INTERCULTURAL DESIGN - FINAL PROJECT & PORTFOLIO

06/01/20 - 02/03/20 (Week 1 - Week 9)
Neoh Kar Yan (0339338)
Intercultural Design
Final Project & Portfolio

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INSTRUCTIONS

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Week 1 

On our first day of class, we were introduced to this module and were briefed on what are the projects to be done. For our project, our given theme is "Mythology". We were then required to form groups of four using the stickers which represent our status. I grouped up with Yuanmei, Caitlyn and Jia Yi. 

We were also given a lecture by Mr. Charles on the proposal guideline. In our proposal we are required to have:

• Working Title
• Background of Study and Problem statement
• Research questions
• Data collection
• Presentation of Findings

 (09/01/20)

We had a consultation session with Ms. Anis, Mr. Charles and Mr. Asrizal on our preliminary ideas. We talked about the myth of Kitsune and Inari. They told us to be open about it and ask questions like:

• What does Kitsune symbolize in the pop culture regarding its "two-sides"
• Is there still patriarchy in Tokyo? How is it relevant to mythology?

Week 2 

We were given a lecture on culture by Dr. Jinchi and a short sharing session on how our respective culture is unique to us.

I had an online discussion with my group members and after long hours of researching, we managed to come up with a few ideas. Our main topic is Kitsune. We discussed the 5 specific approaches to this topic and presented our ideas to Mr. Asrizal. He mentioned that he really like what we did for our research as it showcases our depth of understanding and it was able to form relationships. 

Here are our documented ideas:

Week 3 - Week 4

My group presented our proposal this week. After getting feedback from our lecturers, we did some slight changes to our research questions.

 


Week 5
(03/02/20 - 10/02/20)
[Tokyo Trip]

Week 6

Our group presented on our data collection and our short video.

 

Our data collection video:

 

Week 7

After gathering our collected data and research, we proceeded to come up with the idea for our final outcome. We had several online discussions on discord and discussed many ideas along the way, some including as below.

After consulting with Mr. Asrizal on our ideas, he suggested us to make a layer cut artwork if we plan to convey the timeline and story of Kitsune, a poster showcasing the information about Kitsune and the gacha machine for added fun.

Week 8

We finalized our idea which is to create a gacha machine and a kirigami tunnel lightbox. This idea aims to tell the story about the mythology of Kitsune from the past and related back to the present influences in pop culture. We discussed and delegated specific roles to focus on.

Fig 1.1 Ideas and sketches

Fig 1.2 Delegation of tasks

Our specific roles were as below:

Caitlin - Making the Gacha machine

Kar Yan - Design lightbox 

Yuanmei & Jia Yi - Making of Gacha figurines

Kirigami Nine-Layered  Tunnel Light Box

Fig 1.3 Rough sketch for the lightbox by Yuanmei

Fig 1.4 Second sketch by Jia Yi

After discussing and getting ideas from the group, I begin digitizing the layers in Illustrator. The design of the lightbox should include past elements like mountains and paddy whereas present elements like the nightlife in Japan.

Fig 1.5 Process of digitizing

Fig 1.6 Attempt #1

Fig 1.7 Attempt #2 (I changed the paddy and added Japanese signboards)

Fig 1.8 Finalizing the layers

Fig 1.9 Final Outcome of the Lightbox design

Fig 1.10 Printing on A3 papers

Fig 1.11 Cutting the paper

After finalizing the layers, I printed them on A3 papers. Next, everyone helped with cutting the papers. After cutting, we tested it out on a lightbox. 

Fig 1.12 Testing out on lightbox

Next, we used the papers as our template and traced it on modeling board then cut it.

Fig 1.13 Process of cutting on modeling board

Fig 1.14 Complete cut out layers

Frames were made from foam board to support the layers and we put them together. Pop up numbers were stuck on platforms made from the remaining foam board. This is to indicate where the Gacha figurines will be placed in the lightbox.

Fig 1.15 Frames made from foam board 

Fig 1.16 Frames compiled together

Fig 1.17 Pop up number platforms made from remaining foam board 

Fig 1.18 How it looks like from the front

Fig 1.19 Light installation in progress

  

Fig 1.19 Testing out how the lightbox would look like in the dark with lights

Fairy lights are installed starting from the second row till the second last row, and a lightbox behind the final row.

Fig 1.19 How it looks like with lights on and figurines displayed

Gacha Machine

Caitlin was in charge of making the Gacha machine. She followed a youtube tutorial and made a mini mock-up Gacha machine to test run for the first time.

Fig 2.1 Mini Gacha machine #1

Later, she made another one with bigger dimensions to test-run for the second time.

Fig 2.2 Gacha machine #2

A final test run model with the final dimensions was made to ensure the final Gacha machine was able to fit all the Gachapon capsules.

Fig 2.3 Gacha machine #3

After testing out three times, Caitlyn made the final Gacha machine but this time using black mounting board instead of modeling board.

Fig 2.4 Making the final Gacha machine #4

Gacha Figurines

Yuanmei and Jia yi sculpted the figurines with air dry clay.

Fig 2.5 Sculpting the clay

Fig 2.6 Painting the clay

Then, Yuanmei proceeded to paint the dried ones using acrylic paints.

Fig 2.7 Painted clay figurines

Fig 2.8 Final clay figurines

Fig 2.9 Gachapon capsule

We came up with ideas for the name of our project. Finally, we decided on "KyuCha Kit".“Kyu” meaning nine in Japanese and “Cha” which is derived from the term “Gacha”. 

Next, I wrote the rationale for our project and the gacha descriptions.

Fig 2.10 Rationale

Fig 2.11 Gacha descriptions

Yuanmei and I designed the poster guide for the Gacha machine so that users understand what they're getting and labels were included to indicate which number platform and layer to display at. Next, the logo of KyuCha Kit was designed by everyone.

Fig 2.12 Process of poster design 

Fig 2.13 Final Outcome of Poster Design

Fig 2.14 Sketches of logo

Fig 2.14 Digitizing logo

  

Fig 2.15 Kyucha Kit Logo design 

Final Outcome:

Fig 2.16 Final Outcome of Gachapon machine 

Fig 2.17 Final Outcome of Lightbox

Fig 2.18 Final Outcome of Kyucha Kit

Our final presentation slides:

Personal Reflection: 
We worked really hard on this project. We met up on campus every day and stayed from morning till night. Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful for this module and all the lecturers for this opportunity to experience Japan and get to work with students from different courses. Throughout it was a very wholesome experience for me despite not getting much sleep and to juggle between another final project. For this project, I would say I enjoyed the process more than the outcome. Each planning and execution processes were equally important and I'm glad my group has high team spirit as we worked really well together. I am very satisfied with the end product and hopefully, it will bring inspiration and impact to others.