Intercultural Design - Task 1 Proposal

3rd February 2025 (Week 1) - 24th December 2024 (Week 14)

Insha Thahirah Rajab - 0360671

Intercultural Design - Section 04

Bachelor's Degree  in Creative Media (Honors) - Taylors University

Task 1 Proposal

CONTENTS

Lectures

Instructions

Task 1

        Proposal

Feedback

Reflection

LECTURES

Week 1: Culture & Design

Figure 1.0 Lecture - Culture & Design (PDF), Week 1(07/02/25)

This lecture dissects the basic concept of culture and how it relates to design. We understand the importance of certain design choices and the messages they can communicate to audiences, their intention, and the standardization of certain design choices.

INSTRUCTIONS

Figure 2.6 Instructions (PDF)

TASK

Task 1 - Proposal

A proposal to concretise ideas, supported by research, for a final design revolving a given theme that reflects students’ understanding and interpretation of global issues and design aesthetics.

Requirements - The general theme is “Everyday Design”

- Everyday design refers to the observation and analysis of design elements that are seamlessly integrated into daily life. These designs may not be iconic or extravagant but play a crucial role in shaping the cultural and functional aspects of society. For your project, students can explore how design influences and reflects Japanese culture, behaviour, and identity through commonly encountered objects, environments, and systems.

- Produce some preliminary ideas on how to visually express your interpretation using design language. Each idea is to be supported by a short rationale. Conduct visual research to help expand your idea generation.

- https://www.notion.so/Theme-Everyday-Design-15ccca1fe9228017bfddd5a930f00e8f?pvs=4

Submission 1 Digital Submission (in one PDF File) in TIMeS:

A Powerpoint presentation of the proposal that contains:

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

• Citation is necessary as evidence to the research.

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

• Visual references (visuals that inspire/influence those ideas).

• Reference list

• Picture credits

: research

We started off by getting into groups of 6 from different courses, and deciding on a topic each, we put all our research in a collective document. This is what I came up wtih:

We had a physical meeting which I couldn't attend, and decided to shorten and specialize topics.

We then put up a poll to vote and decide on our final topic:

: moodboard

Afterwards, we created a canva document and each of us were assigned certain slides, I was in charge of moodboard and one preliminary sketch.

This was what I came up with for the moodboard:

The pictures were gathered from various sites. I made sure to include famous batik patterns, including their symbolism, commonly used ornaments, and a famous batik designer. 

: references

I used some of these links for reference:

https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2022/05/06/twenties-notable-batik-patterns-from-across-the-archipelago.html#:~:text=Sidomulyo%2C%20Central%20Java,for%20the%20newly%20married%20couple.

https://fafafoom.substack.com/p/javanese-batik-storytelling-decoding-the-motifs

https://www.slam.org/explore-the-collection/javanese-batik-textiles/

: sketches

I worked on the sketch afterwards, using the inspiration gained from the mood board. 

I looked through the meaning of certain design choices and colours and made a finalized coloured design and provided my rationale

: final submission

This was our final proposal submission after everyone contributed their part:

PROJECT PROPOSAL ID by tya

: video presentation

We practiced and recorded our slides and compiled them in video format. This was our final result:

FEEDBACK

Week 1: You can create a new concept if needed. The proposal is more about how you arrived to that concept, rather than the final output itself. Analyze the existing concept and relate it to everyday design. Focus on the relation and make sure to keep the timeline in mind, nothing too complex.

Week 2:  You guys have already captured why batik and its importance to the culture pretty well. I find your rationale quite interesting for sketch 1, since you have isolated the patterns and what they represent. Select the most distinct patterns and find the reasoning and reimagine it into everyday design. For example, what symbolizes protection, such as a bus stop, bags, covers.. so the pattern reflects the same meaning as the everyday object so this is how it relates with the design.

Week 3: For your sketch in particular, take some of the form and essence of the pattern and reimagine it in everyday design. Extract the meaning and provide reasoning for your choices and choose a few from the isolated patterns to do so.

REFLECTIONS 

Project 1 was an enriching learning experience. Working with classmates from other sections taught me effective teamwork skills and how to cope with different work ethics. Intercultural Design was a fresh and thrilling research module, where I put into practice my learning from the earlier "Design Research Methodology" module. I enjoyed learning about the various styles and rich history of batik, which helped me gain an understanding that I was able to translate into my own Sri Lankan culture. Creating a mood board and sketching out my own design made the research process enjoyable and fascinating.