Research On Children’s Picture Book Design Based On Augmented Reality Technology For Tianmen Sugar Sculpture

Since the 18th National Congress,General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of Chinese traditional culture and cultural confidence on multiple occasions.As a key representative of Chinese traditional culture,the dissemination of intangible cultural heritage among young children has gained the attention of scholars.As a result,some excellent cases of children’s picture books that feature intangible heritage as the theme have been created.However,there is still a lack of research on picture books that showcase sugar sculptures in Tianmen,Hubei.As a fundamental aspect of children’s lifelong development,picture books are designed to align with children’s cognitive development and thinking characteristics.They are also an effective medium for the transmission and dissemination of non-material cultural heritage.In light of this,the present study focuses on Tianmen sugar sculpture as the subject for designing a picture book aimed at children aged 7-10.Our case study revealed that picture books primarily employ illustrations complemented by text,with interactive elements such as augmented reality technology and three-dimensional books providing innovative,engaging,and emotionally stimulating experiences for children,which they enjoy.A questionnaire survey and interviews with 40 local third graders and their parents showed that Tianmen children have limited knowledge of their local sugar sculptures.Despite efforts by national-level inheritors to promote the art through school activities,the impact has been limited.Taking into account the cognitive characteristics of children,this study delves into the meaning of Tianmen sugar sculpture.Through field interviews with its inheritors,the picture book content was summarized into four main categories: regional environment,introduction of the inheritors,legends and stories,and history and process.The graphic illustration design of the picture book,combined with augmented reality technology and three-dimensional book elements,allows children to enjoy the Tianmen sugar sculpture picture book while enhancing their viewing experience through augmented reality technology.This satisfies the demand for children’s picture books that combine reality and imagination in the digital age.In the user testing phase,observation and interviews were used to evaluate the design effects on children.The results showed that the integration of folk art and artistic creation,as well as the combination of three-dimensional books and augmented reality technology with picture books,better meets children’s aesthetic preferences and learning needs.This approach contributes to the enhancement of children’s reading interests,and the effectiveness of the picture book design was confirmed.Overall,children’s positive perceptions of reading the AR picture books of Tianmen sugar sculptures are mainly attributed to content storytelling,visual and auditory design,and presentation form,with the interactive reading experience helping them better understand the art form.The research findings also indicate that areas such as the fluency of the AR experience in picture books need improvement,which the author will address in future iterations.