Intercultural Design - Final Compilation and Reflection

Name: Wong Li Wei 

Student ID: 0364538

Assignment: Final Compilation and Reflection

Course: Bachelor of Fashion Design Technology

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Table Of Contents

1. Instruction
2. Project 1: Proposal
3. Project 2: Field Study
4. Project 3: Final Compilation and Portfolio
5. Reflection

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1. Instruction

This is the link to access to the MIB (as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vlm3QJUor6QTemUmC-Xr6clB8akcfxs8/view?usp=drive_link

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2. Project 1: Proposal

Timeframe: Week 1 - Week 3

Task to do: Students have to team up in a group of 6 students and complete a proposal slide about everyday design together. Things that need to be included in the proposal:

• Explore how design influences and reflects Japanese culture, behaviour, and identity through commonly encountered objects, environments, and systems.

• 200-word write-up defining and interpreting the theme in relation to the chosen cultural elements.

• A minimum of 3 preliminary ideas in detailed sketches, each with individual rationale.

• Visual reference.

Progress:

My teammates and I had a group discussion on WhatsApp after forming our group. We quickly selected a topic for our research to speed up our progress, as we had very little time to complete the proposal. Initially, none of us were clear about what "everyday design" entailed or what was required for the assignment. Therefore, we began by exploring the culture, behavior, identity, environment, and systems of a specific country to develop a basic understanding of the concept and determine our next steps. As a result, we decided to base our proposal on Japan.

After conducting our research, we had another group discussion to decide on the everyday design we wanted to create. Eventually, we chose the "vest-bag" because it is multifunctional, allowing us to wear and use it at the same time. Additionally, we also focused our topic on yukata dress code. Once we finalized our product choice, we divided our roles to complete the presentation slides. My role is to cover the history of Japanese design and their traits, as well as examples of general everyday design.

Moreover, all of us will be creating our own sketches of vest-bag. We will then select three sketches from the group members' designs and modify them by incorporating features inspired by both Japanese and Western design for our preliminary idea section.

Figure 2.1: My 1st sketch.

Figure 2.2: My 2nd sketch.

Final Research Paper For Task 1:

This is the link to access to the pdf (as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hg1rX_6td6TCiT3b6cbWbPiuJx3aJM9v/view?usp=sharing

Final Presentation Slide For Task 1:

This is the link to access to the pdf (as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R5RFchrQR7QYDO_XjzhNWvYLJTbo0VW9/view?usp=sharing

Online Presentation Video:

All groups were required to create an online presentation video that had to be less than 10 minutes long. For our group, we initially tried using the Zoom platform to record. However, it was more difficult than we expected, and it took us almost an hour to figure it out. In the end, we decided to use Canva to record our final presentation video, as it was easier to control compared to Zoom. Moreover, our group leader, Marion, was in charge of dividing the presentation roles to ensure that everyone had equal speaking time.

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3. Project 2: Field Study

Timeframe: Week 4 - Week 5

Task to do: Students will conduct a data gathering collection process about the culture with relevance to the theme and your research objectives. The students are required to collect visual, oral, textual and tactile artefacts that would be part of their research materials for the ideation in Project 1 (proposal). All collected artefacts and materials must be recorded, kept and documented, accompanied by necessary information such as the type of artefact and material, its purpose, its symbolism, its cultural/historical background, and more, depending on the kind of artefact and material.

Progress:

Our data collection method:

• Site visit: We visited several Japanese stores in Kuala Lumpur to observe Japanese items, including yukata. Our stops included Pavilion KL's Tokyo Street, Muji, Uniqlo, Kinokuniya, Nitori, and Daiso.

• Google survey form: We prepared a set of questions for the public to gather opinions on traditional Japanese patterns, their features on everyday items, and possible improvements for our sketches. This is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf01A9li6-oT7bNzK8ypWO3czSVlBPakThUDS-JpCX6X64eLA/viewform?usp=dialog

• Online visual analysis

Figure 3.1: Site visit proof.

According to the survey responses, we all created our own sketches by following the respondents' suggestions to achieve better outcomes.

Figure 3.2: My development sketch.

I was in charge of creating slides for the Google survey form analysis, as well as contributing to some parts of the conclusion. Analyzing the data allowed me to gain a clearer understanding of the public's opinions on our multifunctional products, helping us make improvements for a better final product.

Draft Notes For Task 2:

This is the link to access to the pdf (as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qOQqr4hdzbYb_10wtBcIrLTmioDYP8S5/view?usp=sharing

Final Presentation Slides For Task 2:

This is the link to access to the pdf (as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y2c9PbcUCY4UT1ig098TuenbLK1kAfio/view?usp=sharing

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4. Project 3: Final Compilation and Portfolio

Timeframe: Week 5 - Week 7

Task to do: Upon the completion of the research, data collection, participation in all class lectures and tutorials, presentation of a complete proposal and research data, students will explore various aspects of everyday design. As creative media students, your task is to document and communicate your experiences through a TikTok page. This page should serve as a cultural journal, where you record, reflect, and creatively present your interactions, observations, and insights about everyday design. 

Progress:

Our group leader divided us into smaller teams so that we could complete the videos more efficiently, as the deadline is in two weeks. This timeframe isn't enough for us to animate an entire video if we all work on just one. I was assigned to create one of the TikTok videos, which involves drawing the animation and editing it. Erin and I are working together on a video about data collection. The overall video will feature Choco, a TikTok content creator, explaining the process and methods of data collection to Fufu, a big fan of Choco who wants to start a new business.

This is the script of Data Collection version: 
This is the link to access to the pdf (as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1muxjohC0l_OxhTFuuucOJzt4qDS5G4my/view?usp=sharing

This is the final video of Data Collection version: 
This is the link to access to the video(as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bqCCVmYK_gME5FrnasMggoQfKJHR9wPB/view?usp=drive_link

TikTok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@lileevqu?_t=ZS-8utrXP5olnE&_r=1

Final Presentation Slides For Task 3:
This is the link to access to the pdf (as my file currently is not working): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bqCCVmYK_gME5FrnasMggoQfKJHR9wPB/view?usp=drive_link

Online Presentation Video:
This is the link to access to the video(as my file currently is not working): 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PVlC_0WQM6Ux4KnDYUCJt-CPHvmgBoeF/view?usp=drive_link

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5. Reflection

Self reflection

Overall, my experience with this module has been quite tough, as the assignment brief did not provide clear outcome requirements or final expectations for each assignment. As a result, all of us were initially unsure of what to do. Fortunately, during my foundation course, most of my groupmates and I took the Contextual Studies module, where the final assignment was similar to the assignments in this module. This gave us some idea of what to expect. My experience with my group went well from start to finish, as our progress was quite fast, and we held meetings almost every week, allowing us to make decisions quickly. Additionally, I gained some animation skills from Task 3, as I was in charge of one of the videos, which required me to do some video editing and animation.

One of the challenges I faced during this module was creating a video that was less than one minute long. Normally, when writing a script, we tend to include a lot of information, often exceeding the time limit. Since we had many ideas we wanted to express to the audience, I had to carefully condense the content while ensuring that the key messages remained clear. This process took more time than usual, as I had to decide what was essential and what could be removed. Moreover, drawing sketches was also challenging, as we needed to design an innovative product that combined traditional Japanese and modern design while meeting public expectations. This required us to consider public opinions and preferences, making the design process more complex.

I learned a lot about traditional Japanese design patterns, a topic I had never deeply researched before. This module also introduced me to Japanese culture, which was fascinating to explore, including its history, the comparison between Japanese and Western design, and the use of color schemes. Furthermore, this was my first time conducting primary research through site visits, which I found both interesting and engaging. It made me more observant of my surroundings, as I needed to take detailed pictures to include in our slides. I’m also grateful that all my groupmates cooperated well, allowing our assignments to progress smoothly.

Group reflection

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED At the start of this project, our knowledge of Japanese design was mostly surface-level, but as we went on most of us discovered new things we didn't know before such as what Japanese patterns symbolize and discovering that a Yukata has an inner hidden pocket in its sleeves. Through our research and analysis, we discovered the profound meaning behind these designs. We learned how each Japanese pattern has a meaning to it. Understanding these cultural narratives allowed us to see design as a form of storytelling rather than just decoration. We learnt many values in Japanese culture. Moreover, this project also challenged us to think critically about the intersection of culture and contemporary everyday design. It has allowed us to explore how cultural aesthetics can seamlessly blend into everyday functional design while maintaining authenticity and meaning. Through primary & secondary researches, we delved into the history and significance of Japanese patterns, understanding their symbolism, traditional uses, and evolution. We also had a fun trip visiting Japanese shops and observing real-life applications of these patterns. By analyzing textures, materials, and the way patterns were integrated into products, we gained a deeper understanding. These visits helped us bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical design application, shaping our final concept in a more informed and culturally respectful way. Japanese patterns are not just decorative elements, they carry historical and emotional significance. By integrating them into an adaptable fashion item, we aimed to honour their cultural roots while making them accessible for everyday use.

GROUP EXPERIENCE/DIFFICULTIES

Collaboration played a crucial role throughout this project. Each of us contributed unique perspectives through research, design execution, sketches, or analysis. We had many group meetings to discuss our research, plans, & ideas. Throughout this entire project we were given creative freedom. We did everything together which was really helpful in making the progress faster. We realise that combining our different and new ideas together as a group help create a better outcome. We had incredible fun during our site visits, meetings and filming the videos.

We navigated challenges since Japanese patterns hold deep historical and symbolic meanings, we had to carefully research their meanings & significance to avoid misrepresentation. Another challenge was balancing tradition with modern functionality. We wanted to preserve the essence of Japanese design while making it adaptable for everyday use. Additionally, conducting primary research required effort and coordination. Filtering through all our research, data collections and observations was a complex process. We also had to merge our different ideas and perspectives into a cohesive concept. However, these obstacles strengthened our teamwork and problem-solving skills. This project was a journey of personal and collective growth. We learned to be more observant, to ask critical questions, and to analyse design beyond aesthetics, considering its historical, cultural, and functional aspects. Other than that we had fun making the video and learnt some new editing tools to make our TikTok videos. It was also really interesting to see many different creative ideas and sketches from each of our members during the ideating process. We get to inspire & learn from each other.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, this project was a transformative experience that went beyond simply designing a product. It taught us the importance of cultural research, observations, ethical design, and teamwork. The challenges we faced pushed us to think critically, collaborate effectively, and develop a more thoughtful and respectful approach to intercultural design. By combining Japanese cultural aesthetics with practical & multifunctional everyday design, we aimed to create a product that not only looks stylish and multifunctional, but also carries meaning. This project has broadened our perspectives on global design influences and reinforced the idea that design is a bridge between tradition and innovation. Moving forward, we will take these lessons with us, applying them to future projects with a deeper awareness of cultural significance and design impact.