Design Studies 1 Final Assessment - Research Articulation

3/10/2017 - 14/11/2017 (Week 6 to Week 11)
Gan Pei Jane
Design Studies 1: Communication Theory
Final Assessment: Research Articulation

For this assignment, we were required to go on a field trip with our classmates to explore a part of Malaysia. We went to downtown KL to explore the diversity of Malaysia and also to take pictures of the environment around us in order for us to commence with this assignment. For our final assessment, we are told to do research on one of the ongoing issues in Malaysia. Then, we will compile all our research into our sketchbooks and present our research in class on Week 11. I chose an issue on environmental awareness as it is an important issue that needed to be addressed in Malaysia due to the current environmental problems that we face in Malaysia.

Final Assessment: Research Articulation (40%) 

Research Articulation Brief 

Design is a mode of communication that engages the intellect and emotions through the visual sense. One of design’s roles is to solve problems. The inspiration of ideas many a time comes from around us. Looking at the local, Malaysian scene, there are many visual cultural art forms that can serve as inspiration for ideation. This project looks into producing a work of design that is inspired visually or conceptually by Malaysian visual cultural art forms. 

Two most apparent examples of Malaysian visual cultural art forms are batik and wayang kulit. Another example, although not very common, is the masks/carvings of the indigenous Mah Meri tribe. There are many more types of visual cultural art forms unique to Malaysia. 

Museum and gallery visits are among the activities that students will have to take on to enrich their exposure to these art forms so that they gain better understanding through visual experience for the execution of this project. 

Requirements 

Demonstration of research skills, application of research and knowledge, and students’ evaluation of their learning is expected in the final outcome of this project. 

1. Select a health/environment/social/animal issue that is current in Malaysia. 
2. Conduct research on that selected issue. Pictures, captions and written information supported by 
   secondary sources are compulsory. 
3. Select a form of Malaysian visual cultural art form of your choice. 
4. Conduct in-depth visual and background research of that Malaysian visual cultural art form. Pictures 
   and written information supported by secondary sources are compulsory. 
5. Utilising the knowledge you had gained from the research of that Malaysian visual cultural art form, 
   brainstorm design ideas to solve the selected issue. Do this in your sketchbook. Each idea must be 
   accompanied by a short description, including a rationale for each idea. 
6. You may interpret and contextualise what you understand from those visual cultural art forms 
   anyway you see fit to as a design solution to the selected issue. 
7. You must produce evidence of idea inspiration. 
8. You are also expected to apply the knowledge you have gained from the topics in this module. 
9. The final work of design, although needs to show relevance to the selected issue, visual cultural art 
   forms and topics in this module, can be in any form, deem fit by you. 
10. A written rationale of about 300 words is to accompany the final work of design and how you have 
    used your choice of Malaysian visual cultural art form as part of the design. 
11. A written reflection of about 300 words, guided by these questions: 
1. What have I learned from this module? 
2. How have I contributed to the learning? 
3. How can I apply what I’ve learned to future classroom situations and lessons? 
4. What are the changes I would suggest for the betterment of the module (delivery, topics, 
   learning tools, etc)? 

Duration 

6 weeks (Briefing: Week 6; Deadline: Week 11). 

Submission Format

1. Digital submission through TIMeS: 

Powerpoint slides CONVERTED TO PDF file containing: 

1. research (selected issue and Malaysian visual cultural art form) 
2. idea generation (sketches from sketch book) 
3. images from a few angles or positions of the final design work 
4. rationale and reflection 
5. reference and picture credits list 

2. To present on submission day: 

1. Physical form of the final design work. 
2. PowerPoint slides. 

Assignment Goals 

1. Students to apply research skills. 
2. Students to employ effective communication skills. 
3. Students to analyse relevant design solutions. 
4. Students to synthesise ideas. 
5. Students to evaluate the learning process

3R and Eco-Friendliness in Malaysia

There is a problem in Malaysia where 3R (Recycle, Reuse and Reduce) and Eco-Friendliness is not widely practiced in Malaysia and this causes wastes to be discarded inefficiently. Some states such as Selangor has banned the use of plastics or plastic bags in order to promote eco-friendliness but this has caused some inconvenience to Malaysians.
Here are some current solutions that were used in other countries:
1. Using biodegradable plastic bags.
2. Promote the use of eco-bags whenever they go shopping.
3. Designing eco-friendly and recyclable packaging and materials.

Design inspiration and ideas
A malaysian designer Su Sim and architect Lisa Foo has made a series of designs to highlight the amount of plastics used in our daily lives:

While throwing plastic bottles into recycle bins can help save the environment, there are some ways that the plastic bottles can be repurposed. One of the Malaysian art is called "Sea Creatures 13", where the two Malaysian Su Sim and Lisa Foo repurposed plastic bottles into lamps in the shape of sea creatures like stingrays, jelly fish and marine organisms. They also made the art piece into dance and music, with collaboration with Aida Redza, a dancer choreographer, producing a mixed media light performance called "River Meets Light". The performance was given to inspire the restoration of Malaysian rivers and preserving them for future generations.

Taiwanese students from the National Taiwan University of the Arts, Huang I-Chen, Guo Yi-Hui and Cheng Yu-Ti also made a design statement which features polluted water popsicles. They collected water from 100 locations in Taiwan, freezing the sewage samples and preserving it in polyester resin to make the audience aware of how polluted Taiwan's environment is.

Work Process

Firstly, we have to compile our research into our sketchbooks. While I chose an issue on environmental friendliness in Malaysia, I have also researched on the coffee culture in Malaysia and also the traditional Malaysian art, the Batik, as I wanted to create a coffee cup that is environmentally friendly and also adhere to the Malaysian Batik and also the coffee culture in Malaysia. 

Rationale 

N-a5 is derived from the name "melatonin", which is a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness. My idea is inspired by Malaysia's coffee culture and also eco-friendliness. As many people drink coffee everyday in coffee shops, many people will discard the coffee's packaging irresponsibly, which can cause an increased amount of waste in Malaysia everyday.

By designing a coffee cup where people can discard their packaging in a way that could make Malaysia greener, I hope that it will bring a better future to all Malaysians. 

Why N-a5? It is because most people rely on coffee to stay awake throughout the day, where melatonin is needed to regulate sleep and wakefulness. 

Why batik design? It is because batik is a traditional malaysian art that portrays nature motifs like floral and fauna motifs and this can represent a more eco-friendly and greener world. 

The packaging is designed that there is a compartment at the bottom of the cup that contains seeds that the consumer can plant after drinking the coffee. The packaging can also double up as a pot, or a holder that is recyclable as it is made of recycled materials. 

The banana syringe logo shows that the coffee is a "shot of life", where it brings life to a person.