Zhang Ru

Ms. Zhang Ru


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
25 September 2026 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CSChen Su
Chen Su
ZRZhang Ru
Zhang Ru
HWHongxiang Wang
Hongxiang Wang
JLJing Li
Jing Li
YTYang Tang
Yang Tang
YCYexin Chen
Yexin Chen
This study develops a traceable design-translation framework linking intergenerational social-sustainability concerns, mutual-learning mechanisms, user needs, and product-design elements, and illustrates its application through a home-gardening product concept for grandparent–grandchild dyads. Equitable participation, reciprocal knowledge contribution, social connectedness, and continuity of engagement are treated as design concerns rather than measured sustainability outcomes. Mutual-learning mechanisms are organized across three stages of collaborative gardening: preparation and initiation, collaborative engagement, and reflection and continuation. Behavioral observations and semi-structured interviews with eight dyads informed a KJ-based synthesis of user needs, which were prioritized using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and translated through the Function–Behavior–Structure (FBS) model into seven functions and eight core structural elements. A descriptive concept evaluation with 30 dyads compared the proposed concept with conventional home gardening under six design-derived criteria. The proposed concept received higher mean ratings across all six criteria, with composite indices of 0.857 and 0.539, respectively. These results reflect concept-level responses rather than evidence of actual behavioral change or long-term social-sustainability outcomes. The main contribution is the documented design-translation framework, while the gardening concept serves as an illustrative application.