FROM MARINE BIO - TRAUMA TO WEARABLE MEANING

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution causes extensive biological trauma to marine organisms, yet such suffering often remains visually distant and emotionally abstract to the public. Jewelry design, as a body-centered and symbolic medium, offers a unique pathway to translate ecological trauma into tangible and emotionally resonant forms. This study investigates how marine bio-trauma can be systematically transformed into wearable visual language through trauma-oriented eco-jewelry design. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating an audience perception survey (n = 220) with practice-based design research. Quantitative analysis examined public emotional responses, acceptance of trauma-themed jewelry, and preferences for design elements. Based on these findings, bio-trauma elements were extracted across three dimensions — color, structure, and symbolism — and translated into six jewelry prototypes using silver, resin, and cold enamel techniques. The results demonstrate that symbolic abstraction, moderated trauma intensity, and material credibility are critical for effective ecological communication through jewelry. This study proposes a trauma-oriented visual translation framework that contributes to sustainable design research by integrating empirical perception, symbolic coherence, and embodied craft practice.