Intercultural Design - Proposal, Field Study, Final Outcome
5.2.2024 - 22.3.2024 ( Week 1 - Week 7)
Lew Guo Ying / 0365721 / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Intercultural Design
Proposal, Field Study, Final Outcome
Lectures
Lecture Summary
Week 1: Task 1 briefing. Do research and come up with ideas on cultural sensitivity in designs.
Week 2: Divide ourselves into groups and discuss our topic and proposal.
Week 3: Continue with the proposal PowerPoint and proposal video.
Week 4: Data collection week (no class).
Week 5: Show lecturers our progress on data collection.
Week 6: Have discussions with our assigned lecturers on data collection and final task directions.
Instructions
Lecture Summary
Week 1: Task 1 briefing. Do research and come up with ideas on cultural
sensitivity in designs.
Week 2: Divide ourselves into groups and discuss on our topic and proposal.
Week 3: Continue with the proposal PowerPoint and proposal video.
Week 4: Data collection week (no class).
Week 5: Show lecturers our progress on data collection.
Week 6: Have discussions with our assigned lecturers on data collection and
final task directions.
Group introduction
In week 2, we were split into groups according to the lecturer's instructions.
Here are our group members (Group 29):
0365721 Lew Guo Ying
0359676 Lim Yu Xuen
0364898 Lai Jia Xuan
0355022 Celine Lee Shin Yee
0356570 Chow Chen Yi
0367629 Song Jun Tao
Our chosen topic is skulls as they are often associated with death and are
seen as a sensitive topic and a taboo.
Before we decided on this topic we had a few other ideas which were:
- The number 4 (æ»)
- Pinching hand gesture
- Friday the 13th
- Writing names in red ink
- Rainbow flag/colour
- Kuman Thong
- Skulls
After a few discussions, we decided to settle for skulls as our topic.
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| Fig.1.1 Mind map of our idea |
Proposal
For Project 1, we were instructed to submit a proposal to concretise our
ideas, supported by research, for a final design revolving around the chosen topic
on the given theme which is culturally sensitive in design.
Proposal presentation, PDF
Speech order for proposal video:
1-2 Guo Ying
3-4 Noelle
5-11 Celine
12-26 Guo Ying
27-31 Cyrus
32-37 Celine
38-48 Jia Xuan
49-56 Noelle
57-61 Jia Xuan
62-69 Song
70-73 Cyrus
Proposal Video
Data Collection
For the continuous assessment (Project 2), we conducted a field study to
collect data on our chosen top-visited visit to the National Museum to look at the human skulls and also found products with skull designs while we were at the mall.
We made a Google form survey and asked our friends and family to fill out the
form to collect more data about the different thoughts on skulls.
A summary of a documentary about skulls that we found on YouTube is also
added to our data collection.
Data collection presentation, PDF
Visual Outcome
Final Visual Outcome, PPT
Final Visual Outcome Presentation video
Here are all our ideas before deciding on the skull pots:
1. Merchandise with skull designs
- Keychains, bracelets, necklaces, cups etc.
2. Poster for exhibition
- Design a poster for an event (exhibition) for skull designs.
3. Skull face makeup
- Put together a skull face make-up inspired by Mexico's Day of the
Dead.
The idea that we went for:
Skull plant pot kit
- Design a skull plant pot and box for the pot. The kit includes seeds and a
pot alongside a few cards with facts about skulls and what they represent in
different cultures.
- Aim to change stereotypical views on skulls, show that skulls don't only
mean death or other negative things but skulls can be a symbol of life and
a motif to express one's mentality and personality.
Overall plan:
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| Fig.1.2 Overall plan sketch |
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| Fig.1.3 Sketch of the pot's design |
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| Fig.1.4 Skull pot before painted design |
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| Fig.1.5 Skull pot and seeds |
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| Fig.1.6 Plant growth process |
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| Fig.1.7 Pot with design painted |
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| Fig.1.8 Final look of the skull pot with plants |
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| Fig.1.9 Details of product packaging logo |
For the packaging design, we utilized our Adobe Illustrator skills, which we acquired through our studies in BDCM. We came up with a cartoon skeleton with a sprout on its head as our product aims to challenge conventional perceptions of skulls and demonstrate how skulls can be a symbol of life.
to effectively communicate product information and details
On the side of the packaging, we included a few pictures of what our product would look like with the plant grown inside.
We also included more details on our product and a QR code that leads
to our group's (Group 29) Google Drive all of our progress and work.
On the other side of the packaging are some descriptions of our product details such as why are our pots skull-shaped etcetera and what it has to do with what we are trying to achieve. At the bottom are some "Did you know ?" facts about skulls and their symbolic significance in different cultures.
This is the final outcome of our skull pot next to the packaging we designed alongside the seeds, some fertilizer as well as a plant care guide card.
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| Fig.1.10 Final packaging logo |
Behind the logo is the product's name — "Cranium Charm". "Cranium" refers
to the skull, which intuitively expresses the shape of our product and
"Charm" represents attractiveness, inviting others to understand the charm
of life and death, to learn about it, and to respect it, but of course not
to underestimate it.
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| Fig.1.11 Product details and information on the side of the packaging |
On the side of the packaging, we included a few pictures of what our product would look like with the plant grown inside.
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Fig.1.12 Product details and information on the side of the
packaging |
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Fig.1.13 Product details and information on the side of the
packaging |
On the other side of the packaging are some descriptions of our product details such as why are our pots skull-shaped etcetera and what it has to do with what we are trying to achieve. At the bottom are some "Did you know ?" facts about skulls and their symbolic significance in different cultures.
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| Fig.1.14 Overview of the product packaging |
We placed our design onto a box template as a preview of the packaging.
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Fig.1.15 Final product packaging |
Here is a clearer view of the product packaging
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| Fig.1.16 Plant care guide card |
We also included a plant care guide card in our product as part of the
packaging
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| Fig 1.17 Final Outcome of skull pot with packaging |
This is the final outcome of our skull pot next to the packaging we designed alongside the seeds, some fertilizer as well as a plant care guide card.
Feedbacks
Week 5: We need to focus more on the rationale and the message we want to
convey through our final outcome. Add the skull symbolism that we
mentioned to Mr. Asrizal to the Project 2 slides.
Week 6: Showed our final idea and progress on our final outcome to Mr.
Asrizal, everything is ok, can proceed.
Reflection
This intercultural design course is quite special. I rarely find myself needing to delve deep into a culture like this, as it's easy to overlook amidst the myriad of cultures of various sizes and shapes that surround us in daily life. Therefore, it has become commonplace for us to often overlook the significance of everyday things. This course has given me the opportunity to collaborate with others and observe and study the cultures around me, to reflect on their significance and the meanings they carry. It has also provided opportunities to visit museums, broaden my horizons, and gain knowledge.
Certainly, I believe that respecting cultures is very important. Our group chose to focus on skull culture, which can easily evoke stereotypical impressions. Particularly, the elderly often perceive it as ominous, associated with misfortune and death, while children find it terrifying, leading to their rejection of skulls. On the other hand, skull culture has a long history; in the past, skulls were symbols of one's identity, and headhunters would collect skulls to showcase their prowess. However, now skulls have become integrated into our lives, appearing in clothing, fashion, motorsports, accessories, and many other areas and fields.
One of the most striking aspects for me is the collaboration with team members. It has truly been a major challenge for completing this module. I have always been accustomed to tackling challenges independently, whether they are individual tasks or group assignments. I'm used to doing things on my own. This can be considered the first time I haven't taken full control over something, and it has made me feel very uncomfortable. There have been instances where things slipped out of my control, and that feeling of helplessness, restraining the urge to lash out, has increased my patience. From the formation of groups to subsequent meetings, time management has been a significant issue, one I believe anyone would face. Moreover, encountering numerous problems along the way to completing tasks is inevitable. Hoping for assistance from team members, let alone timely assistance, may seem like a luxury, especially when everyone else has their own tasks to attend to. Fortunately, the final results were acceptable, and I have gained insights into my shortcomings in terms of skills and knowledge. Of course, filling these gaps is my weakness and will require time, learning, and practice. However, teamwork is truly irreplaceable, especially the aspect of timely communication.
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