Intercultural Design-Task 3 (Final)

Intercultural Design-Task 3

Zhao Jie,0387076

Intercultural Design GCD61304

Week 05 – Week 07

1.Instructions

2.Task 3 -  Final Project

For Task 3, we are required to develop a final design outcome based on the data collected in Task 2. The project should respond to the given theme by combining cultural and aesthetic perspectives with design knowledge. We are allowed to explore different media, including manual, digital, or mixed approaches, to create an experimental yet practical design solution.

At the same time, we also need to produce a complete presentation that documents the entire process, from the initial proposal to the final outcome, as well as an E-Portfolio that presents our overall project development.

Members(Group36):

• Zhao Jie
• ZhangSiwen
• Wang Zi Han
• ZengYiFei
• Qin Binbin
• Wang Xinyi

Based on the feedback from Task 2, we were asked to select one key intersection in Kuala Lumpur as our main case study. We then created a site analysis map to understand pedestrian flow, traffic movement, and potential conflict points.

After that, we translated our research findings into clear insights and design requirements, and developed 2–3 design iterations to present to Mr Max for feedback.

The following are our three design iterations:

Three design iterations

After discussion, we selected the intersection between Sunway GEO Mall and Sunway Medical Center as our main study site. Based on this, we conducted a more detailed field observation, collected additional photos and videos, and developed a site analysis map of the intersection:

Site analysis map

After receiving feedback from Mr Max, we combined the strengths of our three design iterations, along with insights from the site analysis map and our second round of field study, including additional photos and videos, to develop our final design:

Final design iteration

To better demonstrate how the design would work in a real environment, we also created final design visualisations based on real site photos, including both daytime and nighttime versions:

Final design visualisations
（Daytime）

Final design visualisations
（Night）

Finally, we reviewed and organised our work from Task 1 to Task 3, and structured it into three main sections: Project Introduction, Field Study, and Final Design, which were compiled into a PDF document.

Based on this document, we then recorded our presentation video.

In this task, I was mainly responsible for creating the final design visualisations, contributing to parts of the PDF, and editing the presentation video.

Our Final Project PDF:

Our Presentation Video:

3.Feedback

Mr Max mentioned that our current work is already quite complete, and we can start focusing on improving the presentation.

However, there are a few areas that need further improvement.
Firstly, our design drawings need to clearly show what specific problems each feature is solving. We need to explain the cause-and-effect relationship, instead of only showing the design itself.

He also suggested that we can further combine our design ideas, rather than presenting them separately, and include additional features that also consider drivers, such as visual cues to alert drivers.

In addition, for the presentation, we should briefly go through the earlier tasks instead of starting directly from the final design. We need to explain the full process, from the initial problem and research, to field study, and then to the final design outcome, so that the development of the project is clear and easy to understand.

4.Reflection

[In this task, I was mainly responsible for creating the final design visualisations, contributing to parts of the PDF, and editing the presentation video.]

Looking back at Task 1 to Task 3, we were not only required to come up with creative ideas, but also to support our designs through research and field observations. Throughout the process, I gradually understood that a realistic and feasible design needs to consider user behaviour, environmental conditions, and the actual site context at the same time.

In Task 1, we first identified issues related to urban mobility in Kuala Lumpur and explored several initial ideas. At the beginning, our ideas were quite scattered and focused on different problems. Through continuous discussion, selection, and feedback from Mr Max, our ideas gradually became more focused and developed into a clearer and more meaningful design direction.

In Task 2, we conducted field studies at different locations and times. Observing pedestrians with a research purpose was a very new experience for me. When I actually stood at the intersection and watched both pedestrians and traffic, I realised that many problems cannot be discovered just through imagination or online research. This made me understand the importance of field study. This stage helped us move from assumptions to evidence-based analysis, making our research more convincing. It also helped us discover new needs and problems, which improved our final design.

In Task 3, we translated our research findings into a design solution. We selected a key intersection as our pilot site, created a site analysis map, and went through several rounds of design iterations. During this process, we kept adjusting our design based on what we observed, such as improving signal visibility and making it easier for pedestrians to notice changes. In the end, we combined everything into a final design and created visualisations to show how it would work in a real environment. When we saw the final outcome, we all felt a strong sense of achievement.

As the group leader, I was mainly responsible for managing the overall progress and assigning tasks. During the project, I coordinated group members, followed up on each part, and also took part in design development, final visualisation, material organisation, PDF production, and video editing. At times when the schedule was tight, we had to revise our work multiple times and communicate closely as a team. This experience helped me improve my organisation skills and learn how to work more effectively with others.

Overall, this project helped me build a complete design thinking process from idea to final outcome. It also encouraged me to pay more attention to everyday urban environments and think more critically about how design can create real value in daily life. At the same time, I have started to observe the design around me more actively, such as intersections, signage, and spatial arrangements, and think about whether they truly meet users’ needs.