Intercultural Design

Intercultural Design 

07/02/2025- 21/03/2025 / Week 1 – Week 7 
Valenz Jycee Primadi / 0373407
Intercultural Design /Creative Media/ School of design
Task 1: Exploration

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Lectures

2.  Instructions

3. Project 1: Proposal Week 1-Week 3 

4. Project 2: Field Study Week 4-Week 5

5. Project 3: Final Project Week 6-Week 7  

6. Feedback

7. Reflection

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LECTURES

Week 1

• Culture & Design: Culture & design are inseparable, and as future designers.

• Visual Informative Culture: Visuals are a powerful persuasive medium to provide most of our information. Visual culture is a study of visual objects beyond textual meanings. 

• Visual: Everything that can be seen, wide, all-inclusive including nature. Everything produced or created by humans that can be seen must have a function, content, and communicative purpose.

One of the example of intecultural design is tattoo:

• Sailor tattoos represent journeys or remembering loved ones. Meanwhile, in Japanese culture, tattoos represent tradition and society status (Yakuza).

Week 2

For this week we are going deeper into knowledge about everyday design. Everyday design shapes our interactions with objects and spaces and focuses on usability, aesthetics, and problem-solving. Good design is intuitive, accessible, and efficient. Good design is invisible when done well. Prioritizing user experience enhances efficiency, making everyday design essential.

Figure 1.1 Everyday Design Quotes

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INSTRUCTIONS

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Project 1: Proposal Week 1-Week 3 (07/02/25 - 22/02/25)

week 1

In week 1 my group and I held a meeting to discuss what topics we would use in this project. my team members are:

• Chin Jia Wei (Leader)
• Valenz Jycee Primadi
• Michelle
• Florence Cory 
• Mubeen Sulthana
• Fariha Kabir Dristy

Figure 2.1 screenshot of our first meeting schedule (10/2/2025).

week 2

We were asked by the group leader to collect several topic ideas regarding everyday design. After looking for the idea, we started explaining it one by one to our group members and voting on the topic to be chosen.

Figure 2.2 screenshot of our topics idea (11/2/2025).

After discussing and voting for our project topic, we finally had chosen the topic. Our topic is a mascot for each state in Malaysia, for example, Yuru-Chara, which comes from Japan. We want to create a mascot character from Melaka.

Figure 2.3 screenshot of the choosen topic (11/2/2025).

After that, a group of us consulted Dr. Charles about the topic idea we had chosen, so Dr. Charles provided feedback and also notes for the Melaka mascot idea.

Figure 2.4 screenshot of Sir Charles's Note (13/2/2025).

We held another meeting on Friday to do 3 sketch ideas for Melaka-themed mascots and also talk about the contents of the slides that we will present. We also discussed a little about data collection trips to Melaka to make it easier to carry out this project. After the discussion we started sketching some sketches for our mascot.

Figure 2.5 Our First Physical Meeting (14/2/2025).

Week 3

In week 3 we started sketching each group member and sharing our sketches to explain the ideas we found that led to the creation of the mascot.

Figure 2.6 screenshot of our mascot sketchs (16/2/2025 - 17/2/2025).

After we explain each of our mascot sketches to our group members, we decide to choose this 3-mascot idea and have 3 finalize ideas that the elements planned to be combined together. We also discussed our trip data collection plans from Saturday, 1 March 2025, to Sunday, 2 March 2025. There we discussed what transportation we would use, what places we would visit, hotels, etc.

Figure 2.7 screenshot of our choosen mascots idea (18/2/2025).

On February 21, 2025, we had a face-to-face consultation with our supervisor, Dr. Charles, for further discussion. Dr. Charles gave us some feedback notes; these are the notes given by Dr. Charles to us for this project.

Figure 2.8 Sir Charles's note (21/2/2025).

Next we held another meeting to finalize our PDF and slides, we also made a video presentation on the topic we had chosen.

Figure 2.9 Presentation Video (23/2/2025).

These are our topic proposal project slides :

Intercultural Design-G29 Figure 2.10 Our Presentation Slides

This is our PDF Project proposal:

Figure 2.11 Our PDF Proposal

This is our  Project proposal Presentation:

Figure 2.12 Our Presentation

Project 2: Field Study Week 4-Week 5 (28/03/25 - 07/03/25)

Based on the topic we have chosen for this assignment, to conduct data collection we held a 2-day 1-night trip in Malacca. During the data collection we will visit several places that are rich in history and culture.

Figure 3.1 Trip Planning

Tiktok Content Video

On 25 February Before carrying out data collection we have a online meeting to explain the tiktok idea that we will do during the trip later.

Figure 3.1 Trip Planning

We made an arrangement for TikTok content. We wrote the TikTok idea down in a Google Doc so that we could easily execute the material during our trip to Melaka. Here are also some video upload schedules.

During the trip, we collected some new data about Melaka; it helped us to find the idea of ​​our Melaka mascot design. Below is some documentation of our trip while in Melaka:

Figure 3.2 Trip Documentation

We have completed some of our data collection in Google Drive. In Google Drive, it contains photos and videos that we took during the data collection journey. 

Sir Charles consulted with us once we got back from the tour. We had to alter our mascot in response to the input we received. To redesign our mascot, each group member created a sketch. Using various components we obtained from our trip data collection, we all developed our mascot. In order to create our tiktok video, we also meet offline on 7/03/2025.

Figure 3.3 Offline Meeting 7/03/2025.

Figure 3.4 Re-Design Mascot

To help us to choose a mascot for our merchandise design, we use a Google Form online survey. There are 5 questions regarding our mascot. We received multiple responses, totaling 38 from the online survey.

Figure 3.5 Online Survey Google Form

We create slides for the data collection that has been collected: 

G29_Data Collection Figure 3.6 Data Collection Slides

Project 3: Final Project Week 6-Week 7 (14/03/25 - 21/03/25)

After the conclusions of our online survey that we have given to our friends, the most commonly requested mascot was "Munchel" (Munch of Melaka), thus our group began to create a mock-up design for the merch alongside this mascot.

Figure 4.1 Melaka's Mascot Munchel

According to the survey results that we shared with our respondents, the types of merch that are awaited for our mascot are stickers, tote bags, food packages, keychains, and plushies. Once we determined the merchandise types, we began creating sketches for each item. There are a total of 5 merch items that we will produce.

Figure 4.2 Munchel's Merch Sketch

After drawing the mascot merchandise, we began mocking it up digitally and physically. Throughout the process of mocking up the item, during the progress of mocking up the merchandise, we were always active in the group to give each other feedback on the merch mock-up. After several opinions, we were finally able to complete the mock-up well.

Figure 4.3 Munchel's Merchandise

According to MIB and also Sir Asrizal, regarding the final intercultural design project submission, we have to make a video presentation of the final project slides; because of that, on Thursday, 03/20/2025, we held a meeting on Zoom to do a video presentation of our final mascot project.

Figure 4.4 Final Project Presentation Meeting

These are our Final project slides :

Intercultural Design_G29_Task 3 Figure 4.5 Final Project Slides

This is our  Project proposal Presentation:

Figure 4.6 Final Project Presentation Video

This is our Tiktok Page:

Figure 4.7 Munchy_The_Munchel Tiktok page

Don't forget to click the follow button to watch our journey in making the Melaka Munchel mascot. (our Tiktok page : @munchy_the_munchel)

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FEEDBACK 

Week 2 (13/2/2025)

Sir Charles gave feedback to our group that we should choose one particular area that is truly unique to Melaka. we should also focus on the studies in Melaka. He also said that if we decide to produce something, it should be a research result. He also gave us a way to complete this project, by formulating research questions, ideas, and talking about TikTok content.

Week 3 (21/2/2025)

Sir Charles suggested that the mouse deer character was overused as a mascot. He also suggested creating a tiktok to make the mascot interact with us. He also suggested interviewing locals and creating a small table in a spreadsheet for easier exploring. Lastly, he suggested creating an observation goal before traveling to Melaka.

Week 4

(Data Collection Week)

Week 5  (7/3/2025)

In the 5th week consultation, Dr. Charles gave us feedback about the survey. He said that linked back the results gain by the online survey to our proposal.

Week 6 

(There are no physical classes in this week. There is no consultation sessions with Dr. Charles.)

Week 7

(There are no physical classes in this week. There is no consultation sessions with Dr. Charles.)

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REFLECTION

Experience

I learned a lot during this project. When I first heard the term "group project," I was hesitant because I was worried of members who refused to participate and members who did not work. But I'm happy to have a group that can work together. This module teaches me how to communicate effectively and collaborate to achieve a common objective. It also teaches about each country's different cultures, their meanings, and how they interact with different civilizations. Overall, the experience was very enjoyable, and I learned about Melaka's culture as well.

Observation

While doing observations, I discovered lots of new information, including one about the yuru-chara mascot. Initially, I assumed the mascot was a regular character. However, there are many interesting facts about yuru chara, such as how the mascot was formed to represent the region. Not all Yuru Chara have cute designs; others appear bizarre or absurd, and the Yuru Chara mascot frequently performs amusing activities. I also observed Melaka; who would have guessed that Melaka has so much cultural treasure from several countries, such as Chinese and Malaysian culture. Both cultures are common in Melaka, while the other culture is also Portuguese. Making this observation greatly aided me in this module.

Findings

At first, I thought intercultural only studied cultural arts; however, it turns out that intercultural teaches a designer ways to transform a culture into something that can be used every day in modern life. Being a member of a group can be challenging because we must adjust our schedules to hold meetings, make revisions, plan data gathering, and complete the project smoothly. However, effective communication among team members improves work efficiency. I now understand the importance of communication and collaboration in this project group. We always do this to prevent complications while also achieving the same aim, which is to accomplish this project properly and successfully.