Intercultural Design - Final Compilation

10.1.2023 - 3.3.2023 (Week 1 - Week 8)
Tan Yi-Tyng (0353327)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Intercultural Design
Project 1, Project 2 & Final Project

LECTURE

Culture, Design & Research

Fig. 1.1 - Week 1 Lecture Notes

INSTRUCTIONS

PROJECT 1

Proposal

For our first project, we are required to come up with a proposal to give concrete ideas which are supported by research, for a final design revolving around the theme given which is "Visualism – Visual Culture" that reflects our understanding and interpretation of a cultural phenomenon, or a particular subculture.

Things to include in the proposal:

200-word write-up defining and interpreting the theme with the chosen cultural elements.
Citation is necessary as evidence of the research.
A minimum of 3 preliminary ideas in detailed sketches, each with individual rationale.
Visual references
Reference list & Picture credits

Firstly, we were asked to separate into groups and choose a group leader and our topic. After I found my group, we created a WhatsApp group to communicate with each other.

Group 21:
Joan Chiam Zi Woei
Rachel Madeline Purwanto
Sharrvesh Raguraman
Benjamin Ng Chii Wen
Gina Gian
Tan Yi-Tyng

On Wednesday, we decided to have a group meeting on Discord. During the meeting, my leader suggests each of our research and came up with possible topics. After we gave it a thought, we voted for the topics we were interested in. Ended up the topic of 'Day of The Dead' won. Thus, we agreed on it and decided to dive deep and research the topic on our own and gather all the information next week.

Fig. 1.1 - Discussion on Discord

Below are the meeting minutes for the meeting we had.

Fig. 1.2 - Cultures and Topics Suggested

Next, our group compiled all the research, finding and though in google docs.

Fig. 1.3 - Research for Proposal

Then, our group have a discussion on deciding which important information need to add to the Proposal. And we decided the three preliminary ideas, first idea is to create sugar skulls using different colours and symbols. The second idea is to create a mural about the marigold flower bridge. And third is designing a game board based on the day of the dead.

However, after getting feedback from Ms Anis on our first proposal, we changed the third idea to create an Instagram filter. And we also added more input about why people celebrate the festival and some background history of the celebration.

Fig. 1.4 - Proposal

During week 4, we presented our proposal to Ms Anis and Mr Asrizal, they suggested that we can be looking for another different culture of the afterlife that has similar aspects to the Day of the Dead such as the Chinese ghost festival and compares two of them. Maybe the final artwork can be have a collaboration of 2 cultures on the afterlife.

So, our group discussed that we could research the Chinese ghost festival and Egypt culture of the dead to see how we can incorporate these cultures in our final artwork.

Fig. 1.5 - Research on Proposal

Ended up we choose to combine both Day of the dead and the Chinese ghost festival for our final artwork. And our group divided our tasks equally for creating a new proposal and we came up with the research questions, research objectives, problem statement and new preliminary ideas.

Below is our revised proposal.

Fig. 1.6 - Revised Proposal

PROJECT 2

Data Collection

For the second part of this module, we are required to conduct a data gathering collection process about the culture with relevance to the theme and the research objectives. Our group conducted a meeting and decided the three data collection methods will be the google form survey, Google research and face-to-face interview. We divided our task into three groups, and I was assigned to create the google form and write up some questions.

Fig. 2.1 - Process of making google form

Fig. 2.2 - Discussion on Discord

Click HERE for the google form link.

Click HERE for the voice face-to-face interview.

Fig. 2.3 - Data Collection

FINAL PROJECT

Here come to the last part of the module, we need to utilise the research and data collected to produce visual design outcomes that reflect our interpretation of our chosen cultures. And we are required to design an A1 presentation poster with essential information, rationale and final artwork.

Our group decided to divide the tasks into two groups, one group will be writing the rationale and designing the final poster, while the other group will be creating the final artwork.

I was assigned to do some research and write up the rationale for chosen elements and colours for the final artwork. Below is the research that I have done and compile in the google doc.

Fig. 3.1 - Research on elements and colour used for final artwork

Fig. 3.2 - Process of designing the poster

Final Poster

Fig. 3.3 - Final Poster (PDF)

Fig. 3.4 - Final Poster (MP4)

Fig. 3.4 - Final Artwork (GIF)

Rationale

This artwork features the 'Visualism of life after death in Mexican and Chinese Culture'. It is believed in both Mexican and Chinese culture, that death is not the end of everything and that our loved ones will always live on in our heart. Therefore, people chose a day to commemorate the dead in order to honor and remember the departed loved ones. So we decided to combine two similar yet different festivals where people honor the dead by using different methods but still work similarly. In the artwork, we use different elements such as: Lotus flower lantern and marigold flower. These elements are used as a guiding light for spirits.

What does the elements represent?

Monarch butterfly

Mexicans believed that Monarchs represent the spirits of their ancestors or loved ones returning every year on the Day of the Dead to assure them all is well.

Lotus flower Lantern

During the Hungry Ghost Festival, Chinese people make river lanterns which are made by pasting paper into a lotus shape with a lamp or candle placed inside. The dark and mysterious underworld usually reminds people of the gloomy sepulchral hell where the ghosts suffer, so lanterns are released to rivers or lakes to guide the way for the dead people.

Marigold

The bright coloring and potent fragrance from marigolds are thought to attract the souls of the dead to the ofrendas prepared for them. Families will often scatter marigold petals forming a path to lead the dead souls home.

FEEDBACK

Week 2 - Proposal first draft

Consider adding more input from the aspect of why Day of the Dead is celebrated rather than being feared for the basic assumptions of your topic. Then you can devise better ideas for your project. Current game ideas are not convincing.

Week 4 - Proposal presentation

Consider looking at another different culture of the afterlife that has similar aspects to Day of the Dead and compare the two of them. Consider the final outcome to have a collaboration of 2 cultures on the afterlife.

Week 6 - Data Collection

The ideas for the final artwork look interesting, you may proceed to it.

REFLECTION

At first, I was a bit surprised by this module because almost all of the assignments are based on group work. It took me a few weeks to adapt to group assignments. I was a little worried about the members, whether they were very passive and unable to cooperate. However, it turned out not to be the case, I am grateful that there are many members who are responsible and supportive.

To be honest, at the beginning of thinking about the preliminary idea, it is not simple to create a meaningful and special design. But after two weeks of exploration and research, I am quite satisfied with the idea we currently designing.

In this module, I learned that there are several new methods for doing research. Besides that, I also learned how to research in detail and collect data using several methods. What has become my strength for this module is the provision of materials that existed before I started to learn this module. And I also realized that there were some things that I was lacking. First, do research in a way that I've never tried before. And then write a proposal in the correct and proper way.

Some things that have changed after I studied this module are I feel that my level of hard work is increasing due to encouragement from other group members and also my knowledge of research and proposals increases thanks to the information provided from this module and from the group members.

TAN YI-TYNG (0353327)