HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony

Huanchen Wang; Tianrun Qiu; Jiaping Li; Zhicong Lu; Yuxin Ma

doi:10.1145/3706598.3714159

HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony

Huanchen Wang (Co-first Author), Tianrun Qiu (Co-first Author), Jiaping Li, Zhicong Lu, Yuxin Ma^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Computer Science

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

Chinese paper-cutting, an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), faces challenges from the erosion of traditional culture due to the prevalence of realism alongside limited public access to cultural elements. While generative AI can enhance paper-cutting design with its extensive knowledge base and efficient production capabilities, it often struggles to align content with cultural meaning due to users’ and models’ lack of comprehensive paper-cutting knowledge. To address these issues, we conducted a formative study (N=7) to identify the workflow and design space, including four core factors (Function, Subject Matter, Style, and Method of Expression) and a key element (Pattern). We then developed HarmonyCut, a generative AI-based tool that translates abstract intentions into creative and structured ideas. This tool facilitates the exploration of suggested related content (knowledge, works, and patterns), enabling users to select, combine, and adjust elements for creative paper-cutting design. A user study (N=16) and an expert evaluation (N=3) demonstrated that HarmonyCut effectively provided relevant knowledge, aiding the ideation of diverse paper-cutting designs and maintaining design quality within the design space to ensure alignment between form and cultural connotation.

© 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s)

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI '25
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Editors	Naomi Yamashita, Vanessa Evers, Koji Yatani, Xianghua (Sharon) Ding, Bongshin Lee, Marshini Chetty, Phoebe Toups-Dugas
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
ISBN (Print)	979-8-4007-1394-1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3714159
Publication status	Published - 25 Apr 2025
Event	2025 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025): IkiCHI - PACIFICO Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Duration: 26 Apr 2025 → 1 May 2025 https://chi2025.acm.org/

Publication series

Name	ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2025 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025)
Abbreviated title	CHI'25
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Yokohama
Period	26/04/25 → 1/05/25
Internet address	https://chi2025.acm.org/

Research Keywords

Creativity support tool
Chinese paper-cutting
Generative AI-aided design
Intangible Cultural Heritage

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10.1145/3706598.3714159

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Wang, H., Qiu, T., Li, J., Lu, Z., & Ma, Y. (2025). HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony. In N. Yamashita, V. Evers, K. Yatani, X. Ding, B. Lee, M. Chetty, & P. Toups-Dugas (Eds.), CHI '25: Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Article 661 (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings). Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3714159

Wang, Huanchen ; Qiu, Tianrun ; Li, Jiaping et al. / HarmonyCut : Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony. CHI '25: Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. editor / Naomi Yamashita ; Vanessa Evers ; Koji Yatani ; Xianghua (Sharon) Ding ; Bongshin Lee ; Marshini Chetty ; Phoebe Toups-Dugas. New York : Association for Computing Machinery, 2025. (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings).

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title = "HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony",

abstract = "Chinese paper-cutting, an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), faces challenges from the erosion of traditional culture due to the prevalence of realism alongside limited public access to cultural elements. While generative AI can enhance paper-cutting design with its extensive knowledge base and efficient production capabilities, it often struggles to align content with cultural meaning due to users{\textquoteright} and models{\textquoteright} lack of comprehensive paper-cutting knowledge. To address these issues, we conducted a formative study (N=7) to identify the workflow and design space, including four core factors (Function, Subject Matter, Style, and Method of Expression) and a key element (Pattern). We then developed HarmonyCut, a generative AI-based tool that translates abstract intentions into creative and structured ideas. This tool facilitates the exploration of suggested related content (knowledge, works, and patterns), enabling users to select, combine, and adjust elements for creative paper-cutting design. A user study (N=16) and an expert evaluation (N=3) demonstrated that HarmonyCut effectively provided relevant knowledge, aiding the ideation of diverse paper-cutting designs and maintaining design quality within the design space to ensure alignment between form and cultural connotation.{\textcopyright} 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s)",

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author = "Huanchen Wang and Tianrun Qiu and Jiaping Li and Zhicong Lu and Yuxin Ma",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1145/3706598.3714159",

language = "English",

isbn = "979-8-4007-1394-1",

series = "ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery",

editor = "Naomi Yamashita and Vanessa Evers and Koji Yatani and Ding, {Xianghua (Sharon)} and Bongshin Lee and Marshini Chetty and Phoebe Toups-Dugas",

booktitle = "CHI '25",

address = "United States",

note = "2025 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025) : IkiCHI, CHI'25 ; Conference date: 26-04-2025 Through 01-05-2025",

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}

Wang, H, Qiu, T, Li, J, Lu, Z & Ma, Y 2025, HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony. in N Yamashita, V Evers, K Yatani, X Ding, B Lee, M Chetty & P Toups-Dugas (eds), CHI '25: Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems., 661, ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings, Association for Computing Machinery, New York, 2025 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025), Yokohama, Japan, 26/04/25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3714159

HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony. / Wang, Huanchen (Co-first Author); Qiu, Tianrun (Co-first Author); Li, Jiaping et al.
CHI '25: Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. ed. / Naomi Yamashita; Vanessa Evers; Koji Yatani; Xianghua (Sharon) Ding; Bongshin Lee; Marshini Chetty; Phoebe Toups-Dugas. New York: Association for Computing Machinery, 2025. 661 (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - HarmonyCut

T2 - 2025 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025)

AU - Wang, Huanchen

AU - Qiu, Tianrun

AU - Li, Jiaping

AU - Lu, Zhicong

AU - Ma, Yuxin

PY - 2025/4/25

Y1 - 2025/4/25

N2 - Chinese paper-cutting, an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), faces challenges from the erosion of traditional culture due to the prevalence of realism alongside limited public access to cultural elements. While generative AI can enhance paper-cutting design with its extensive knowledge base and efficient production capabilities, it often struggles to align content with cultural meaning due to users’ and models’ lack of comprehensive paper-cutting knowledge. To address these issues, we conducted a formative study (N=7) to identify the workflow and design space, including four core factors (Function, Subject Matter, Style, and Method of Expression) and a key element (Pattern). We then developed HarmonyCut, a generative AI-based tool that translates abstract intentions into creative and structured ideas. This tool facilitates the exploration of suggested related content (knowledge, works, and patterns), enabling users to select, combine, and adjust elements for creative paper-cutting design. A user study (N=16) and an expert evaluation (N=3) demonstrated that HarmonyCut effectively provided relevant knowledge, aiding the ideation of diverse paper-cutting designs and maintaining design quality within the design space to ensure alignment between form and cultural connotation.© 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s)

AB - Chinese paper-cutting, an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), faces challenges from the erosion of traditional culture due to the prevalence of realism alongside limited public access to cultural elements. While generative AI can enhance paper-cutting design with its extensive knowledge base and efficient production capabilities, it often struggles to align content with cultural meaning due to users’ and models’ lack of comprehensive paper-cutting knowledge. To address these issues, we conducted a formative study (N=7) to identify the workflow and design space, including four core factors (Function, Subject Matter, Style, and Method of Expression) and a key element (Pattern). We then developed HarmonyCut, a generative AI-based tool that translates abstract intentions into creative and structured ideas. This tool facilitates the exploration of suggested related content (knowledge, works, and patterns), enabling users to select, combine, and adjust elements for creative paper-cutting design. A user study (N=16) and an expert evaluation (N=3) demonstrated that HarmonyCut effectively provided relevant knowledge, aiding the ideation of diverse paper-cutting designs and maintaining design quality within the design space to ensure alignment between form and cultural connotation.© 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s)

KW - Creativity support tool

KW - Chinese paper-cutting

KW - Generative AI-aided design

KW - Intangible Cultural Heritage

UR - https://chi2025.acm.org/

UR - https://programs.sigchi.org/chi/2025/program/content/188649

U2 - 10.1145/3706598.3714159

DO - 10.1145/3706598.3714159

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 979-8-4007-1394-1

T3 - ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings

BT - CHI '25

A2 - Yamashita, Naomi

A2 - Evers, Vanessa

A2 - Yatani, Koji

A2 - Ding, Xianghua (Sharon)

A2 - Lee, Bongshin

A2 - Chetty, Marshini

A2 - Toups-Dugas, Phoebe

PB - Association for Computing Machinery

CY - New York

Y2 - 26 April 2025 through 1 May 2025

ER -

Wang H, Qiu T, Li J, Lu Z, Ma Y. HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony. In Yamashita N, Evers V, Yatani K, Ding X, Lee B, Chetty M, Toups-Dugas P, editors, CHI '25: Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New York: Association for Computing Machinery. 2025. 661. (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) Proceedings). doi: 10.1145/3706598.3714159

HarmonyCut: Supporting Creative Chinese Paper-cutting Design with Form and Connotation Harmony

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