Intercultural Design: Final Assignment

GCD61304 Intercultural Design 7.2.22 - 25.2.22 (Week 6 - Week 8)

Wendy Seto / 0348805
GCD61304 Intercultural Design / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Final Assignment

INSTRUCTIONS

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PRACTICAL 

For this final assignment, me and Wiceline decided to take over the major design parts because based on the sketches done by our groupmates who were in charge in Project 1, we do not think they are influential enough for a "revolution". So we divided our tasks in such following:

Brand logo: Wendy
Patterns: Angelyn, Wendy & Wiceline
Products: Kenisha, Wendy & Wiceline
Packaging: Syahnaz
Card: Michelle
Presentation deck: Angelyn

A. Brand Name & Logo

During our last meeting, we have agreed to use my name idea, RUPA for our brand since it is short and easy to remember. Not to mention, it is an Indonesian word that has a beautiful meaning. In addition, I also did some research on selecting the perfect name for a brand, and it does speak for RUPA as the best and only choice we got. We think the rest of the name suggestions are more suitable to be used for patterns. For the logo design however,  we did some discussion and decided to go with the first one.

fig 1.1 brand name & logo idea sketches from Project 1 

I started off by finalizing the logo design. The idea behind it was using shapes found in batik parang to form the letter R, which stands for RUPA.

fig 1.2 logo design progress 12/2/22

Just in case we might need it, I created two forms.

fig 1.3 finalized logo in lettermark and logotype 12/2/22

B. Patterns

There are 3 types of batik pattern that we want to apply in our products, which are:

1. Existing pattern
We want to use the original batik mega mendung as it was voted as the most preferrably worn batik by our survey respondents. 

2. Old pattern adaptation
Since I am a big fan of the houndstooth pattern, I got this idea of combining it with batik kawung.

3. Our own batik designs
Based on the 5 proposed batik designs in Project 1, we decided to finalize batik bhinneka. Wiceline also come up with a new design since she has not proposed hers yet. So we have 2 of our own batik designs finalized.

C. Products

According to what I have experienced in the previous semesters, I know that I am really bad at creating mock ups and collaterals. I remember when Mr. Vinod said that my design is beautiful, but my execution is disappointing. I could not agree more. In this assignment however, I am really down to challenge myself. I am in charge to design the bags and the shoes. Well, I have got plenty of ideas for the bags, but not the shoes. Bags can go from totes, baguettes to fluffies, but shoes? I really have no idea. Well, actually there was one. Customized-personalized-paint-by-number shoes. At first, I thought it was brilliant but few minutes later it becomes dumb. That is just how my brain works most of the time. I mean it is cool, but it just does not go that well with the rest of the products. 

I played around Illustrator and Photoshop to create the mock ups and surprisingly, I had so much fun until the point that I want to keep making more. So I cannot help but end up doing each for everything lol. 

As you can see I somehow created two series, Head in the Clouds and Tic-Tac-Toe. It just pop in my head at 7 in the morning when I have not slept. 

After everyone completed their parts, I put everything into a google form so we can decide to use which in the fairest way. Because I know I will not get any responses if I ask them to vote by texts or unmuting their mic. Below is the result of our voting session.

Not all of the products that were voted are included in our final output though due to some circumstances. For instance, the Tic-Tac-Toe bucket hat.

fig 1.4 final assignment docs.pdf 25/2/22


fig 1.5 final presentation deck.pdf 25/2/22

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REFLECTION

At the beginning of the semester, I thought this short semester would not be as hectic as the previous 2 semesters but turns out I was wrong. I freaked out when I saw the lecture, tutorial and practical class of this module were splited into 3 different days. Well at least after the first week, we learnt that the friday class is for our own group meeting so I guess it was fair enough. I have always enjoyed working alone because there is no limitation on what we want to do and what we are not. One fact about me, I care a lot about people feelings and I am always afraid of accidentally turning their down. So everytime there is a group project, I basically agree on everything my team members say. But guess what, no one wants to be the leader in this Intercultural Design group of mine and somehow, out of nowhere, Dr. Jinchi asked me if I am willing to volunteer on leading my team. I was wondering where did she got this idea from, I mean she knew how bad my time management skill is from the previous semester. I cannot even take care of my individual assignments well and now I am given the responsibility to carry another 5 people grades. Also, whos opinion I am going to nod at while everyone is depending on me?

If you are going to ask me what is the most valuable thing that I have learnt from this module, it was not about expanding my knowledge in the specific culture we have chosen neither how to execute our ideas to the real world, but how to be a good leader. Why? Because I am not. I struggled at distributing the tasks to my teammates where I always end up doing the extra things on my own because I am afraid they will think I ask too much. Also, because I enjoy working alone I develop this trust issue when working with others. I feel like I cannot rely on them so I have to double check and fix everything which basically the same with doing all over again. Another difficulty that I think we faced on working in a group is that all of us are design students and we have very different opinion towards a design that we like and we do not. This was not easy because in the end we have to make a decision on how do we want to execute our ideas in a way that we all can agree. 

Overall, I think this module has given me a very important lesson, which is experience. I cannot say it was a good one because then I will be lying. It really was not a good first-time-being-a-leader experience because right after presenting this last assignment my nose bleeds, and now I am writing this feeling very sick. But now, I think I get why our supervisor, Dr. Jinchi wants me to be the leader in the first place. Being one taught me how to be patient, thorough and responsible. The top three traits that my old self still lack of. Well, not so old, only a month and a half younger than I am today. Anyway, I survived being outside of my comfort zone and I am proud of it!

I only wished that I am not taking this module during the pandemic because that way the field study would be so much fun. I heard a lot about the trip our seniors went to in the past, if only we can experience the same thing. Lastly, if anything can be improved through this online learning, it would be nice if we get the opportunity to see other groups work as well. Other than it can expand our knowledge on different cultures in the world, sometimes it can also boost our motivation on producing a better work.