Design Research Methodology

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 DESIGN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

|| Leong Hui Xuan 0365793
|| 21/04/2025- 27/07/2025 (Week 1 - Week 14)
|| Bachelor of Design in Creative Media 
|| Design Research Methodology RES60604
|| Specialisation : Entertainment Design
|| Lecturer: Mr. Asrizal
Table of Content


GOOGLE DRIVE LINK

Link : 


PDF of Final Report



PDF of PRESENTATION SLIDE

Link for Slide:



PRESENTATION RECORDING

Link for Video:



WEEKLY CLASS FEEDBACK



REFLECTION

Experience


Through this module, it was honestly a mix of stress and fun. Since I love anime and recently rewatched Studio Ghibli films in the cinema, I felt really connected to the topic and was genuinely interested in how their music affects emotions, like how I felt as an audience member in the cinema. But when it came to creating and analysing the survey, things got quite overwhelming. I made four videos, two for Spirited Away and another two for Howl’s Moving Castle to compare the emotional impact of the original music versus versions with different instruments but the same melody. So, I had about 65 questions in total, and going through all the responses took way more time than I expected. At first, even though I shared the survey form on Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, the number of responses was still not enough. I ended up messaging other students who were also conducting surveys in our school group chat and asked if they wanted to exchange surveys. This actually helped a lot, and I really appreciated their kindness in helping me share my survey form with their friends as well.



Observation


Overall, I realised that connecting with others who are going through the same thing can really make a difference. Talking to my friends who were also struggling with their research made me feel less alone, and it reminded me how important it is to choose the right topic. Besides, I also noticed that most academic research on anime music tends to focus on theme songs or general sound design, and not so much on how emotional the leitmotifs make people feel. That’s why I felt even more motivated to continue with my topic. I knew I was exploring something different, especially from the audience’s point of view When I saw some of my friends struggling with their research topics, where they changed multiple times or felt stuck with something they weren’t really interested in. I honestly felt thankful that I chose a topic I’m passionate about from the start. Since I love anime and film music, especially Studio Ghibli, I actually had fun while doing my research, even though it took a long time and wasn’t that easy since I was new to research.



Findings

From doing this research, I found that the same leitmotif can give a different feeling depending on the instruments used. For example, switching from piano to strings can change the mood from peaceful to emotional or nostalgic.The survey responses showed that different instrument arrangements really shaped how audiences understood the characters and scenes. It made me see how music, especially in Ghibli films, is like an invisible storyteller that guides the audience's feelings without you even noticing. When I was watching Howl’s Moving Castle in the cinema, I could feel my emotions changing with the music combined with the visuals more than from the visuals alone. Overall, I learned so much not just about music and emotion, but also about how to manage a full research project and find solutions when things don’t go as planned.







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