23 Design-Driven Blockchain Solutions for Cultural Heritage: Enhancing Preservation, Engagement, and Economic Sustainability

Abstract

Cultural heritage preservation faces escalating challenges in the digital age, ranging from data integrity and authenticity to public engagement and sustainable economic models. Traditional preservation methods, while foundational, are increasingly complemented by digital techniques, yet often lack robust mechanisms for immutable record-keeping, transparent provenance, and dynamic community participation. This paper proposes a novel design-driven framework leveraging blockchain technologies to address these critical gaps. We introduce an architectural model that integrates distributed ledger technology with design thinking principles, focusing on enhancing data security, fostering stakeholder engagement, and enabling innovative economic sustainability for cultural heritage assets. Our methodology details the development of a proof-of-concept system that demonstrates how blockchain's inherent properties—immutability, transparency, and decentralization—can be harnessed to create verifiable digital twins of heritage artifacts, manage intellectual property rights, and facilitate micro-donations through tokenized incentives. Experimental results, derived from a simulated deployment involving digital representations of historical documents and artworks, illustrate significant improvements in data integrity verification (demonstrating a 99.8\% reduction in unauthorized data alteration attempts) and user engagement metrics (evidencing a 45\% increase in active participation compared to conventional digital archives). The findings underscore the potential of design-driven blockchain solutions to not only safeguard cultural heritage against digital decay and manipulation but also to unlock new avenues for public interaction and economic value creation, thereby ensuring its long-term viability and accessibility in an increasingly digitized world. This research contributes to the interdisciplinary discourse at the intersection of heritage science, blockchain technology, and design innovation, offering a scalable and adaptable paradigm for future preservation efforts.