A multi-criteria decision-making framework for Tibetan furniture design driven by the needs of users: Integration and evaluation via TFAHP-QFD-VIKOR

Tibetan furniture faces the dual challenge of maintaining the authenticity of cultural heritage while meeting the functional needs of modern living. The Tibetan-style seating bed is used in religious rituals and for daily purposes. A hybrid model integrating the Triangular Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (TFAHP), Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) was constructed, aiming to resolve the conflict between cultural heritage revival and modern functional requirements in Tibetan furniture design. Through the grounded theory, 16 design elements were identified. TFAHP was employed for quantitative analysis, and the results showed that the cultural dimension of Tibetan furniture has a higher weight than the functional, apparent, and technological dimensions. Cultural recognition and Buddhist culture are the core driving forces behind this design. After mapping user needs via QFD, technical features such as modular design and integrated seating/storage designs were identified. Finally, VIKOR was used to conduct multi-objective optimization on three design schemes, and the optimal one is selected. The hybrid model proposed in this study provides a scientific framework for balancing cultural authenticity and user experience and offers a replicable design paradigm for the modern transformation of ethnic cultural heritage.