Intercultural Design : Project 1 - Proposal

Week 1 - Week 3 // 
12.2.2024 - 26.2.2024 
0356117 // Angel Tan Xin Kei
Intercultural Design // Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Project 1: Proposal

Index


Lecture 1 - Culture & Design

Visuals are essential:
  • everything that can be seen is wide, all-inclusive including nature
  • produced or created by human for the purpose of visual representatives
Design Significance (Design System) :
  • Artifacts and Products 
    • Implementation - Use
    • Tools and Technology
  • Norms and Values
    • Design Language - Aesthetic
    • Look and Feel
    • Design Elements
    • Design Functions
  • Basic Assumptions
    • Cultural Functions
    • Value
    • Principles
    • Practices
Design Sensitivity 

Cultural Sensitivity Awareness

  • Symbolism and Imagery: 
    • symbols and images carry different meanings and be mindful of potential cultural interpretations to avoid unintentional misunderstandings or offence
  • Color Considerations: 
    • colours can have cultural significance, and their meanings may vary across different societies
  • Typography and Language: 
    • considering language variations and ensuring accurate translations is crucial for reaching diverse audiences

Addressing Cultural Sensitivity

  • Inclusive Design:
    • products and experiences that are accessible and inclusive including those with different abilities and needs
  • User Research:
    • conduct ethnographic studies and user testing across diverse groups, helps designers gain insights into cultural preferences and behaviors
  • Localisation: 
    • adapting designs through localization can enhance the relevance and acceptance
  • Cultural Awareness Training: 
    • to develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and sensitivities


Lecture 2 - Culture, Design & Research
Designers have to be more vigilant with artworks and takes more skills, intuition and creativity and most importantly research. As future designers, must embrace the habit of research as part of work process.

Research - unite theory and practices to establish project rationale
  • Before writing proposal: 
    • secondary findings ( wikipedia, websites etc )
    • primary findings (sketches, storyboards and wireframe)
  • After producing the proposal
    • Primary findings ( interviews and surveys )
  • During Creation of Artwork
    • Final Design Production ( Processes & Team Contributors )
    • Data Collected through published and existing resource ( safety and regulations )

Instruction

Module Information Booklet

Submission Requirement:
  • 200 words of definitions and interpretation theme in relations to chosen cultural elements
  • A minimum of 3 preliminary ideas in detailed sketches, each with individual rationale
  • Visual references
  • Reference list
  • Picture credits

Proposal

Week 2
Personal Findings
At the beginning of the week, we were given a topic of Cultural Sensitivity in Design to conduct research relatively to Japan as we were going to Osaka field trip.

My keen interest revolved around Japanese wedding culture, I directed my research efforts towards exploring various facets of this tradition, specifically focusing on wedding attire, ceremonial money packet, and makeup practices. 


Week 3
Group Research 
At the beginning of the week, we were grouped into teams comprising design students from various semesters. Our task was to undertake research focusing on "Cultural Sensitivity in Design with a Focus on Japanese Culture." We identified several culturally sensitive topics to explore, including the Kimono, Wedding Customs, Packaging, Ghost and Supernatural Belief, Lantern Motifs, and Kawaii culture.


Document of Proposal :
After presenting our ideas, we collectively agreed that the themes of packaging and ghost cultures were of mutual interest to all of us. Subsequently, we assigned tasks, completed the proposal, and presented it to our lecturer. Upon review, she advised us to integrate both themes into our project.


Final Proposal in PPT(PDF)
This proposal outlines our research idea focusing on the ghost culture of Japan, incorporating input from all team members. Additionally, we have developed three potential outcome products, accompanied by 3 sketches which are Yokai bookmarks, fox face mask and One's Popsicles.



Feedback
Week 1 
At the very beginning week, we consulted Ms.Anis to seek guidance from Ms. Anis to discuss our preliminary ideas and gain insights into potential research areas, particularly focusing on Japanese cultures.

Week 2
We consulted the idea of Ghost cultures and she asked us to proceed with researching and bring up to presentation.

Week 3
Upon reviewing our Group Proposal, Ms. Anis suggested a more focused title to narrow down our research: "Yokai Delights: Snack Sensations and Packaging Designs Inspired by Japanese Folklore"



Reflection

Experience
Embarking on the journey of personal researching cultural sensitivity in Japanese weddings has been both enlightening and enriching. From studying the significance of attire to understanding the meticulous rituals involved, each aspect of Japanese weddings provided a profound insight into the cultural fabric of Japan. Following discussions with my groupmates, we collectively decided to explore the topic of Japanese ghost cultures. This decision emerged from our shared interest in delving deeper into the supernatural beliefs and folklore that permeate Japanese society. Transitioning from researching Japanese weddings to exploring Japanese ghost cultures has been a fascinating journey as this is new topic for me. I found myself captivated by the depth and complexity of Japanese folklore surrounding ghosts and spirits. 

Observation
Collaborating with my groupmates on the topic of Japanese ghost cultures offered valuable insights into the dynamics of group research and collaboration. Through discussions and brainstorming sessions, all of us having diverse perspectives and interpretations, we planned and distribute tasks evenly to accomplish all the task.Even though all of us are having very different routes to explore at Osaka but we manage to delegate task evenly with clear communication and tolerance.After visiting, we observed that there are many interconnectedness of folklore, history, and societal norms in shaping Japanese beliefs about the supernatural.

Findings
Our exploration mainly focused on how profound impact of supernatural beliefs on Japanese society. We discovered the background stories of supernaturals serve as a lens through which cultural anxieties, historical traumas, and societal values are expressed and processed. Moreover, we uncovered the role of ghost culture in influencing various aspects of Japanese life, from architecture and urban planning to entertainment and tourism. By delving into the intricacies of Japanese ghost cultures, we gained a deeper appreciation for the interplay between tradition, imagination, and collective memory in shaping cultural identities.



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