Creating new design and usage areas by applying Kastamonu wooden mould printing symbols to today's ceramic coating material surfaces

Drawing on the influence of cultural elements on identity, belonging, and artistic expression, this study explores the historical development of textile and ceramic printing methods, their interaction with cultural practices, and their aesthetic transformation from a multifaceted perspective. The role of printmaking in identity construction is evaluated in the context of materials, motifs, and formal approaches, while the relationship between traditional handicrafts and contemporary design processes is examined within the framework of sustainability and innovation. Within this framework, woodblock printing symbols from Kastamonu are treated both as carriers of cultural heritage and as symbolic elements referenced in contemporary design. Within the scope of this research, the motif and symbol features of the molds used in the traditional woodblock printing art specific to the Kastamonu region were examined; the symbol catalogue created with original motif samples obtained from the Kastamonu Museum Directorate and the data based on individual interviews with workshop owners in Kastamonu provided qualitative information about traditional production methods, cultural context and technical features of the motifs. During the fieldwork process, the descriptive data obtained by adopting the qualitative research method were analyzed within the scope of the Design-Based Research (DBR) model; the motifs were evaluated in terms of motif-symbol and composition within the framework of Gestalt Psychology and in line with these analyses, new approaches in line with contemporary design principles in the field of ceramic tile coating were developed. Thus, the findings obtained regarding the adaptation of traditional motifs to different areas contributed to cultural sustainability while also presenting potential application examples that will provide creative expression areas for designers.