Intercultural Design | Final Compilation

Visuals are a powerful persuasive medium to provide most of the information in the world.
40 % of people respond more to visuals than to text
90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.
Visuals are processed 60,000x faster in the brain than text.
Visuals are everything that can be seen, produced or created by humans.
Visuals have functions, content and communicative purpose.
"Designers need to be aware of cultural nuances, symbolism, and context to create designs that are inclusive and resonate with diverse audiences. "

DESIGN SIGNIFICANCE :

(from the lecture slides)

DESIGN SYSTEM :

(from the lecture slides)

SYMBOLISM & IMAGERY: Some symbols/images can carry different meanings in different countries/cultures. Designers should be mindful of different cultural interpretations to avoid unintentional misunderstandings or offense.

TYPOGRAPHY & LANGUAGE: Choosing text/font styles that are culturally appropriate is important. Considering language variations & making sure there's accurate translations is crucial for reaching diverse audiences.

COLOUR CONSIDERATIONS: Colours can have many cultural significance, and their meanings may vary across different societies.

INCLUSIVE DESIGNS: We should try to create products & experiences that are accessible & inclusive for people from various backgrounds, including those with different abilities and needs.

LOCALISATION: adapting designs to specific cultural contexts through localization can enhance the relevance & acceptance of a product.

USER RESEARCH: Conducting user research across diverse groups helps designers gain insights into cultural preferences & behaviours.

CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING: Designers may benefit from cultural awareness training to develop a deeper knowledge of diverse perspectives & sensitivities.

PHASE 1 : PROPOSAL

Timeframe : W1 - W3

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:

Research on 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 with the chosen cultural elements.
A minimum of 3 preliminary ideas in detailed sketches, each with individual rationale.
Visual reference.
We formed a group of 6 people, and then we had to develop a proposal and 3 sketches of 'Everyday Design' based on a chosen country or culture.

Members :

Yong Wenyi (Leader) - 0372679
Emily Ong Su Yu - 0365304
Wong Li Wei - 0364538
Anggia Tsani Rachmadiyanti - 0368487
Feng Zhiyu - 0376171

After forming our group on WhatsApp, my teammates and I quickly gathered to select a research topic due to the tight timeline for our proposal. At first, we weren't sure what the term “everyday design” encompassed, so we began by exploring various aspects—culture, behavior, identity, environment, and systems—of a particular country to establish a basic understanding. Ultimately, our research steered us toward Japan because its abundant cultural heritage and distinctive design principles provided an intriguing foundation for our project.

In later discussions, we agreed to develop an innovative product that embodies everyday design with a creative twist. We decided on a “vest-bag” that is multifunctional, enabling users to both wear it and utilize it as a bag. This idea draws inspiration from the Japanese yukata dress code by fusing traditional aesthetics with modern practicality. Each group member is producing individual sketches of the vest-bag, and we plan to shortlist three designs, which will then be refined by integrating elements from both Japanese and Western design traditions.

My personal contribution involves researching and presenting the history and key characteristics of Japanese design, as well as showcasing examples of everyday design practices in Japan. In working together, we aim to create a product that seamlessly blends cultural heritage with modern innovation, offering a versatile item that is both practical and reflective of Japan’s enduring design legacy.

PROPOSAL DOCUMENT :

PROPOSAL SLIDES :

PRESENTATION VIDEO :

PHASE 1 - REFLECTION :

All groups were required to produce an online presentation video under 10 minutes. At the start, we tried to record the video presentation using Zoom but we encountered several difficulties. Ultimately, we decided to record using Canva, which was much easier and user-friendly.

To summarise, we faced some early hurdles due to our initial uncertainty about the research process and the task requirements. However, thanks to several feedback from Ms. Anis, we improved our work and corrected our mistakes. We held frequent meetings—both online and offline—to collaborate on our project/assignment. This project not only added to my understanding of Japanese culture, in particular the symbolism in their patterns and the concept of everyday design, but it also exposed me to many new insights. In the end, we successfully completed our proposal slides and are happy with the final outcome.

PHASE 2 : FIELD STUDY

Timeframe : W4 - W5

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.

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:

RESEARCH DOCUMENT :

DOCUMENTATION SLIDES :

PHASE 2 - REFLECTION :

In Phase 2, we planned a day where we went to the Bukit Bintang area to conduct our data collection and research. On the day, we went to Tokyo Street at Pavilion and also to several stores in KLCC. The experience was fun and also contributed a lot of data and observations that we recorded and applied to our design. We also managed to see a Yukata in person which helped us better understand our design. Besides, that we also conducted a survey which helped as well.

In summary, I learned a lot about how to conduct a site study as well as the importance of one towards researching and better understanding something.The Google survey also helped me understand as a designer how to better cater to people's taste and how to take feedback and apply it in the best way possible. This phase taught me a lot of reseraching skills as well as expanding on my creativity and problem-solving skills.

PHASE 3 : FIELD STUDY

Timeframe : W6 - W7

Task to do : Upon completing the research, data collection, and full participation in lectures and tutorials - including the presentation of our complete proposal and gathered research findings - we'll have the opportunity to explore the many facets of everyday design. As creative media students, our challenge is to document and convey our journey on a TikTok page. This platform will serve as our cultural journal: a dynamic space where we record, reflect on, and creatively share our observations, interactions and insights about everyday design.

DATA COLLECTION VIDEO SCRIPT :

FINAL SLIDES :

PRESENTATION VIDEO :

...

TikTok Page Link Button

TIKTOK PAGE LINK : Visit Sozo's TikTok !

TikTok Video Link Button

DATA COLLECTION VIDEO : Here's the video !

PHASE 3 - REFLECTION :

During this project, I learned how to weave Japanese cultural elements into everyday design - the art of infusing the objects we use daily with rich stories and deep meaning. I immersed myself in meticulous online research, hands-on observation, and detailed data analysis, discovering that Japanese design transcends mere aesthetics by seamlessly integrating elements of nature into functional forms. This approach, where beauty meets purpose, redefined my understanding of what design can be, as each element spoke volumes about the relationship between humanity and the natural world. We managed to take a daily item - a tote bag and innovated it to be more interesting and multi-functional. We designed a product that we are proud of, that combines something we need with Japanese culture - the yukata.

Working closely with Amber, we embraced every aspect of the creative process - from planning and designing to animating and editing the video for the "Data Collection" segment of our TikTok series. This collaboration not only redefined my technical skills in digital animation but also taught me invaluable lessons about teamwork, creative problem-solving, and the importance of clear, dynamic communication in a fast-paced environment. One of the challenges we faced was to keep the video and animation under a minute. The animation design part also took time, so we had to plan our schedule well to finish within the one week we had.

Over the past seven weeks, this immersive journey has profoundly transformed my perspective on design. I’ve come to appreciate that every subtle detail, no matter how minor it may seem, contributes to a broader narrative about how we interact with and interpret the world around us. Embracing 'Everyday Design' has allowed me to recognize the hidden beauty in even the most familiar objects, revealing that our engagement with design is both a personal exploration and a cultural experience. Ultimately, this module has enriched my understanding of Japanese design principles and deepened my awareness of the creative interplay between nature and human ingenuity—an inspiration that will continue to influence my approach to both traditional and modern design challenges.

Project Google Drive Link

PROJECT GOOGLE DRIVE : Our Project Files