An Integrated GT–Kano–AHP–QFD–VIKOR Framework for the Sustainable Design of Chinese Reclaimed Ship Timber Furniture

Abstract

Old ship timber is a wood resource that combines reuse potential, cultural significance, and distinctive aesthetic characteristics. By extending the material life cycle and promoting resource circularity, it provides potential value for sustainable furniture design. However, wood furniture design remains limited by insufficient requirement identification, experience-driven decisions, and inadequate integration of cultural values with contemporary functional needs. To address these challenges, this study focused on Chinese old ship timber furniture and proposes a sustainable design decision-making framework integrating Grounded Theory (GT), Kano model, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and VIKOR. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants to capture users’ perceptions, and GT identified five categories of user requirements—functional, visual, cultural, material, and market-related—comprising 15 elements. Kano classified these requirements, while AHP quantified their relative importance, identifying material expressiveness, ergonomic performance, and style compatibility as the highest-priority requirements. QFD translated these priorities into nine technical characteristics, and VIKOR evaluated four design schemes. Results indicate that Scheme 2, emphasizing the integration of reclaimed ship timber with contemporary living environments, achieved the highest overall evaluation score. The findings suggest that the framework supports requirement identification, technical translation, and alternative selection for sustainable furniture design.