow (Acosta 2010). Two fundamental approaches are indicated: normative (rational) and naturalistic (Zannier et al. 2007). Depending on the approach taken, e.g., decision matrices or SWOT analysis are performed (in the normative approach), or it is based on unconscious emotions by constructing stories, mental simulations, and various scenarios (in the naturalistic approach) (Jonassen 2012). Regardless of the approach, personal intuition is also a decisive factor; however, the primary decision points can be identified to help control decisions in the design procedure. These points are: project preparation, preliminary design, executive design, concretization, and materialization of the idea (Hsu and Chen 1996; Lee 2014).

Furniture designers, architects, and engineers in various fields of technology are obliged to make many decisions at the early design stage. In particular, the first two groups of designers focus special attention on making appropriate dimensional decisions (Yao and Carlson 2003). These considerations are multidirectional and concern, among others, technological feasibility, functionality, durability, and aesthetics (Thompson and Davis 1988; Suandi et al. 2022). From a technical perspective, the right dimensioning is crucial for ensuring structural integrity and low manufacturing costs. Simultaneously, the aesthetics of wooden furniture is impacted by dimension choices. Harmonious proportions, balanced dimensions, and thoughtful scaling are crucial in creating visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing designs. The synergy between engineering reasons and aesthetic considerations in dimension choices is essential for crafting acceptable wooden furniture for customers. In normative terms, the path of choices is seemingly simple; the design should be adapted to human dimensions and ensure the rational use of materials and appropriate dimensions of parts based on the functionality, strength requirements, and technological and economic aspects of product suitability. Using a more naturalistic approach, one can notice a tendency to choose certain dimension values without giving specific arguments but only relying on intuition and generally accepted standards for defining objects as aesthetic (Azizi et al. 2016). Assessing aesthetics seems complicated; however, research is being undertaken to indicate the relationship between the design decisions and the achieved aesthetic qualities of the end-product. Figure 1 shows exemplary variables that could function as guidelines for evaluating the aesthetics of projects.

Currently, CAD tools provide significant support in the design process. The software has complex modeling features that support various geometry types. Creating NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-splines) curves and surfaces is standard, offering possibilities for modeling organic shapes. Thanks to the mathematical model based on B-Spline curves, high precision is achieved, which is essential in applications requiring accurate measurements and rendering. Their widespread use is facilitated by standardization, which facilitates data exchange between different programs and work environments. Performing simulations and analyses or automating repetitive tasks using scripts and macros facilitate the design, production, and lifecycle management process (Hu et al. 2000). When describing modern CAD solutions, it is worth mentioning the increasingly popular method of generative design, based on the use of algorithms and parameters for automatic generation and optimization of projects. In this approach, the designer initiates the idea, and the resulting concepts result from artificial intelligence algorithms and cloud computing power. This allows for the generation of hundreds or even thousands of different solutions (Khan and Awan 2018). Even with significant advances in computer design techniques, a solution for fully supporting designers in making dimensional decisions has yet to be found.

Fig. 1. Scheme of aesthetic evaluation of furniture products (own elaboration)

This article aims to review canons, preferred numerical sequences, and proportions that support the decision-making process by the designer, who is the initiator of creative actions, possible to support in subsequent stages by artificial intelligence and tools for generating curves, shapes, and planes. Considering all these issues, the research questions can be formulated. Can one universal template for decision-making regarding dimensions by the designer be identified? What design assumptions should be adopted to ensure that the end-product has high aesthetic quality? Are objects with a known, harmonious, and rhythmic structure more attractive and perceived as beautiful?

DIMENSIONAL DESIGN INSPIRED BY NATURE

When looking for the optimal method of making dimensional decisions in design, the ideal proportions of the human body can be taken as inspiration. Over the centuries, canons, i.e., systems of proportions, were born, and their summary is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Groups Supporting Dimensional Decision-Making

Only the Greek civilization departed from the conventional, mechanical canon and focused on the actual dimensions of the human body over their definition in the 5th century BCE. An ancient Greek sculptor, Policlet, worked in this way and set himself to accurately determine the proportions of the human body, striving for an ideal. According to his guidelines, the head should be 1/7 of the total body height, the hand and face – 1/10, and the foot – 1/6. Policlet based his canon of proportions on the parts of the human body, i.e., organic elements. Policlet had successors who also tried to establish ideal proportions, including the Greek sculptor Lysippos who developed a proportional system where the head served as a module, with the body’s height being eight times its size. The successive canons of the Roman architect Vitruvius (1st century B.C.) with eight heads, Dürer with 7, 8, 9, and 10 heads, etc. share the arithmetic mode with integers or fractions. In 1490, Leonardo da Vinci defined the canon of the human body in the famous drawing “Vitruvian Man” and stated that only the ideal proportion of the human body allows the figures to be inscribed in the indicated positions in a circle and a square. A breakthrough in the perception of the human body and the proportions of organic elements was the discovery of Adolf Zeising in the mid-nineteenth century. He stated that there is a law of proportionality that dominates Nature and governs the proportions of the body of every human being, male or female, of any age, race, and at any point in life. Based on the measurement results of about two thousand bodies, he concluded that the ideal proportions of the human body, such as the ratio of the length of the arms to the length of the head or the length of the face to the length of the whole body, can be expressed using the golden number (φ = 1.618)

The ideal body proportions can be calculated in various ways, e.g., using the McCallum formula to determine the ideal body weight using the Brock method. McCallum, for example, talks about the need for the trunk and legs to be the same length. He believes the chest should exceed the pelvis size (about 10 to 9). The chest and waist should be correlated in the proportions of 4 to 3, and the arms separated to the sides should be a person’s height. The same parameters were once introduced into the “Vitruvian man” phenomenon. Currently, scientists are trying to analyze different parts of the human body. The indicators are calculated for, for example, arms and forearms, fingers, and hands, etc. (Fig. 2). Undertaking detailed analyses, certain discrepancies are often found as to the correspondence of, e.g., the ratio of bones in the human hand; however, the conclusion is always a correlation with the Fibonacci sequence or the golden spiral (Park et al. 2003). The defining numbers are related by the terms of a sequence, where the first term is 0, the second is 1, and each subsequent one is the sum of two. The first 10 numbers are thus as follows: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55. Based on this sequence, Fibonacci squares are constructed with sides that match the length of each term (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2. A human hand inscribed in the Fibonacci squares and the golden spiral as a confirmation of the relationship between the Fibonacci sequence and the center of rotation of the joints of the hand (based on Park et al. 2003)

THE GOLDEN RATIO IN NATURE, ARCHITECTURE, AND ART

Interestingly, the ratio of consecutive Fibonacci numbers approaches the Golden Ratio (φ) of approximately 1.618 as the sequence progresses (Falcón and Plaza 2007). A graphical representation of this relationship is, for example, the golden ratio, the golden spiral, and the golden figure. These relationships can be applied to human work products and naturally occurring organic elements or phenomena. An example is the shape of sunflower or daisy flowers, as well as the number of petals in plants, the total number of which corresponds to one of the numbers of the Fibonacci sequence (e.g. 1 petal – calla lily, 2 – milkweed, 3 – lilac, 5 – ranunculus, 8 – delphinium, 13 – marigold, 21 – aster) (Fig. 3.) (Omotehinwa and Ramon 2013).

Fig. 3. The relationship between the sum of petals of individual flowers and numbers from the Fibonacci sequence ((a) White calla (1 petal), (b) Euphorbia (2 petals), (c) Trillium (3 petals), (d) Aquilegia (5 petals), ( e) Bloodroot (8 petals), (f) Black-eyed Susan (13 petals), (g) Shasta Daisy (21 petals) (based on Omotehinwa and Ramon 2013 and Canva Pro)

The seemingly random arrangement of branches on a tree trunk actually follows a hidden order – the Fibonacci sequence. Similarly, the spirals of galaxies also develop according to the golden ratio. In the human body, you can also find many dependencies remaining with the golden ratio, as already mentioned above (Cohen 2014). By reviewing achievements in the field of biomimetics, one can observe numerous structures inspired by biological systems, which serve as inspiration for problem-solving by understanding the mechanisms of biological systems. Imitating biological structures and functions significantly impacts the development of more efficient, sustainable, and innovative solutions (Kadri 2015).

In architecture and art created even before the golden ratio was identified, there are also many examples using the golden ratio. An example is the proportions of the Greek Pantheon or the Egyptian pyramids, built thousands of years ago. For example, the golden ratio in the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral can be observed. Works created based on this principle are widely recognized as extremely attractive and harmonic. Examples include Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, The Birth of Venus, and the marble sculpture Venus de Milo.

Today, there are many applications of the golden ratio rules. Fibonacci numbers are found in architecture, graphics, fractals, electronics (Intel processors), botany, poetry, and music (Conti and Paoletti 2021). Document formats such as ID cards, driving licenses, and bank cards are golden rectangles. The layout of many websites is also closely related to the golden ratio and the golden spiral. Similarly, logotype designers use golden sequences in their work. It can also be used in furniture design or small architecture products. Even movements in the financial markets can be explained using a precise rule linked to Fibonacci numbers (Conti and Paoletti 2021). Examples of furniture designs and logos designed using the golden ratio are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Examples of Furniture Designs and Logos Designed Using the Golden Ratio

Graph theory is a widely discussed topic in mathematics (Tutte 2001; Gross et al. 2012). Scientists are testing various applications of graphs in chemistry, biology, anthropology, and social sciences and their connections with various areas of mathematics. Fibonacci numbers are of particular interest in this area. Various graphs and structures are defined and tested later (Hsu 1993; Knopfmacher et al. 2007). An example would be graphs whose sequence of degrees consists of “n” consecutive Fibonacci numbers (Yurttas Gunes et al. 2020). Another example of this consideration is testing Fibonacci cubes used to create hypercube algorithms (Zhang et al. 2009). Fibonacci cubes are exactly resonance charts of the fibonaccenes that appear in chemical graph theory, and resonance charts reflect the structure of their ideal matches (Klavžar and Žigert 2005). Klavžar and Žigert (2005) showed that Fibonacci cubes are Z-transform graphs (resonance plots) of fibonaccens, i.e., zig-zag hexagonal chains (Fig. 4). The term for hexagonal and square systems were independently introduced by other researchers (Klavžar and Žigert 2002; Fournier 2003; Zhang et al. 2009).

Fig. 4. a) Fibonaccena, (b) linear square chain, and (c) Fibonacci cube Γ5 (based on Zhang et al. 2009)

PROPORTIONS AND PREFERRED SHAPES

Proportions play a vital role in architecture because different feelings are associated with them and depend on how a person perceives the surrounding space. Not only in the design of spaces but also in the design of objects, such as furniture, proportions influence the user’s perception. The proportions affect work efficiency by creating positive or negative stimuli in the human brain. The beauty of nature lies in the fact that each object has attractive proportions concerning its surroundings. Massive or light proportions are generated by changing various building elements’ size, mass, or volume. Depending on the environment, these proportions can promote feelings of strength or weakness, stability or instability, openness or closeness, and fear or security.

A sufficiently lit room can give the impression of openness, but the height of the roof should also be proportional to its length and width. The optimal ratio of room dimensions to ensure the impression of openness was proposed by Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) in Four Books of Architecture, published in 1570 (Palladio 1955). In his book, he suggests that the dimensions of a room can be determined by arithmetic mean, geometric mean, or harmonic mean (Fig. 5) (Constant 1993; Rybczyński 2003; Sharma et al. 2012). Describing the dimensions of the room with the symbols a, b, and c, in arithmetic terms, the following relationship is obtained: , in geometric terms: , and in harmonic terms: .

Fig. 5. Dimensions of the room according to Andrea Palladio (based on Sharma et al. 2012)

The renowned Italian architect Andrea Palladio, who lived during the 16th century, is considered one of the most influential architects in Western architectural history. Andrea Palladio proposed a collection of architectural principles and measurements that, according to him, give the impression of order, beauty, and harmony in the rooms (Table 3).

Table 3. A Set of Figures and Proportions by Andrea Palladio (Sharma et al. 2012)

The influence of Palladio’s theoretical work on proportions and geometry is evident in the consistent use of preferred figures and ratios throughout his built projects. A prime illustration of Palladio’s preferred figures and proportions can be found in the villa plans depicted in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6. Plans of Andrea Palladio’s villas (based on Constant 1993)

In addition to proper proportions, harmony is one of the most important elements of aesthetics. Balanced shapes are considered attractive and aesthetic, regardless of their specific form. In addition to the square as mentioned earlier and circle, one can distinguish a spiral with a fluid and dynamic form, an ellipse as a combination of a circle with asymmetric properties, an equilateral triangle due to its clear balance, as well as regular polygons such as hexagon and others, and a rectangle in the proportion of the golden ratio. However, not only shapes with harmonious structures are recognized by the human eye as aesthetically pleasing. The association of a given shape with a shape already known (e.g., occurring in nature or culturally established) significantly impacts its perception as aesthetically attractive. Depending on the purpose (e.g., eliciting specific emotions in the viewer during design), shapes can be consciously selected to influence the perception by the future user. An example is survey research, in which impressions of a project of a particular building (its four versions varied in terms of shape selection: more organic or culturally known) were examined (Ruta et al. 2019). The presented projects are shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 7. The four architectural façades (curved (a), mixed (b), rectilinear (c), and sharp-angled (d) version) were evaluated in terms of liking, approach, complexity, and stability (based on Ruta et al. 2019)

The analysis of the collected survey data showed that in order from highest to lowest rated in terms of liking and approach were A, D, B, C, in terms of complexity were D, A, B, C, and in terms of stability were C, B, A, D.

As a result of choosing appropriate proportions, dimensions, and shapes, spatial figures are created. An example of a solid based on the golden ratio is the rhombic triacontahedron, all of whose faces are golden rhombi.

SYSTEMS OF PREFERRED NUMERICAL SEQUENCES

The scientific literature addresses the problem of using geometric design principles, but no specific design guidelines are provided (Chou 2011). However, there is a noticeable conclusion that geometric design principles influence design practices in developing new 2-D and 3-D products (Elam 2001). The question is whether applying geometric design principles leads to a more creative design supported by better proportions and a balanced form. The results of the researchers indicate that in the design of 2D products and interfaces, the most appropriate is geometric design principles, while in the design of 3D products, silent thematic principles are most often used, especially the golden ratio principle. Table 4. Lists the fundamental geometric design principles used in technology.

Table 4. Preferred Numerical Sequences Used in Technology

The researchers suggest that design practitioners should experiment with geometric design templates to establish balanced proportions as part of their design conceptualization work, before making design decisions that were previously based solely on technical functionality, manufacturability, and usability. Many dimensional series are used in various fields of technology, often adopted as a custom or conditioned by technological or transport possibilities.

An example of an adopted, advantageous dimensional system is standardized packaging dimensions. The consequence of their production is the mutual obligation of suppliers, logistics operators, distributors, and sellers to use modular packaging with dimensions that are multiples of a euro-pallet, e.g., Euro pallets). Among the packaging of food products or packaging of household chemicals, one can also notice the repeatability of numerical values in the volumes produced, such as: 0.1, 0.25 (1/4), 0.375 (3/8), 0.5 (1/2), 0.7, 0.75 (3/4), 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 5 liters (Wansink 1996; Garber et al. 2009; Shen et al. 2019; Escursell et al. 2021). In the scientific literature, the subject of packaging is considered not only in terms of dimensional optimization, ecology, or transport but also in terms of consumer preferences and the role of the designer who must meet these preferences (Wever 2011). Therefore, the research subject is the manipulation of specific visual elements, e.g., the shape of the packaging, to evoke an appearance of the preferred size (Garber et al. 2009).

The Renard series provides another example of standardized dimensional values. This sequence is a carefully chosen selection of ‘normal’ numbers, offering optimal spacing for engineering applications (Copeland and Erdös 1946). Based on numerical values selected from the Renard sequence, e.g., the diameter of fasteners, beams, and pipes is developed, and geometric sizes of the designed elements of hydraulic and pneumatic systems are selected (Jonson 2007). The research concludes that preferred numbers are best for standard sizes and scales of materials and suggests potential procedures for improving systems engineering. In addition to using normal numbers, the widespread use of convenience numbers is also noticeable. Convenient numbers, i.e., those with many divisors (e.g., 16, 20, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, etc.) have been used for centuries and were, for example, the basis for the sexagesimal number system (Neugebauer 1931). The primary example of convenience numbers is time measurement: an hour is divided into 60 min and a minute into 60 s. The sexagesimal system is also standard for angular measures, especially latitude and longitude. The hexadecimal system can be found in many control or tracking systems (Niemenmaa 2011; Puškár et al. 2014; Jeyabharathi and Dejey 2016).

By describing preferred number systems, a number can be identified as a commonly used number. The ISO 216 A, B, and C (2009) paper sizes are deliberately designed to produce two sheets of the same length-to-width ratio when divided into two equal parts. This is only possible if this ratio is . In music, the equal temperament system is formed as follows: the frequency ratio between the extreme notes in an octave is 2; and the whole scale is divided into twelve equal semitones, i.e., the frequency ratio between successive sounds is constant and equals ƒ = . Applying the square root of two () is also noticeable in calculating the relationship between the peak voltage and the root mean square (RMS) voltage in an AC circuit. The peak voltage is equal to the RMS voltage multiplied by .

Another example of a repeatable dimensional system is the 32 mm cabinetmaking system used in the furniture industry (Hou 2021). System 32 is used to place connectors and other fittings, such as: hinges, drawer guides, shelf supports, and handles. The main principle of this system is to use a distance of 32 mm between the holes. It also includes several additional dimensions: distance between the front, vertical row of holes, and the front edge of the board: 37 mm, distance between the horizontal row of holes and the upper or lower edge of the board: half the thickness of the board (usually 8, 9, or 9.5 mm). The “system 32” includes a 5 mm pilot hole, an 8 mm clearance hole, and supplementary holes in diameters of 3, 4 and 10 mm. A unified system allows furniture with different external appearances and overall dimensions to share a repeatable internal structure. This simplification translates to the production process as well. Parts can be used on both the left and right sides of the furniture, and for components with twofold symmetry, the top, and bottom can be interchangeable during assembly. The assortment of necessary tools is also decreasing; most holes and sockets are 5 and 8 mm in diameter. Industrial multi-spindle drills have spindles spaced every 32 mm and make many holes in one operation simultaneously – no time wasted on positioning a single machine tool spindle to each hole. As a result, compatibility with various types of fittings is achieved – fittings from different manufacturers can be used interchangeably, and it is unnecessary to equip with separate production and assembly tooling.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has reviewed canons, preferred numerical sequences, and proportions to support designers’ decision-making processes. Three research questions were formulated, as follows:

  • Can one universal template for designers’ dimensional decision-making be identified?

The research suggests that a single, universal template might not be ideal. However, using established geometric design principles (such as the Fibonacci sequence or golden ratio) can serve as helpful tools for achieving balanced proportions and aesthetics in design; therefore, selecting an appropriate design principle for a design task is essential.

  • What design assumptions should be adopted to ensure a high aesthetic quality in the final product?

The literature review identified two geometric design principles: organic, inspired by the human body, and the Fibonacci sequence, and inorganic, based on preferred technological numerical values. The main finding indicates that mathematical and geometric principles are well-suited for 2D products and interfaces, while non-mathematical principles, especially the golden ratio, are commonly used in 3D product design.

  • Are objects with a known, harmonious, and rhythmic structure more attractive and perceived as beautiful?

The research suggests a strong connection between proportions and aesthetics. Proportions play a significant role, as they evoke various feelings and impact work efficiency and everyday life by triggering positive or negative stimuli in the human brain. Attempting to answer whether there is one optimal algorithm for making dimensional decisions and assessing the correctness of these choices, it is concluded that it is impossible to pinpoint a single approach. Whether the CAD models being designed are models of furniture, buildings, everyday objects, or other projects, the designers should know the available methods supported by the preferred series mentioned in the article. Through consistently using preferred dimensions aligned with the chosen mathematical or non-mathematical method, the correctness of choices can be evaluated based on this foundation. An attempt at such an assessment has not yet been presented in the scientific literature, and other authors do not indicate a possible path for making dimensional decisions in design based on the methods presented in the article.

Understanding preferred geometry supports the design. Using appropriate proportions, dimensions, and shapes enhances the aesthetic quality of the end-products designed. Incorporating organic forms found in nature or culturally significant shapes profoundly affects how the project is perceived and the reactions it evokes from people. Dimensional decisions based on an appropriate system of preferred values can serve as design criteria integrated into CAD systems and processed by modules for generative design using artificial intelligence.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by: APVV-20-0004 (The effect of an increase in the anthropometric measurements of the Slovak population on the functional properties of furniture and the business processes), APVV-22-0001 (Optimization of main health and safety risks in the use of forest biomass for energy purposes), KEGA 004TU Z-4/2023 (Innovative methods for assessing the quality potential of forest stands), and KEGA 012UCM-4/2022 (Human Resources Management in a Digital World ‒ A Bilingual (Slovak-English) Course Book with E-learning Modules based on Multimedia Content).

Credit Author Statement

Conceptualization: A. Jasińska; Methodology: M. Sydor, A. Jasińska; Literature Review: A. Jasińska; Validation: M. Sydor, M. Hitka; Writing – Original Draft: A. Jasińska; Writing – Review & Editing: A. Jasińska, M. Sydor; Visualization: A. Jasińska; Project administration: M. Sydor; Funding acquisition: M. Hitka.

REFERENCES CITED

Acosta, C. (2010). Global Engineering Design, Decision Making, and Communication, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.

Akhtaruzzaman, S. A. (2011). “Geometrical substantiation of phi, the golden ratio and the baroque of nature, architecture, design and engineering,” International Journal of Arts 1(1), 1-22. DOI: 10.5923/j.arts.20110101.01

Al-Sebaei, M. O. (2015). “The validity of three neo-classical facial canons in young adults originating from the Arabian Peninsula,” Head & Face Medicine11(1), article 4. DOI: 10.1186/s13005-015-0064-y

Ashrafian, H. (2011). “Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man: A renaissance for inguinal hernias,” Hernia 15(5), 593–594. DOI: 10.1007/s10029-011-0845-6

Azizi, M., Mohebbi, N., and De Felice, F. (2016). “Evaluation of sustainable development of wooden furniture industry using multi criteria decision making method,” Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia 8, 387-394. DOI: 10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.02.034

Bieber, M. (1961). “III. Lysippos and the early Hellenistic Age,” in: The Sculpture of the Hellenistic Age, Columbia University Press, New York, NY, USA, pp. 30-57. DOI: 10.7312/bieb94154-005

Bonafini, B. A., and Pozzilli, P. (2011). “Body weight and beauty: The changing face of the ideal female body weight: Body weight and beauty,” Obesity Reviews 12(1), 62-65. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00754.x

Boys-Stones, G. (2009). “Polyclitus among the philosophers: Canons of classical beauty,” in: The Body and the Arts, C. Saunders, U. Maude, J. Macnaughton, C. Saunders, U. Maude, and J. Macnaughton (eds.), Palgrave Macmillan, London, UK, pp. 11-24. DOI: 10.1057/9780230234000_2

Brown, P. J. (1991). “Culture and the evolution of obesity,” Human Nature 2(1), 31-57. DOI: 10.1007/BF02692180

Chou, J.-R. (2011). “A Gestalt–Minimalism-based decision-making model for evaluating product form design,” International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 41(6), 607-616. DOI: 10.1016/j.ergon.2011.07.006

Cobb, W. M. (1944). “The artistic canons in the teaching of anatomy,” Journal of the National Medical Association 36(1), 3-14.

Cohen, M. (2014). “Introduction: Two kinds of proportion,” Architectural Histories 2(1), article 21. DOI: 10.5334/ah.bv

Constant, C. (1993). The Palladio Guide, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, NY, USA.

Conti, G., and Paoletti, R. (2021). “The Fibonacci numbers: A link with geometry, art and music,” in: Faces of Geometry, Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, P. Magnaghi-Delfino, G. Mele, T. Norando, P. Magnaghi-Delfino, G. Mele, and T. Norando (eds.), Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 75-87. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-63702-6_6

Copeland, A. H., and Erdös, P. (1946). “Note on normal numbers,” Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 52(10), 857-860. DOI: 10.1090/s0002-9904-1946-08657-7

Davis, W. (1982). “Canonical representation in Egyptian art,” Res: Anthropology and Aesthetics 4, 20-46. DOI: 10.1086/RESv4n1ms20166676

Denecke, H. J., and Meyer, R. (1967). “Shape, angle and size,” in: Plastic Surgery of Head and Neck, Springer, Berlin, Germany, pp. 14-18. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-87875-6_4

Dinter, M. T., and Guérin, C. (2023). “Cultural memory in republican and Augustan Rome,” in Cultural Memory in Republican and Augustan Rome, M. Dinter (ed.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, pp. i-ii. DOI: 10.1017/9781009327749

Edson, M. and Yayenie, O. (2009). “A new generalization of Fibonacci sequence & extended Binet’s formula,” Integers 9(6), 639-654. DOI: 10.1515/INTEG.2009.051

Elam, K. (2001). Geometry of Design: Studies in Proportion and Composition, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, NY, USA.

EN ISO 216 (2009). “Writing paper and specific groups of prints – Net formats – Series A and B and markings of the longitudinal direction,” European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, Belgium.

Escursell, S., Llorach-Massana, P., and Roncero, M. B. (2021). “Sustainability in e-commerce packaging: A review,” Journal of Cleaner Production 280, article 124314. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124314

Falcón, S., and Plaza, Á. (2007). “The k-Fibonacci sequence and the Pascal 2-triangle,” Chaos Solitons Fractals 33(1), 38-49. DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2006.10.022

Falessi, D., Cantone, G., Kazman, R., and Kruchten, P. (2011). “Decision-making techniques for software architecture design: A comparative survey,” ACM Computing Surveys 43(4), 1-28. DOI: 10.1145/1978802.1978812

Fournier, J. C. (2003). “Combinatorics of perfect matchings in plane bipartite graphs and application to tilings,” Theoretical Computer Science 303(2-3), 333-351. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3975(02)00496-6

Fré, P. G. (2018). “Symmetry and mathematics,” in: A Conceptual History of Space and Symmetry, Springer International Publishing, New York, NY, USA, pp. 9-31. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-98023-2_2

Fuchs, W. (2020). “Confronting Vitruvius: A geometric framework and design methodology for Roman rectangular temples,” Journal of Roman Archaeology 33, 93-112. DOI: 10.1017/S1047759420000938

Garber, L. L., Hyatt, E. M., and Boya, Ü. Ö. (2009). “The effect of package shape on apparent volume: An exploratory study with implications for package design,” Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice 17(3), 215-234. DOI: 10.2753/MTP1069-6679170302

Gerner, B., McCallum, Z., Sheehan, J., Harris, C., and Wake, M. (2006). “Are general practitioners equipped to detect child overweight/obesity? Survey and audit,” Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 42(4), 206-211. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00831.x

Gombrich, E. H., and Bell, Q. (1976). “Canons and values in the visual arts: A correspondence,” Critical Inquiry 2(3), 395-410. DOI: 10.1086/447849

Green, C. D. (2012). “How to find refutations of the golden section without really trying,” Empirical Studies of the Arts 30(1), 115-122. DOI: 10.2190/EM.30.1.h

Gross, J.L., Yellen, J., Anderson, M. (2018). Graph Theory and Its Applications (3rd ed.), Chapman and Hall/CRC, New York, NY, USA.

Harman, M. (2007). “The current state and future of search based software engineering,” in: Future of Software Engineering (FOSE ’07), Minneapolis, MN, USA, pp. 342-357. DOI: 10.1109/FOSE.2007.29

Harrison, K. (2003). “Television viewers’ ideal body proportions: The case of the curvaceously thin woman,” Sex Roles 48(5-6), 255-264. DOI: 10.1023/A:1022825421647

Howe, T. N. (2005). “Vitruvian critical eclecticism and Roman innovation,” Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome 50, 41-65. DOI: 10.1017/9781108637336.020

Hofer, S. (2012). “The Dürer Heritage in the GDR: The canon of socialist realism, its areas of imprecision, and its historical transformations,” Getty Research Journal 4, 109-126. DOI: 10.1086/grj.4.41413135

Horadam, A. F. (1961). “A generalized Fibonacci sequence,” The American Mathematical Monthly 68(5), 455-459. DOI: 10.1080/00029890.1961.11989696

Hou, Z. (2021). “Research on application of computer parameterization technology,” in: Modern Office Furniture Design, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1992(3), article 032052. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1992/3/032052

Hsu, H., and Chen, C. (1996). “Aggregation of fuzzy opinions under group decision making,” Fuzzy Sets and Systems 79(3), 279-285. DOI: 10.1016/0165-0114(95)00185-9

Hsu, W. J. (1993). “Fibonacci cubes-a new interconnection Topology,” IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems 4(1), 3-12. DOI: 10.1109/71.205649

Hu, S. M., Li, Y. F., Ju, T., Zhu, X. (2000). “Modifying the shape of NURBS surfaces with geometric constraints,” Computer-Aided Design 33(12), 903-912. DOI: 10.1016/S0010-4485(00)00115-9

Jasińska, A., and Sydor, M. (2021). “Dissemination of algorithms for decision-making aiding in the design of furniture and other products made of lignocellulosic materials in the scientific literature,” Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Forestry and Wood Technology 113, 60-64. DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0015.2333

Jayesh, A. K. (2014). “Beyond the canon: Whither beyond?,” Journal of Literary Studies 30(3), 46-66. DOI: 10.1080/02564718.2014.949408

Jeyabharathi, D., and Dejey, D. (2016). “Vehicle tracking and speed measurement system (VTSM) based on novel feature descriptor: Diagonal hexadecimal pattern (DHP),” Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation 40, 816-830. DOI: 10.1016/j.jvcir.2016.08.011

Jonassen, D. H. (2012). “Designing for decision making,” Educational Technology Research and Development 60(2), 341-359. DOI: 10.1007/s11423-011-9230-5

Jonson, M. L. (2007). “Preferred vehicle scaling,” in: Advances in Aerospace Technology. Proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition 2007, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Seattle, WA, USA, pp. 63-69. DOI: 10.1115/IMECE2007-41135

Kadri, U. (2015). “A methodology for the generation of biomimetic design concepts,” Architectural Science Review 58(2), 120-133. DOI: 10.1080/00038628.2014.922458

Khan, S., and Awan, M. J. (2018). “A generative design technique for exploring shape variations,” Advanced Engineering Informatics 38, 712-724. DOI: 10.1016/j.aei.2018.10.005

Klavžar, S., and Žigert, P. (2002). “A min-max result on catacondensed benzenoid graphs,” Applied Mathematics Letters 15(3), 279-283. DOI: 10.1016/S0893-9659(01)00131-8

Klavžar, S., and Žigert, P. (2005). “Fibonacci cubes are the resonance graphs of fibonaccenes,” Fibonacci Quarterly 43(3), 269-276.

Knopfmacher, A., Tichy, R. F., Wagner, S., and Ziegler, V. (2007). “Graphs, partitions and Fibonacci numbers,” Discrete Applied Mathematics 155(10), 1175-1187. DOI: 10.1016/j.dam.2006.10.010

Konečni, V. J. (1997). “The vase on the mantelpiece: The golden section in context,” Empirical Studies of the Arts 15(2), 177-207. DOI: 10.2190/a64n-12ju-w8eg-503v

Laurenza, D. (2019). “Leonardo’s contributions to human anatomy,” The Lancet 393(10179), 1473-1476. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30716-0

Le Corbusier (1961). The Modulor: A Harmonious Measure to the Human Scale, Universally Applicable to Architecture and Mechanics, Faber, London, UK.

Lee, A. S. (2014). “A study on design decision making resulted from the form features of furniture products and the aesthetic evaluations of consumers through fuzzy logic,” International Journal on Organizational Innovation 6(3), 64-75.

Littlewood, R. (2010). “The canon – 1,” Anthropology and Medicine 17(3), 339-341. DOI: 10.1080/13648470.2010.526700

Lizoňová, D., and Luptáková, J. (2016). “Artistic analysis and geometric procedures in furniture designing,” Acta Facultatis Xylologiae Zvolen 58(2), 5-14. DOI: 10.17423/afx.2016.58.2.01

Loach, J. (1998). “Le Corbusier and the creative use of mathematics,” The British Journal for the History of Science 31(2), 185-215. DOI: 10.1017/S0007087498003252

Lorenzen, E., and Iversen, E. (1977). “Canon and ‘thumbs’ in Egyptian art,” Journal of the American Oriental Society 97(4), 531-539. DOI: 10.2307/598635

Magazù, S., Coletta, N., and Migliardo, F. (2019). “The Vitruvian Man of Leonardo da Vinci as a representation of an operational approach to knowledge,” Foundations of Science 24(4), 751-773. DOI: 10.1007/s10699-019-09616-5

Murtinho, V. (2015). “Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man drawing: A new interpretation looking at Leonardo’s geometric constructions,” Nexus Network Journal 17(2), 507-524. DOI: 10.1007/s00004-015-0247-7

Nadal, M., and Vartanian, O. (2022). The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Aesthetics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198824350.001.0001

Naini, F. B., Cobourne, M. T., McDonald, F., and Donaldson, A. N. A. (2008). “The influence of craniofacial to standing height proportion on perceived attractiveness,” International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 37(10), 877-885. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2008.07.022

Naini, F. B., and Gill, D. S. (2008). “Facial aesthetics: 1. Concepts and canons,” Dental Update 35(2), 102-107. DOI: 10.12968/denu.2008.35.2.102

Neufert, E., and Neufert, P. (2012). Architects’ Data, Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Wiesbaden, Germany.

Neugebauer, O. (1931). “Sexagesimalsystem und babylonische Bruchrechnung III,” in: Quellen und Studien ƶur Geschichte der Mathematik Astronomie und Physik, Neugebauer, O., Stenƶel, J., Toeplitƶ, O. (eds.), Springer, Berlin, Germany, pp. 458-463. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-32737-1_3

Niemenmaa, M. (2011). “A check digit system for hexadecimal numbers,” Applicable Algebra in Engineering, Communications and Computing 22(2), 109-112. DOI: 10.1007/s00200-011-0139-3

Omotehinwa, T. O., and Ramon, S. O. (2013). “Fibonacci numbers and golden ratio in mathematics and science,” International Journal of Computer and Information Technology 2(4), 630-638.

Osborne, H. (1986). “Symmetry as an aesthetic factor,” Computers & Mathematics with Applications 12(1-2), 77-82. DOI: 10.1016/0898-1221(86)90140-9

Paeratakul, S., White, M. A., Williamson, D. A., Ryan, D. H., and Bray, G. A. (2002). “Sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and BMI in relation to self-perception of overweight,” Obesity Research 10(5), 345-350. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2002.48

Palladio, A. (1955). Cztery księgi o architekturze / I quattro libri dell’architettura [The Four Books of Architecture], (M. Rzepińska, tran.), Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warsaw, Poland.

Park, A. E., Fernandez, J. J., Schmedders, K., Cohen, M. S. (2003). “The fibonacci sequence: Relationship to the human hand,” Journal of Hand Surgery 28(1), 157-160. DOI: 10.1053/jhsu.2003.50000

Pevsner, J. (2002). “Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions to neuroscience,” Trends in Neurosciences 25(4), 217-220. DOI: 10.1016/S0166-2236(00)02121-4

Polikar, R. (2006). “Ensemble based systems in decision making,” IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine 6(3), 21-45. DOI: 10.1109/mcas.2006.1688199

Puškár, M., Bigoš, P., Kelemen, M., Tonhajzer, R., and Šima, M. (2014). “Measuring method for feedback provision during development of fuel map in hexadecimal format for high-speed racing engines,” Measurement 50, 203-212. DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2014.01.005

Raisbeck, P. (2022). “Conclusion: Reworlding the canon,” in: Architects, Sustainability and the Climate Emergency, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bringley, UK, pp. 215-233. DOI: 10.1108/978-1-80382-291-420221008

Rampley, M., Lenain, T., Locher, H., Pinotti, A., Schoell-Glass, C., and Zijlmans, C. J. M. (2012). “Art history and visual studies in Europe: Transnational discourses and national frameworks,” in: Brill’s Studies in Intellectual History, Brill, Leiden, Germany. DOI: 10.1163/9789004231702

Riggby, A. (2016). “Vitruvius and the limits of proportion,” Arethusa 49(2), 281-297. DOI: 10.1353/are.2016.0020

Roald, T., and Køppe, S. (2015). “Sense and subjectivity. Hidden potentials in psychological aesthetics,” Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology 35(1), 20-34. DOI: 10.1037/a0038435

Robins, G. (1994). “On supposed connections between the ‘Canon of Proportions’ and metrology,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 80(1), 191–194. DOI: 10.1177/030751339408000117

Robins, G. (1993). Proportion and Style in Ancient Egyptian Art, University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, USA. DOI: 10.7560/770607

Robins, G., and Shute, C. C. D. (1985). “Mathematical bases of ancient Egyptian architecture and graphic art,” Historia Mathematica 12(2), 107-122. DOI: 10.1016/0315-0860(85)90002-3

Rose, I., and McCallum, W. D. (1987). “A Simplified method for estimating fetal weight using ultrasound measurement,” Obstetrics and Gynecology 69(4), 671-674.

Ruta, N., Mastandrea, S., Penacchio, O., Lamaddalena, S., Bove, G. (2019). “A comparison between preference judgments of curvature and sharpness in architectural façades,” Architectural Science Review 62(2), 171-181. DOI: 10.1080/00038628.2018.1558393

Rybczyński, W. (2003). The Perfect House: A Journey with Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio, Scribner, New York, NY, USA.

Schreiber, A., and Pedersen, J. (2022). “Fibonacci sequence and art: The measure of utilization during art movements in European history,” International Dental Journal of Student’s Research 10, 90-102. DOI: 10.47611/jsrhs.v10i4.2191

Sharma, A., Singh, R., and Chani, P. (2012). “Proportions and architecture,” The IUP Journal of Architecture 4(1), 44-53.

Shen, J., Copertaro, B., Zhang, X., Koke, J., Kaufmann, P., and Krause, S. (2019). “Exploring the potential of climate-adaptive container building design under future climates scenarios in three different climate zones,” Sustainability 12(1), article 108. DOI: 10.3390/su12010108

Smith, J. C. (2020). Albrecht Dürer and the Embodiment of Genius: Decorating Museums in the Nineteenth Century, Penn State University Press, PA, USA.

Soyöz, U. (2015). “Optical measures: A design tool to attain truth or illusion?,” Nexus Network Journal 17, 525-545. DOI: 10.1007/s00004-015-0256-6

Stanton, D. (2001). “In the beginning, there was the ratio, and the ratio was with God, and the ratio was God,” Bridgewater Review 20(1), 8-11.

Stewart, A. (1978). “The canon of Polykleitos: A question of evidence,” The Journal of Hellenic Studies 98, 122-131. DOI: 10.2307/630196

Suandi, M. E., Amlus, M. H., Hemdi, A. R., Abd Rahim, S. Z., Ghazali, M. F., and Rahim, N. L. (2022). “A review on sustainability characteristics development for wooden furniture design,” Sustainability 14(14), article 8748. DOI: 10.3390/su14148748

Tavernor, R. (2002). “Measure, metre, irony: reuniting pure mathematics with architecture,” Architectural Research Quarterly 6(1), 67-75. DOI: 10.1017/S1359135502001483

Thompson, J. A. A. and Davis, L. L. (1988). “Furniture design decision-making constructs,” Home Economics Research Journal 16(4), 279-290. DOI: 10.1177/1077727X8801600404

Tobin, R. (1975). “The canon of polykleitos,” American Journal of Archaeology 79, 307-321. DOI: 10.2307/503064

Tubbs, R. I., Gonzales, J., Iwanaga, J., Loukas, M., Oskouian, R. J., and Tubbs, R. S. (2018). “The influence of ancient Greek thought on fifteenth century anatomy: Galenic influence and Leonardo da Vinci,” Child’s Nervous System 34(6), 1095-1101. DOI: 10.1007/s00381-017-3462-6

Tutte, W. T. (2001). Graph Theory, Cambridge University Press, Ontario, Canada.

Vegter, M. D., Hage, J., and Joris, M. D. ( 2000). “Clinical anthropometry and canons of the face in historical perspective,” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 106(5), 1090–1096. DOI: 10.1097/00006534-200010000-00021

Wansink, B. (1996). “Can package size accelerate usage volume?,” Journal of Marketing 60(3), 1-14. DOI: 10.1177/002224299606000301

Wever, R. (2011). “Design for volume optimization of packaging for durable goods,” Packaging Technology and Science 24(4), 211-222. DOI: 10.1002/pts.927

Yao, A. C., and Carlson, J. G. H. (2003). “Agility and mixed-model furniture production,” International Journal of Production Economics 81, 95-102. DOI: 10.1016/S0925-5273(02)00359-6

Yayenie, O. (2011). “A note on generalized Fibonacci sequences,” Applied Mathematics and Computation 217(12), 5603-5611. DOI: 10.1016/j.amc.2010.12.038

Yurttas, G. A., Delen, S., Demirci, M., Cevik, A. S., and Cangul, I. N. (2020). “Fibonacci Graphs,” Symmetry 12(9), article 1383. DOI: 10.3390/sym12091383

Zainal, A. S., Anwar, R., and Rahim, W. N. (2020). “The presence of Fibonacci sequence in Malaysia keris design related to elements of art and principles of design,” Environment and Behavior – Sage Journals 5(SI3), 141-147. DOI: 10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2547

Zannier, C., Chiasson, M., and Maurer, F. (2007). “A model of design decision making based on empirical results of interviews with software designers,” Information and Software Technology 49(6), 637-653. DOI: 10.1016/j.infsof.2007.02.010

Zhang, H., Ou, L., and Yao, H. (2009). “Fibonacci-like cubes as Z-transformation graphs,” Discrete Mathematics 309, 1284-1293. DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2008.01.053

Article submitted: December 13, 2023; Peer review completed: April 23, 2024; Revised version received and accepted: May 7, 2024; Published: May 30, 2024.

DOI: 10.15376/biores.19.3.4727-4748