Creation-as-transmission: a cognitive-based framework for cultural heritage learning through AI collaborative creation

Abstract Digital transmission of traditional cultural heritage faces challenges of insufficient user engagement and superficial dissemination. Using the Cizhou kiln as a case study, this research proposes the “Creation-as-Transmission” design paradigm, which transcends traditional unidirectional display models by transforming users from cultural consumers to cultural co-creators. This paradigm systematically integrates situated cognition theory and co-creation theory, achieving deep cultural learning and socialized transmission through AI collaborative creation. Empirical studies (N = 200) demonstrate that compared to traditional methods, this paradigm significantly enhances cultural cognition (74% improvement) and the proportion of spontaneous sharing on social media (82.6% sharing rate). More importantly, this research provides the first quantification of causal mechanisms between creative behaviors and cultural cognition, establishing a predictive model explaining 73.1% of cognitive variance and offering mechanistic evidence for situated learning theory’s application in cultural heritage transmission. The research contributions have threefold value: theoretically, it expands HCI understanding of the relationship between “design behaviors and cognitive effects”; methodologically, it provides a transferable implementation framework for other intangible cultural heritage; practically, it opens new pathways for digital technologies to promote sustainable cultural transmission.