Intercultural Design - Final Compilation

9/2/2024 - 29/3/2024 (Week 1 - Week 7)
Katelyn Tan Kye Ling (0354148)
Bachelor Of Design In Creative Media (Intercultural Design)
Final Compilation

INSTRUCTIONS

PROGRESS

Task 1: We were to break into groups of 6 and come of with a proposal about a cultural sensitivity in design topic. We were to choose a country and have 3 design sketches considering the culture's sensitive factors. We first each came up with one idea and shared it among our group. In the end we chose to research about Thailand and come up with products specifically for the Thai Songkran Festival.

Click here for our proposal slides and video presentation.

Task 2: For this task, we were to do data collection about the culture with relevance to the theme and your research objectives. There were several data collection methods but our group chose to do an interview with someone who experience Songkran before and also did some online research. 

Click here for our data collection slides. (Interview included in the slides)

Task 3: For our final task, we were to finalise our product's designs and actually produce the product. After consulting with our supervisor, we decided to design raincoats and also make buckets. Furthermore we also had to come up with a brand name and make a logo for our branding.

Click here for our final design slides and final presentation.

FEEDBACK

Week 3: (Data Collection)

- If we cant go to Thailand to observe, we can get a person from Thailand to interview.

- Do more online research like those 360 vlogs of Songkran.

Week 4: (Data Collection)

- If cannot find Thai people to interview, can just get someone who has experienced the festival.

Week 5: (Final Designs)

- Can choose raincoats as the final designs as many people uses that during the festival. It can also be done more easily for the final product outcome.

- Can add one more product like a bucket that can be used to splash water on others.

- Come up with a brand name and logo too, something related to Thailand and the Songkran festival.

Week 6: (Final Designs)

- In the final slides must have a recap of the previous task and explain what you've researched and learnt about this culture.

- Good logo and raincoat design, can just do the kid raincoat version for final outcome. The design for the adult version can be "crazier" as it just going to be done digitally. 

- Bucket designs are cute but the lotus one has to have a handle.

REFLECTION

Experience

Through my seven weeks of this module, I really felt that I have learnt a lot especially about the Thai culture and the Songkran festival. I also got to improve my communication skills and leadership skills as I was the leader throughout the module. Through this module I also got to meet many new friends from different places. The 3 tasks given to us during this module was rather challenging especially the first task. We had to first think of a country to research on and come up with sketches considering the cultural sensitivity factors. At that time, we were all pretty confused with the instructions given and wasn't exactly sure what to do. However, after discussing with my groupmates and asking our lecturers further to clarify, we pull through and did our tasks. Overall, I think this module was really fun. We even got to make the final product outcome in real life which was really cool.

Observation

I observed that time management is very important, doing things too last minute would cause the work to not be at its best potential. I also observed that research is very important, it helps to enhance ones understanding in a certain subject and produce better work. I believe that during any group assignment, teamwork is very important. Without that, a group would not be able to function properly. I truly believe that our group had many strengths and worked really well together which is something I really appreciate my group for. We all had our own strengths and contributed equally to the group work. 

Findings

When researching about the Thai culture, I was shocked to find out the in depth meaning of the festival. At first I just thought it was just a festival where people had fun but no, I found that it meant to mark the new beginning of a traditional Thai new year, to move forward and wash away the previous year. Lastly, I also find that feedbacks from our supervisors are very helpful. They guide us through the tasks and help us when we are stuck. I believe without feedback from the lecturers, we would loose track so many times.