10.01.23 - 01.04.23 (Week 1- Week 8)
Janaan Ahmed (0353333)
Intercultural Design / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Design
Project Compilation
Instructions
0. Group Formation (Week 1)
Since the outcome of this project is group-based, we first formed groups.
Through a short game of rock-paper-scissors, Ellyn was appointed the group
leader.
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| Fig 1.1: Group Members |
1. Proposal (Week 1-4)
Our final outcome is to be based around the theme "Visual Culture", and
we are to frame our study around it. Our group discussion on discord was
pretty constructive, and we initially came up with 4 topics: Wagashi, Origami, Harajuku fashion, packaging
design.
The shortlisted 3 topics are as the following, and our workload was
divided into pairs:
1. Wagashi (Japanese Confectionary): Janaan & Jia Min
2. Origami: Ellyn & Sofia
3. Harajuku Fashion: Rachel & Reenah
In our pairs, we were tasked to first construct the design system for our
topic:
Fig 1.2: Design Systems
During week 2's group discussion we finalised the problem statements,
research questions, research objectives, and rationale for our topics. We
also brainstormed about possible final outcomes for our topics:
1. Wagashi: Mini game
2. Origami: Educational app/game
3. Harajuku Fashion: Projection, Dress- Game
Fig 1.3: Proposal Draft
Ellyn then created a canva document where we each began to work on the
slides. We were also tasked to work on the detailed sketches of our outcome
in our respective pairs. Jia Min and I met up to discuss and brainstorm. We
realised that the logistics involved in creating a functional game was
obviously beyond just the visuals, so it took some time to formulate one.
This is what we came up with nonetheless:
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| Fig 1.4: Moodboard & Visual Reference |
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| Fig 1.5: Wagashi game structure & concept |
We then divided the sketching to 3 display screens each person. I was in
charge of:
- Stage Complete
- Recipe Collection
- Quests List
The results are as follows:
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| Fig 1.6: Level Up Screen |
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| Fig 1.7: Recipe Collection Screen |
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| Fig 1.8: Quests Screen |
Project 1: Proposal (Final Outcome)
After further polishing our proposal slides according to feedback, it was
ready for our presentation and submission:
Fig 1.9: Final Proposal Slides [PDF] - (18.01.23)
Idea Renewal:
As a group we decided to go forth with the topic Wagashi. Miss Anis remarked
that our idea for the game was not very viable under our time constraints, and
so we changed the idea for our final outcome. Ellyn and Sofia proposed the
idea of a Wagashi Scrapbook-ish travel guide, which Ellyn made the moodboard
for. We then showed it to Miss Anis who gave us the greenlight to
proceed.
2. Data Collection (Week 5-6)
Before our trip, Ellyn and Jia Min compiled a list of Wagashi stores that we
could visit around Tokyo. We visited a total of 8 different stores, in
Asakusa, Akasaka, and Roppongi. Amongst them, I am most thrilled that we got
to visit Toraya, which is one, if not the oldest Wagashi establishment,
dating back to the 16th Century (this was around the time wagashi came to
be!).
We were really lucky that Rachel and Jia Min could speak some Japanese, as it
made communication with the store assistants much easier. In addition to the
year-round wagashi (such as Dorayaki), we observed several versions of
Nerikiri in particular, shaped to look like the seasonal flora. Camellia's
(winter), and of course sakura-themed wagashi were extremely prevalent, as we
were nearing spring.
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| Fig 2.1: BTS of our data collection |
During the trip, Sofia and I also came up with the idea of a personal review
system, that we thought would be fun and unique to add to the scrapbook. The
rest of our group members approved. After getting back from Tokyo, we compiled
our data and each worked on filling the slides. Halfway through, we realised
that one of our research questions + objectives were not yet answered. I took
the liberty of completing that section by conducting secondary research
(journals, articles).
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| Fig 2.2: Unanswered RO & RQ |
Reflecting back on the trip afterwards, I could definitely see the Japanese
love for hatsu-mono or 'first of the season' in their integration of
strawberries in wagashi (there was an influx of strawberries during our trip).
Strawberries were incorporated in several wagashi, often taking a modernised
appearance + flavour combination (Ichigo Daifuku, with custard filling for
example). It was interesting to note that some wagashi stores also catered to
more westernised occasions like Valentine's. I suppose this is no less
expected, considering the adaptable nature of the historical evolution of
Japanese cuisine (or so from what I read).
Project 2: Data Collection (Final Outcome)
Fig 2.3: Final Data Collection Slides [PDF] - (17.02.23)
Final Project
Since the group liked our sketches for the proposal, Jia Min and I were assigned to work on the layout and illustrations.
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| Fig 3.1: Task Delegation |
Once Ellyn and Sofia completed the Art Direction, Jia Min and I met up to work together.
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| Fig 3.2: Art Direction Moodboard (link here) |
Initially, we divided the number of pages evenly, however since the front cover took some time to work on, I made only 2 other spreads apart from the cover (history, and summary, while Jia Min worked on the majority of the layouts.
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| Fig 3.3: Main Scrapbook Details |
We had decided to work on Canva instead of InDesign as it was more convenient. Some headings were manually made on Illustrator using an ai file for our required font (ransom notes). Jia Min customised some of them as some of the fonts within the file didn't work. I made the title for the history page as shown in the figure below.
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| Fig 3.4: Creating titles on Illustrator |
Feedback was exchanged for the layout progression and photo editing (Rachel + Reenah). Jia Min and I initially worked on single pages. After our weekly group meeting, Sofia created a guide so that the layouts fell within the spread and the pages matched (to simulate InDesign on Canva).
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| Fig 3.5: Border Guides on Canva |
While Jia Min continued to work on the layouts, Ellyn and Sofia began to make the final edits for the spreads.
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| Fig 3.6: Layout Spread for 'History of Wagashi' |
In the meantime, I gathered additional references for the front cover illustrations, taking inspiration from korean illustrative magazines (fig 3.7). I decided to use Sensoji Temple as the background. Jia Min also suggested to have some wagashi pop out from background and so for the interest of saving time, we decided to reuse some of the wagashi illustrations she made for the proposal sketches (fig 3.8).
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| Fig 3.7: Visual Reference + Assets |
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| Fig 3.8: Wagashi Illustrations by Jia Min |
I first drew the characters as an emoji set was needed to be used in our review system. We decided to make 3 sets to indicate our ratings. The outfits reflect exactly what we each wore hehe. From left to right: Ellyn, Sofia, Rachel, Reenah, Jia Min, Me
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| Fig 3.9: Group Emoji Set |
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| Fig 3.10: Illustration Progress |
The figure below shows the overall process of the illustration. I made 2 versions, one with, and another without the wagashi in case it looked too cluttered. My group members as well as myself all preferred the one with wagashi.
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| Fig 3.11: Illustration Process |
Since there was too much negative space on top, Sofia suggested to slightly move the title. She also came up with the author name 'The Wagashi Connoisseurs'. I went on to Illustrator to make the adjustments. The characters were slightly moved to make space for the author name.
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| Fig 3.12: Adjusting Text Height |
We realised that we'd forgotten about the back cover. Suggestions were made to illustrate the back cover as well, however since the first one also took me a while, a simple but effective layout was made by Sofia instead by utilising some of Jia Min's wagashi illustrations. I worked on the summary page layout in the meantime.
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| Fig 3.13: Layout Spread for 'Summary' |
Once the final edits were made, Ellyn showed us the 2 binding options for our e-zine. Most of us preferred the spiral binding, and so this is what we went with.
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| Fig 3.14: Side Stitch Binding |
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| Fig 3.15: Loose-leaf Binding |
While Ellyn was working on the final edits, Sofia compiled the presentation boards as shown below. The majority of the group voted on the horizontal layout.
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| Fig 3.16: Horizontal Layout |
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| Fig 3.17: Vertical Layout |
Once everything was complete, Jia min, Reenah and I were tasked with the final presentation since we were on campus.
Final Outcome:
E-Zine flipbook link:
here
Fig 3.18: Final Outcome [PDF] - (03.03.23)
Fig 3.19: Final A1 Presentation Board [JPG] - (03.03.23)
Fig 3.20: Final A1 Presentation Board [PDF] - (03.03.23)
Feedback
Research Slides:
- Good research, well done
- Topic 1 (wagashi) is interesting, suggest to add in another observation such as: seasonal confectionery, and explore also the modern adaptation like chocolates i.e. KitKat for every season, occasions, etc. Then you will have more room to explore.
- You can start devising what data to gather and how to access them.
Proposal:
- Merely making visuals of the game is not enough, and quite boring of an output.
- Miss Anis suggested making a working prototype instead. She however advised against it since a lot goes into making one, and therefore may not be viable under the time constraints of the short semester.
- Idea for the wagashi scrapbook guide looks alright.
Data Collection & Final Idea:
- Miss Anis suggested to frame our experiences around the wagashi and include that in the output.
- Miss Anis seemed to like the idea of a quirky, personalised output for our scrapbook.
- Suggested to utilise and edit canva templates in the interest of saving time.
Reflection
EXPERIENCE
This module has been equally enjoyable and educational. I quite liked the group dynamic among our members which made communicating and exchanging ideas very fruitful. Jia Min in particular (who I was paired with for many parts of the project) was very fun to brainstorm with. Our group leader Ellyn was very organised and helped us navigate through different stages of the project in a very timely manner. Since the rapport amongst everyone was good, our project was pretty smooth-sailing. Everyone was responsible, attentive, and made an important contribution to the group, and I'm glad to have experienced the world of wagashi with them.
OBSERVATION
My group members are incredibly fast, efficient and punctual in their work. Though they were accommodating to my personal struggles, I sometimes worried that I was slowing the group's progress. Though we already read about it, it was fascinating to look at the different ways that each wagashi store had curated their wagashi according to the season. Seeing them first-hand made me really appreciate the visibly meticulous craftsmanship that went into shaping them. Shout out to Rachel and Jia Min who were able to speak a bit of Japanese, which was immensely helpful. We learned that some wagashi are poetically named in a manner that alludes to the season/nature that its appearance was shaped into. Once such wagashi was named something along the lines of 'under the snow'. It was fashioned in a way to convey a blanket of snow over a field of grass, possibly alluding to the end of winter.
FINDINGS
I have learned that research plays a crucial part in ensuring that we properly understand and implement cultural connotations. I am grateful for the opportunity to travel to Japan for our primary data collection. The Japanese attention to detail and love for seasonal transitions were evident in several wagashi, for instance a subtle difference in how pigmented the pink colouring was in sakura mochi. Though they are generally seen to be a vibrant pink, several of them had deliberately subdued colouring this time of year to mirror the gradual transition to spring. Though a centuries old sweet, many vendors have adapted wagashi to a more globalised palette, and appear to draw inspiration from more than just the Japanese cultural sphere. Sought out by both the old and young, wagashi to this day stands as a celebratory tribute and testament of the Japanese appreciation of nature.
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