03/02/2025 - 24/03/2025 (Week 1 - Week 7)
Chang Wing / 0367807
Intercultural Design / Bachelors of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Final Assessment: Final Project & Portfolio
Students will develop a final design proposal based on the theme "Everyday Design". The project involves analysing how everyday design influences culture, behaviour, and identity through common objects, environments, and systems. Students must generate at least three preliminary ideas, each supported by a rationale and visual research. The submission, a slide presentation of the proposal, includes a 200-word write-up, citations, detailed sketches, visual references, and a reference list.
Task 2 (Field Study)
Required to collect and document various artefacts (visual, oral, textual, and tactile) as research materials for ideations in Project 1 proposal. Each artefact must be recorded with relevant details, including its type, purpose, symbolism, and cultural or historical background. Data can be gathered through observation studies, interviews with relevant stakeholders (including guest speakers from the lecture series), and gathering online and/or actual physical material* visual research of the selected area.
Task 3 (Final Project)
After completing research, data collection, and presentations, document the experiences through a TikTok page. This cultural journal should creatively present observations and reflections on everyday design, using short-form videos to engage a broader audience and foster appreciation for cultural topics.
Lecture
Intercultural Design's lecture outlined the importance of incorporating cultural nuances, symbolism, and context into a designer's visuals creation to create designs that speaks of purpose, at the same time resonating across diverse cultural and contemporary landscapes (Figure 1.1 and 1.2).
Figure 1.1 Definition of visuals
Figure 1.2 Design system
The concept mentioned above is simplified into a "Design system" (Figure 1.3) to explain a framework that ensures adaptability, and cultural relevance in visual communication. This system serves as a guideline for designers to integrate cultural elements into their works considerately.
The lecturers, Mr. Asrizal and Ms. Anis, emphasized the consequences of overlooking cultural contexts in design by discussing the controversy surrounding the Petronas Chinese New Year money packet design in 2018 (Figure 1.4). Through this discussion, students highlighted key cultural considerations, including:
- The association of black with mourning and misfortune in Chinese culture
- The traditional use of red over white for money packets, as red symbolises prosperity and vitality
Overall, this lecture and the discussion has deepened my appreciation for the significance of cultural awareness in design. It also highlighted the need for thoughtful decision-making in visual creation to create designs that respects and aligns with diverse cultural traditions.
Figure 1.4 Quick artifact and culture critic
Task 1 (Proposal)
For this module, a 6 members group were formed to work together throughout the tasks, our group members consist of:
Ho Yun Ying - 380050 (Group Leader)
Chang Wing - 367807 (Me)
Chan Zhi-Ren - Zenndan 369069
Daphne Lai Yu Cheng - 366380
Kua Ying Hui - 379657
Law Yit Xing - 380512
In Task 1, we started out by proposing our ideas in relation to the theme of "Everyday Design" (Figure 1.5). Then, we all agreed to develop Daphne's Idea 2 about "Kopitiam Aesthetics" because it resonates to our personal daily experience and is deeply rooted in our culture, we would love to find more about it.
Figure 1.5 Ideas for "Everyday Design" (Idea 1 proposed by me)
We decided to create our presentation slide in the Kopitiam "style", we created our own template featuring elements like plastic chairs, kopitiam floor tiles, and warm nostalgic colour tones to reflect the essence of a Kopitiam’s ambiance (Figure 1.6).
Figure 1.6 Presentation design elements (Gathered by Daphne)
I created the slide's cover page title in Adobe Illustrator before importing it into our presentation slides (Figure 1.8).
Figure 1.7 Moodboard (Images from internet)
Figure 1.8 Creating the presentation title in Adobe Illustrator
Figure 1.9 Final Design
I was in charge of developing one of the three preliminary ideas. I explored TikTok for inspiration and reading articles by
sliceofP.I.E (2023),
Beh, M. (2020) on Kopitiam's environmental analysis, and how these spaces foster unique culture, bonds and nostalgia (Figure 1.10). I decided to focus on creating a documentary short series (Preliminary Idea 1). The series would focus on exploring how Kopitiam aesthetics shape the space and, in turn, how the space shapes experiences and connections, sparking thoughts on whether this unique culture and aesthetic should be preserved.
Figure 1.10 Screenshot of article by sliceofP.I.E (2023)
After finalising our ideas, research findings, and presentation layout, this is our final outcome for Task 1:
- The slides were designed in a collage style with intentionally tight margins to reflect the organic, slightly cluttered feel of Kopitiams (Figure 1.11)
Figure 1.11 Task 1 (Proposal) Presentation deck (PDF)
Figure 1.12 Task 1 (Proposal) Presentation
Task 2 (Field Study)
To support the hypothesis from Task 1’s proposal and gather footage for our documentary short, we collected information and data through netnography, interviews, Google survey forms, and on-site observational studies.
We organised a group field trip to Pasar Seni, visiting locations like: Restaurant Lai Foong, an 70-year-old Kopitiam (Figure 1.13); Niko Neko, a modernised café (Figure 1.15); Yat Hang Trading (Figure 1.16), a traditional ware shop and an Old Ceramics Store (Figure 1.17). Throughout the trip, we focused on filming footage, capturing photographs of Kopitiam interiors and aesthetic elements, and observing how people interact within these spaces. Additionally, we interviewed Restaurant Lai Foong's owner, William Tan (Figure 1.14), to learn more about the Kopitiam's history, aesthetic, and his goals.
Figure 1.13 Lai Foong's Restaurant
Figure 1.14 Group photo with Lai Foong Restaurant's owner
Figure 1.15 Niko Neko, KL
Figure 1.16 Yat Hang Trading Store
Figure 1.17 Old Ceramics Store
We compiled all of our findings in the presentation deck below (Figure 1.18):
Figure 1.18 Task 2 (Field Study) Presentation Deck
Figure 1.19 presents the script I wrote for Episodes 1 and 2 of "The Kopitiam Aesthetics" documentary shorts series.
Figure 1.19 Script for Final Project
Check out the footages and photographs we gathered during our field trip to Kopitiams around Pasar Seni in this google drive:
Task 3 (Final Project)
For Task 3, we traveled to Restaurant Kum Chuan in Subang Jaya to film additional footage for our documentary short.
Figure 1.20 Restaurant Kum Chuan
I in charged the editing for EP. 1 of the documentary series.
Figure 1.21 "The Kopitiam Aesthetics - Documentary Short EP. 1" editing process in CapCut
We posted the videos we made accordingly on our TikTok page.
Tiktok Page Link:
Figure 1.23 Task 3 (Final Project) Presentation Deck (PDF)
Figure 1.24 Task 3 (Final Project) Presentation
FEEDBACK
Week 2 (13/02/2025)
Feedback: Topic: "Kopitiam Aesthetics" approved, the idea of exploring its community impact is good to go. Further refine and solidify the main goal of the chosen topic.
Week 3 (21/02/2025)
Feedback: Refine the presentation slides to improve clarity and readability; Break lengthy texts into bullet points or highlight key terms in bold; Narrow down problem statements (if needed), focusing only on those directly addressed in our project. Proceed.
Week 4 (27/02/2025)
No consultation (Data Collection Week).
Week 5 (07/03/2025)
Feedback: Students are not required to write in legit research paper style but instead focusing on presenting collected data effectively and creatively. Develop a script and an overview storyboard for the TikTok documentary short.
Week 6 (14/03/2025)
No consultation.
Week 7 (21/03/2025)
No consultation.
REFLECTION
Self Reflection
Through this module, I’ve gained hands-on experience with research, data collection, and communication skills. Task 1 was a great way to connect with my group mates, brainstorm ideas, and refine our teamwork.
Task 2 took things to the next level, going on-site to collect data, running surveys, and conducting interviews. Talking to a Kopitiam owner was definitely a highlight because it gave us a real, unfiltered look into his thoughts. The biggest challenge was making sure all our subtopics aligned since different members handled different sections. We tackled this by reviewing our slides multiple times to ensure consistency. The field study trip was another unforgettable part, I really enjoyed visiting different Kopitiams (both old and modernised ones), it allows me to experience these spaces in a fresh perspective and appreciate how these places have evolved over time.
As someone pursuing design, Task 3 really stood out. It showed me how social media can help designers reach a wider audience and build recognition. Editing the video was one of my favourite parts, I felt deeply connected to Malaysian culture, and being able to execute ideas that raise awareness about it was incredibly rewarding. Filming was another fun aspect, I got to experiment with different equipment (camera, phone, handheld camera) and see how each one captured a different look and feel. The biggest hurdle faced during Task 3 was the time constraints. We had ambitious ideas, but one of the setbacks was realising that our TikTok video (The Kopitiam Aesthetic - Documentary Short EP. 1) took hours to download when we tested it, right when we were racing against the deadline. It forced us to drop some minor elements, but in the end, we made it work.
I hope everything I’ve learned through this module, whether it’s content storytelling, audience engagement, or making culture-driven design more impactful, will help me grow as a designer. Sometimes, it may be not just about creating visually appealing works, but also making sure it reaches people and sparks something meaningful.
Group Reflection
We chose kopitiam culture as our topic. Initially, we were confused about how to approach it for Task 1 because the topic felt broad and vague. We struggled to break it down and find a clear direction, but with the feedback from Ms. Anis, we managed to narrow down our focus. Through this task, we took a deep dive into how kopitiam aesthetics shape cultural identity, social interactions and nostalgic connections. Before this, we had only viewed kopitiams at surface level, as places to dine in. However, after our research, we began to understand their deeper cultural significance.
We conducted field studies for Task 2 by visiting homeware stores and kopitiams to observe and document our findings. One of the highlights was exploring Pasar Seni, where we walked around, relaxed at kopitiams and immersed ourselves in the environment. Visiting the homeware store was particularly eye opening as we saw the various dining wares used in kopitiams which deepened our appreciation for their design elements. However, we faced challenges in coordinating our schedules for the field study as our group consisted of students from different courses. We solved this by planning and discussing our schedules in advance to ensure a successful trip. Another challenge was researching about kopitiam culture, as it is not widely documented online. This motivated us to further study the topic and highlight the importance of kopitiams in our local culture.
Finally, for Task 3, we brought all our research and observations to life through our TikTok page, kopiDIAM. Creating this platform was a meaningful way to showcase the kopitiam aesthetic while also highlighting its cultural significance. Through our videos, we captured the essence of kopitiam life, from the clinking and clattering of coffee cups and bowls to the lively conversations heard in these spaces. Interviewing kopitiam owners, hawkers and customers gave us valuable insights into their experiences and perspectives which deepen our understanding of kopitiam culture. This project was a special opportunity to explore how kopitiams remain relevant in today's modern world.
As a group, we truly enjoyed every step of this journey, from researching and filming to editing and sharing our content on kopiDIAM. It was rewarding to see our efforts come together creatively and engagingly despite the challenges we faced. This experience not only improved our teamwork and communication skills but also strengthened our appreciation for local traditions. We hope our project encourages more people to recognise the importance of preserving kopitiam culture for future generations.
Comments
Post a Comment