Articulating design reasoning for intangible cultural heritage in human–computer interaction: dimensions, tensions, and implications

Abstract This paper presents a systematic literature review of design approaches used to support the dissemination of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). While prior work has explored various digital interventions for heritage preservation, few studies have synthesized the design logics, participation models, and representational strategies that underpin such systems. This study aims to bridge these gaps through a systematic literature review of ICH research within human–computer interaction, focusing on design approaches. Drawing from Scopus, Web of Science, and the ACM Digital Library, 1533 papers were identified, of which 115 were selected for full-text analysis. Rather than cataloging technologies or applications, the review synthesizes how interaction decisions are shaped through design approaches, participation models, media modalities, and representational strategies. Based on this synthesis, we articulate a five-dimensional design space for reasoning about interaction with ICH, encompassing interaction mechanism, media modality, participation model, cultural positioning, and emotional strategy. The analysis reveals recurring design tensions, including reproduction versus interpretation, community authority versus affective accessibility, and structure versus openness. By framing ICH as an extreme context for interaction design, this work contributes a conceptual lens for understanding interaction in settings involving tacit knowledge, cultural authority, and situated participation, with implications beyond heritage contexts.