The Constructive Role of Visual Narrative in Oral History of Kunming Old Street: An ‎Empirical Exploration Based on Participatory Reader Design

บทคัดย่อ

Historic cultural districts serve as vital carriers of urban cultural memory and local identity. During rapid urbanization, while material heritage preservation receives attention, the risk of losing intangible community memories persists. This study aims to establish a methodological framework for participatory visual narrative design of oral history materials and examine its effectiveness in transforming archived memories into accessible cultural resources. Specific objectives include: (1) developing design principles for visual layout based on temporal, spatial, and character narrative structures; (2) exploring strategies for translating memory fragments into appropriate visual symbols and imagery; (3) evaluating readability and accessibility among target audiences; and (4) analyzing the method  applicability for similar cultural heritage projects.  Using the Kunming Old Street Cultural Reader project as a case study, this research employed participatory design methodology involving 108 oral history interviews with local residents, merchants, craftspeople, and scholars conducted between 2018-2024. The research utilized a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods approach through three iterative design cycles: (1) content selection and narrative structure development through collaborative workshops, (2) visual element creation and layout design integrating typography, imagery, and composition, and (3) prototype testing and refinement. Reader evaluation involved 150 participants across three demographic groups using structured interviews, focus group discussions, and readability assessments.

The research successfully established a three dimensional narrative framework (temporal-spatial-character) that effectively integrates oral history materials into accessible visual formats. Evaluation results demonstrated positive reception across all demographic groups: elderly readers (89% enhanced neighborhood identity), middle aged residents (92% engagement with spatial narratives, 78% learned new neighborhood history), young readers (85% completion for illustrated sections), and general public (73% satisfaction with cultural accessibility, 81% increased interest in visiting the district). These findings validate the frameworks effectiveness in transforming individual memories into shared cultural understanding while achieving broad accessibility across diverse audiences, demonstrating significant societal impact for heritage preservation and community identity strengthening in rapidly urbanizing contexts.