Intercultural Design: Proposal / Field Study / Final Project
3/2/2025 - 21/3/2025 (Week1-Week3)
Amber Tan Jing Jing (0372746)
GCD61304 / Intercultural Design / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Proposal / Field Study / Final Project
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Lectures
2. Instructions
6. Feedback
7. Reflection
LECTURES
Week1
- Mr Asrizal explained the module information booklet and our tasks for this module. The project will be done in groups, so we formed our groups in class. Lecturer also briefed us on "Everyday Design" to make sure we understood.
Week2
- Q&A on Everyday Design and introduction to the CMYK*L event.
Week3
- The lecture was a Q&A session. After that, we had a group meeting and consultation with our supervisor.
Week4
- No lecture class. We used this time for data collection.
Week5
- Week6 and Week7 no lecture class. We can consult our supervisor about the final project.
INSTRUCTIONS
Project 1 (Proposal)
Week1-Week3
In this project, we need to select a specific area under the general theme of Everyday Design. We will explore how design influences and reflects culture, behaviour, and identity through commonly encountered objects, environments, and systems.
In Week 1, we were divided into several groups, but our group initially had only five members. In Week 2, Riona joined, so our group had six members. After that, we started discussing our ideas for the project after the lecture. We decided to focus on Tibetan culture as our chosen area of Everyday Design. Then, we chose nails, coasters, and bookmarks to incorporate Tibetan symbols and patterns. These ideas were suggested by Qiu Yu during our first face-to-face discussion, as she is very good in nail design.
Overall, the final task distribution was as follows:
- Research Proposal- Amber & Riona
- Initial Proposal (PPT slides)- Chenhui & Yuxin
- Final Proposal (PPT slides)- Amber & Riona
- Initial Sketches (nails, coasters, and bookmarks)- Qiu Yu & May Thu Khin
- Final Sketches (focus on nails)- Qiu Yu, Chen Hui & Yuxin
- Rationale- May Thu Khin
Research Proposal
Figure 1.1 Research Proposal, Week3
After researching, we first decided incorporate these symbols and patterns to nails, coasters and bookmarks to press-on nails.
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
Project 2 (Field Study)
Week4-Week5
We 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 (Google Form Survey / Site Visit / Online Interview / Online Research)
1. Google Form Survey ( https://forms.gle/oEkGMeSzfgwNWLw26 )
The survey purpose is to understand people's awareness, perception, and interest in incorporating Tibetan cultural elements into press-on nail designs.
- Survey was distributed via Instagram, WhatsApp and WeChat
- Date: 3/3/2025 (Monday) - 5/3/2025 (Wednesday)
- Total survey responses: 51 responses
- Destination: Temple Karma Kagyu Dharma Society KL
- Date: 4/3/2025 (Tuesday)
- Date: 6/3/2025 (Thursday)
- Person 1: Xiao K, 19 years old, from Fujian. He mainly learns about Tibetan culture through social media and from his Tibetan friends, gaining some knowledge about Tibetan culture.
- Person 2: Xiao Li and Xiao Chai, 22 years old, are from Lhasa, Tibet. Living in Tibet for a long time, having Tibetan friends around them and receiving education at school. They are influenced by traditional Tibetan culture and thus understand Tibetan culture.
- Person 3: Miss Yika, originally from Tibet. During her studies in the UK, she actively promoted Tibetan culture, allowing more people to appreciate the rich heritage and unique artistry of her homeland.
2. What role do you think Tibetan elders or religious figures play in keeping the culture alive for the younger generation?
3. How do you think the younger generation in Tibet or among Tibetan communities is balancing traditional culture with modern influences?
4. Do you think modern technology and social media play a role in introducing Tibetan culture to younger generations through fashion trends? In what ways?
5. What aspects of Tibetan culture do you think are most important for young people today to understand and preserve?
6. Do you think traditional Tibetan symbols (such as geometric patterns, mandala mantras, and the Eight Auspicious Symbols) can be meaningfully incorporated into beauty and nail art? Why or why not?
7. If you were to incorporate traditional Tibetan symbols into nail art, which one(s) would you choose and why? (You may select multiple options: geometric patterns, mandala mantras, and the Eight Auspicious Symbols)
8. Which aspects of Tibetan culture do you think are most visually striking and could inspire contemporary nail art designs?
- The history and background stories behind the symbols and elements we have chosen.
Final Project
Week5-Week7
- Present a complete proposal and research data.
- Explore various aspects of everyday design. Document and communicate experiences through a TikTok page.
- Use the TikTok page as a cultural journal to record, reflect, and creatively present interactions, observations, and insights about everyday design.
- Communicate chosen cultural topics to a broader audience. Foster understanding and appreciation of everyday design through engaging short-form videos.
- These patterns were mostly used in temples and religious objects in the past, and were rarely seen in daily life.
- Through nail art, these meaningful patterns are integrated into modern life to give them new life.
- Use traditional Tibetan colors (dark blue, coral red, turquoise) to emphasize cultural characteristics.
- The blessing on the fingertips symbolizes the inner strength of modern women.
- Every touch carries faith and blessings, allowing the story of Tibetan culture to continue.
- Incorporating these meaningful patterns into nail art design allows the wearer to carry the blessing of love and fortune at all times.
- Two additional nails are provided, allowing users to freely match them according to their personal preferences.
- The wearer can choose to express love today, bring good luck tomorrow, or combine the two to create a unique fingertip art.
FEEDBACK
Week3
This week, we met with Mr. Zeon, and he suggested that we focus on three nail designs instead of three different product sketches. Besides, we also need to link our designs with "Everyday Design" and write about their connection.
Week4
This week, we met Mr. Zeon online. As we decided to go for a site visit, he suggested that we take photos and videos and organize the documentation in PPT slides.
Week5
We need to include the Research Problem, Research Objectives, and Research Questions in our PPT slides. Besides, we need to analyze the online interview and explain the site visit. We also need to conduct online research on the history and background stories behind the symbols and elements we have chosen.
Week6
We can create different series of nail designs with more detailed explanations. Instead of simply mixing all the elements and symbols, we should create a story behind each design. For example, if someone wants to wear something that represents love or fortune, we need to determine which symbols or designs express those meanings. So, we need to create at least two designs. Besides, we should include a color palette explanation—why we chose these colors and what they represent.
Week7
The sketches part can explain the meaning of each symbol on each nail. Besides, since we already covered data collection analysis in Project 3, so for the final project, we will highlight only the key points from that analysis.
REFLECTION
Experience
Through this project, I slowly gained deeper understanding of Tibetan culture. Before this, I didn’t even know much about Tibetan culture, their elements or their symbols. I only knew that they are an ethnic group in China but didn’t know about their culture. This module is quite interesting for me because I got to learn about other culture and transform them into everyday designs. Besides, since this is a group project, I gained experience in communicating with others and realized the importance of cooperation.
Observation
What I have observed is that each team member has their own strengths, so we divided the work based on these strengths. So that we are able to complete the project together. For example, some team members are better at research, while others are more good at sketching. Besides, I found that Tibetan symbols, colors have fixed symbolic meanings, but may have different interpretations in different contexts. For example, the Endless Knot in Buddhism represents the interweaving of wisdom and compassion, symbolizing an eternal connection. However, in our Series 2 press-on nail design, it can also represent deep emotional bonds between people, such as love, friendship, or family relationships, showing that love is eternal. This explanation is not necessarily directly related to Buddhism.
Findings
Although it was only 7 weeks, we also explored a lot about Tibetan culture. The most important thing is, we incorporated symbols and elements that are rarely seen in daily life into our press-on nail designs. By doing so, we bring these cultural elements into everyday life, allowing more people to learn about this ethnic group. Besides, when we were consulting this project with our supervisor Mr. Zeon, we could get more ideas and learn what we need to improve. This really help us to make our project better.
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