<p>When a design feature (such as material choice, internal bracing pattern, guitar body depth, and sound hole diameter) of an acoustic guitar changes, the effect of the change on the guitar’s sound is not well understood. As a result, luthiers approximate how to make guitars that have resonant frequencies of around 95-105 Hertz (Hz), the frequency range which sounds “good.” The researcher designed a reconfigurable fixture that simulated an acoustic guitar body with a variable body depth and sound hole diameter. The researcher used this testing fixture to examine the relationship between sound hole diameter, body depth, and resonant frequency. She conducted an experimental parameter sweep, measuring frequency response functions (FRFs) to collect data on the first, Helmholtz, and second resonant frequencies of the simulated acoustic guitar. The researcher pinpointed the general trends in the correlation between resonant frequency, body depth, and sound hole diameter using the frequency data from the FRF measurements. She determined that as sound hole diameter increased, the first, Helmholtz, and second resonant frequencies increased; and as body depth and body volume increased, the first and Helmholtz resonant frequencies decreased, while the second resonant frequency increased up until a body depth of approximately 4.50” inches. Exploring alternative design features and material choices contributes to improving urban infrastructure by encouraging luthiers to make instruments with sustainable materials (National Academy of Engineering, Grand Challenges – Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure, 2023).</p>

The teoretical part of the thesis provides a discussion on the creative work with wood and focuses on wood as a traditional material, which plays a fundamental role not only in the lives of humans, but also in the visual arts culture. This part further discusses the application of this topic in the art and design education with special reference to the relevant educational curricular documentation, methodology of art education through projects and the cross-curriculum relation with eviromental education. The practical part of the thesis was realised in the 2nd class of the Komensky primary school in the town Dačice, the Czech Republic. This part introduces a creative project centred on the topic of wood while discussing its applicability for the art and design education at the lower primary schools. The project consists of the seven creative lessons as a part of the regular art education, which are duly elaborated upon in the practical part.