Generative Design in Cultural Flux: Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Value Metrics

Culture, as the core dimension for value manifestation in generative design, exerts decisive influence on design morphology through its spatiotemporal attributes and structural characteristics. Within contemporary cultural contexts, generative design exhibits dynamic volatility: temporally, it manifests as a dialectical unity between functional iteration and spiritual inheritance; spatially, it forms an interplay between the embeddedness of local cultures and the perceptibility of globalization; and systemically, it confronts the evolutionary challenge of transitioning from static to dynamic paradigms in image dissemination during the internet era. This study aims to construct a culturally driven value assessment system for generative design, focusing on two core objectives: first, breaking down semantic exchange barriers between professional and non-professional groups, and second, establishing a quantifiable measurement model for generative design’s value dimensions. Under the theoretical framework of cultural volatility, a mixed-methods approach is adopted: Cultural Element Deconstruction: Applying grounded theory to decode design samples, building analytical models for temporal volatility, spatial volatility, and internal-external volatility; Value Matrix Construction. The study found that: 1) cultural volatility drives design evolution through the ‘function-spirit’ double helix structure; 2) the cultural adaptability of generative design in the spatial dimension verifies the dynamic balance mechanism between localisation and globalisation. This research advances a systematic methodology for evaluating generative design’s cultural value, offering insights for balancing technological innovation with cultural sustainability in AI-augmented design ecosystems.