INTERCULTURAL DESIGN
|| Leong Hui Xuan 0365793
|| 03/02/2025- 22/03/2025 (Week 1 - Week 7)
|| Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
|| Project "Everyday Design"
Table of Content
The
Intercultural Design module
explores how culture and design are
intertwined. As designers, we must understand cultural
nuances, symbolism, and visual representation
to create meaningful and inclusive designs.
Cultural and Design
- Inseparable every design carries cultural meaning and context.
- Visual Information Culture: The modern world is filled with images, but we often overlook how they communicate meaning.
- Nature is not culture unless it has representation and meaning.
- The visual consists of human-made objects meant for communication, function, and aesthetics.
(Visuals serve as a
persuasive tool for
storytelling and information.)
(Designers must be aware of
cultural significance
in their work.)
Design Significance
Design System
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| Figure 1.0, Design system |
(Design is shaped by historical and cultural beliefs, values, and functions.)
(Applying
cultural awareness in
design ensures
meaningful storytelling.)
Design Sensitivity
Cultural Sensitivity in Design
goes beyond aesthetics, it includes
functionality, usability, and user experience.
Elements of Cultural Sensitivity:
- Symbolism & Imagery : Symbols may have different meanings across cultures.
- Color Considerations : Colors hold different cultural significance.
- Typography & Language: Fonts, scripts, and translations must be contectually appropriate.
(Avoid cultural misrepresentation by researching and respecting
different cultures.)
(User research and localization can improve
design relevance.)
INSTRUCTION
TASK 1
In this first task, we need to identify and research a
cultural topic or issue relevant based
on the theme "Everyday Design" and
develop a clear proposal that outlines
the concept, objectives, and research approach.
Research and Ideation
We are required to form a group in different courses and semesters, and
start to research everyday design and the culture that we need to study.
At the beginning, we have some idea about
light, cup, chopstick, and paper carving. After doing some research and idea sketches on it, we decided to choose
chopsticks as our everyday design
object, and we're doing research about comparing different types of
chopsticks in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
Our idea was doing a chopstick related to
Malaysia's cultural since some
Malaysians still use chopsticks as a necessary tableware.
Our research questions:
- How can the tangible experience of using chopsticks be enhanced to serve the diverse multicultural needs of Malaysia and resonate with cultural preferences for lifestyle?
- How can the tangible experience of using chopsticks be enhanced to serve the diverse multicultural needs of Malaysia and resonate with cultural preferences for lifestyle?
We started the research from the chopstick's origin, cultural and symbolic (F1.1) use of the chopstick, and then we compared the chopsticks in different cultures. (F1.2)
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| Figure 1.1, Chopstick research 1 |
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| Figure 1.2, Chopstick research 2 |
After the research of chopsticks, we began to start our idea sketch of the chopstick. We came out with several different ideation sketches (F1.3) which represent Malaysia culture and use for a sourvenirs or collectibles.
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| Figure 1.3, Chopstick idea sketches |
Final Outcome:
The final outcome defined our reaserch proposal and ideation with clear
objectives and direction.
Task 1 PDF Slide:
TASK 2
The second task is more focuses on data collection to analyze how cultural
elements influence design, using case studies, visual references and
historical research. We're required to interview people based on our chosen
topic and cultural, and refined the sketch based on the task 1.
Data collection:
We collect the chopsticks data
(F1.4) surrounding us, and research
more about the historical data, user perspectives
(Souvenirs/ Gifts/ Ceremonies) and the
details
(materials/ shapes/ sizes/ cultural significance)
about the chopsticks.
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| Figure 1.4, Chopstick Data Collection |
Interviews:
We interview some Taylor's Students, Culinary's Students and the Tourism's
Professor about the opinions on chopsticks
(F1.5).
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| Figure 1.5, Interviews |
Final Idea Sketch:
We choose the
Chess Chopstick (F1.7/F1.8) as the final idea and refined the
sketch. In addition, we also create a
3D model printig as a sample to
show people our idea (F1.6).
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| Figure 1.6, Chess Pieces 3D Modelling (By Hui Xuan) |
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| Figure 1.7, Chess Set Isometric Illustration (By Hui Xuan) |
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| Figure 1.8, Chess Box Isometric Illustration (By Zane) |
Final Outcome
The final outcome in PDF format with data collection, final idea,
interviews, cultural analysis and design insights.
Task 2 PDF Slide:
TASK 3
For this task basically we need to do a TIKTOK video which content our
ideas, concept, interview. We can do any kind of video depends on our topic
and ideas. We started separate the task before we recorded the videos
through a simple mindmap included what we need to do for the videos
(F1.9).
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| Figure 1.9, Mindmap of video plan |
First Video:
The first video was an introduction to our idea and project. To connect
with our idea, we first made a video about reviewing various chopsticks, and
then the second video was about how the idea of chess chopsticks came
about.
Second Video:
We were filming two people playing chess, and suddenly one of the chess
pieces fell and got stuck on the chopsticks. The idea of chess chopsticks
came from this, so we decided to make a pair of chess chopsticks that are
both functional and aesthetic.
Third & Fourth Video:
The next video will be the interview portion, which we will edit by
splitting it into two videos and adding subtitles and background.
Fifth Video:
This video combines all of our sketches as well as a time-lapse video of
the sketches and 3D modeling to show the process and results.
Sixth Viedo:
After that, I worked on the animation videos turning it into an
advertisement to showcase our ideas to the audience. The animations is
inspiration from the computer chess game, but I change the icons to the the
Malaysia theme which we designed to replace the chess figures
(F1.10). Besides, I also create a
simple animation to show how the chess pieces can combined with the
chopstick.
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| Figure 1.10, Computer Chess Page with Malaysia Icon (By Hui Xuan) |
Last Video:
The last video is a reflection video where all members talk about their
observations, findings, and experiences with the project.
Once we are all done editing and recording our videos, we will slowly start
posting them on TikTok and creating a slide for Task 3.
Final Outcome:
The Final Outcome will be a TikTok page and slideshow presentation record.
TikTok Page Link:
Task 3 PDF Slide:
FINAL OUTCOME
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| Figure 1.11, Chess Chopsticks (By Hui Xuan) |
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| Figure 1.12, Chess Set (By Hui Xuan) |
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| Figure 1.13, Chess Box (By Zane) |
FEEDBACK
Task 1
General Feedback: Make the chopsticks into just chopsticks,
without the detachable spoon, fork and knife. It is a good idea to
incorporate Malaysian culture into the chopsticks, making a pair of
chopsticks that are more functional, not just a pair of beautiful chopsticks
with Malaysian culture.
Specific Feedback: The decorative head of the chopsticks, which
represents Malaysian culture, can made with detachable and can be used as
chess piece decoration when removed from the top part of the chopsticks,
which is both funtional and aesthetic. The box can also be a chess board
when open it.
Task 2
General Feedback: Create an isomentric illustration for the chess
set with Malaysia motif design to show viewer's the how the collection will
look like.
Specific Feedback: In the future, can consider turning this
design into reality and expand more idea products based on it.
REFLECTION
EXPERIENCES:
Overall this project was a hands-on learning journey that pushed us not
just coming up with an idea, it made us think, adapt, and problem solve
at every part. Working as a team, we learned how to mearge different
perspectives and work towards a shared vision. Example, we have mascom
students in our group, so we split the interviews and the "managers" of the TikTok account to them to
give full play to everyone's strengths.
For me, I'm more good at drawing part, so I take part more in the drawing,
modelling and animation. The
challenging part will be the
TikTok videos, because we need to present our concept to simplify and
communicate our ideas in a way that's engaging and easy to understand.
Looking back, this experience gave us a fresh view on how everyday objects
can hold deeper cultural meaning.
OBSERVATIONS:
The thing that stood out was how much people
value both function and aesthetics in daily objetcs. By incorporating Malaysian architectural and tradition elements, we found
a way to make them more unique while still being functional. The feedbacks
from our lecturers and interviews made us
rethink certain aspects like how
to make the design both functional and aesthetic, and how to create a
design that people will be surprised. We also faced challenges in making
sure the design wasn't just decorative but actually comfortable to use.
Through all the research, the image references and multiple sketches and
iteration, we
refined our idea until it felt
just right.
FINDINGS:
Through this project, we explored how everyday design can tell a cultural
story. We started with a deep research into chopsticks on how different
cultures use them, their shapes, materials and meanings. We focused on
Malaysia cultural, where chopsticks are widely used but rarely designed with a
strong local identity. That's why the idea of
Chess Chopsticks sparked a way
to blend cultural appreciation with something practical. Along the way we
gathered research, interviewed people, and the fine-tuned our concept to
create something meaningful and fumtional.
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