Open encoding.

This study establishes a novel Bio-Cultural Heritage Design Framework that integrates grounded theory and biomechanics to address the sustainable development of traditional crafts in the digital era. Using Chaozhou woodcarving as a case study, we constructed a hierarchical demand system through a three-stage coding analysis of 1,250 online reviews, 381 survey responses, and expert interviews, identifying biomechanical utility (A1, 40% weight) as the dominant factor. Key sub-criteria—ergonomic compatibility (C12, 0.21 weight), material durability (e.g., nanmu wood with elastic modulus ≥8 GPa), and structural stability (C22, 0.15 weight)—were translated into AI design constraints via Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). AI-generated prototypes (e.g., Sample 15, score 4.53/5) demonstrated superior biomechanical performance, validated by finite element analysis (stress distribution