Intercultural Design - Task 1 : Proposal

03/02/2026 - 20/02/2026 (Week 1 - Week 3)

Chan Xin Yean, 0377851

Intercultural Design

Task 1


LECTURES

Lecture 01 : Culture & Design

Visuals are everything that can be seen and everything produced or created by humans that can be seen. It is processed 60000x faster in the brain than text. Besides that 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.

Design significance is where. one is able to identify the social,  cultural & political sphere where design elements reside. 

Figure 1.0 Example of Design Significance from Lecture Slide


Design systems are separated by basic assumptions (values, principles & practices) then norms and values (look & feel, design elements & design functions) and artifacts and products (tools & technology). 

Figure 1.1 Example of Design System from Lecture Slide

Design Sensitivity

Cultural Sensitivity Awareness

  • Symbolism and Imagery: May carry different meanings in different cultures. Designers should be mindful of potential cultural interpretations to avoid unintentional offense.
  • Colour Consideration: Have cultural significance and understanding them can help make appropriate choices.
  • Typography and Language: Considering language variations and ensuring accurate translations is crucial for reaching diverse audience.
Addressing Cultural Sensitivity

  • Inclusive Design: Create products and experiences that are accessible and inclusive from various people.
  • User Research: Thorough user research with ethnographic studies and user testing across diverse groups helps gain insights into cultural preferences and behaviours.
  • Localisation: Enhances the relevance and acceptance of a product or service
  • Cultural Awareness Training: Develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and sensitivities.

INSTRUCTIONS

Figure 2.0 Module Information

PROCESS WORK

After deciding the team members, we started brainstorming for ideas that we could think of in a google document.

Figure 3.0 Screenshot of initial brainstorming, Week 1 (04/02/2026)

Then we decided to move the highlighted ideas that we thought were interesting into Canva and created a board for each ideas that contains the problem statement, target audience, solutions, pros and cons, and examples. We also added a few new ideas that we could consider doing for our project.


Figure 3.1 Preliminary Ideas, Week 2 (10/02/2026)

After the tutorial class on week 2, we chose our supervisor and teacher chose 3 ideas from the list that we had and based on that we started on creating slides using Canva for our proposal. We separated into pairs to work on the 3 topics with Xi Tien and Nicole working on the Braille Code on MRTs', Cheyenne and I worked on the Alert System App while Jia Xin and Yee Leng worked on the shaded resting area in Titiwangsa Park.

After some thoughts, we decided to change the Alert System App to the digital public transportation idea we had as it relates more to the topic we want to focus on which is urban mobility in Kuala Lumpur. After discussing with teacher, Mr. Fitri, he accepted our idea and we started on the research and planned our contents in a google document.


Figure 3.2 Content plans for proposal 2 in Google Doc, Week 2 (14/02/2026)

After that, we also wrote down contents for the intro of our presentation in a separate google document. We chose to do the definition of urban mobility and provided examples of urban mobility in Kuala Lumpur. Besides that, we also included the importance of urban mobility along with a few examples from Kuala Lumpur to support the points.


Figure 3.3 Content plans for introduction in google docs, Week 3 (16/02/2026)

After that, Nicole chose a template in Canva that everyone could use for our respective proposal. We then placed our contents into it. We also made some slight adjustments to it and added in text citations to our content.

Final Outcome


Figure 3.4 Proposal Deck, Week 3 (20/02/2026)


Figure 3.5 Video Presentation, Week 3 (20/02/2026)

FEEDBACK

Week 2
Teacher approved 3 ideas from our list and told us we can move on to doing the slides and presentation.

Week 3
Teacher said that the interpretation theme has be more about the Designing Urban Futures topic instead of only urban mobility. Other than that, the ideas are fine.

REFLECTION

Throughout this task, we experienced a few misunderstandings about the requirements at first. However, by frequently consulting our teacher and carefully rereading the module brief, we gained a clearer understanding of how to proceed. This project required extensive research, which helped me become more aware of the urban environment around me and how it shapes everyday life. Besides that, I learned about the challenges faced by different groups, such as the visually impaired, tourists, and pedestrians in urban areas. It was inspiring to see my group members generate creative ideas that could potentially improve the city if implemented. Overall, although we faced difficulties during the process, it was rewarding to see our ideas develop into sketches and I got to realise how small design interventions can make daily life in urban cities more convenient and inclusive.

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