Collaborative Design Practice / Task 1
29.8.2023 - 12.9.2023 (Week 1 - Week 3)
Moey Jo Min (0350567)
Collaborative Design Practice / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 1
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Moey Jo Min (0350567)
Collaborative Design Practice / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 1
Jump Links
- INSTRUCTIONS
- RESEARCH
- PROCESS
- FEEDBACK
- NEXT COURSE OF ACTION
- SUBMISSION
- REFLECTION
INSTRUCTIONS
The tasks for this module will be in groups. We are collaborating with
students from the Business School this semester. For task 1, we are required
to create an empathy map and problem statement based on the proposed idea from
the Business School students.
Fig 1.1 Team 2 Project Brief (29.8.2023)
This is the project brief that we got from the Team 2 Business School
Students. The idea of the project is to market bamboo cups with the aim of
sustainable lifestyle. The design school students are in charged of branding
the product.
RESEARCH
Fig 2.1 Bamboo Cup and Bamboo Fiber Cup (30.8.2023)
There are generally two types of bamboo cups that can be found in the market.
One is made purely out of bamboo, the other is made out of bamboo fiber,
resin and non-GMO corn starch. Both of these bamboo cups are reusable,
durable, and biodegradable. The biggest difference between the two is that the
bamboo fiber cups are more flexible in terms of creating the appearance (shape
and color), while bamboo cups are more restricted due to the natural shape of
bamboo.
Fig 2.2 Bamboo plant structure (30.8.2023)
To make sure my knowledge on how the inner part of bamboos look like is
correct, I searched about it on the internet. Since the natural shape of
bamboo makes it very limited to create exquisite design and I want to try
making it more unique, I did some research on some bamboo cup designs
available in the market.
Fig 00 JSL Craft - Outdoor Cup (30.8.2023)
I came across this brand from Taiwan that makes bamboo cups for outdoor
activities like camping. It is interesting that they use a piece of string to
attach a small piece of bamboo to the cup, creating the handle. However,
during the meeting with TBS students, they mentioned that they want something
like a Starbucks cup, which has no handle. So, cups with handle might not be
what they expected.
Fig 2.3 RIVERET Bamboo Products (30.8.2023)
RIVERET official site: https://www.riveret.jp/
RIVERET is a Japanese brand that produces bamboo products including different
types of cup, plates, and cutlery. Unlike normal bamboo cups that I found on
the Internet, their bamboo products are able to overcome the limit of the
natural shape of bamboos.
It is not indicated in their website about how they managed to carve such
shapes out of bamboo. Based on my observation, I suppose they laid multiple
pieces of solid bamboo and "glued" them together into a big chunk of bamboo,
and carved it.
The design of their cups are really nice. However, the process heavily relies
on skillful craftsmen to manufacture, which increases the cost. The lowest
price of their products sold on Amazon are above RM 100, which is not what our
client are aiming for.
PROCESS
WEEK 1
Fig 3.1 Project Brief - Team 2 G.E.M. (29.8.2023)
We have formed our groups in week 1. My group members are Evaleez (group
leader), Britney, Cecelia, Cheryl, Siew Ni, and Vernice. We will be working on
this project named "G.E.M." proposed by the Business School students. The
Green Earth Movement (G.E.M.) will be selling bamboo cups, which requires us
design students to help branding.
Fig 3.2 Week 1 Meeting with TBS - PDF (29.8.2023)
We were supposed to discuss the project during class. However, our
collaborators were having class at the same time that they could not join the
discussion. So, we created a WhatsApp group chat and rescheduled the meeting
at 9pm, which all of us are available.
We listed down some questions that we would like to clarify with our
collaborators, the PDF shown in Fig 3.2 are the important notes that we jotted
down.
Fig 3.3 Task Allocation - Branding (29.8.2023)
During the meeting, our collaborators mentioned that they will need us to
provide the design of the bamboo cups, art direction for the branding, logo
design, packaging design, and a website. We quickly distributed the job based
on our specializations, abilities, and strengths, even though this should be
done when we move on to Task 2.
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Fig 3.4 Cup Design 3D Models (1.9.2023)
Since our collaborators don't have the exact visuals of the product, we are in
charged of designing and modelling the bamboo cups.
During the meeting with our collaborators, they mentioned that their target
audience will be people in the low-mid income range, but the price of the
bamboo cups will be RM30-RM40 excluding customized engravings. The reference
image of the bamboo cups that they shared with us are normal bamboo cups, that
could be bought less than RM10 on online shopping platforms.
At that point of time we haven't done much research on bamboo cups and our
target audience, so we did not point out the issue. There wasn't much work to
do during week 1, so I tried modelling some cups during my free time. I made
three designs in total. The first one is pretty much something like the
reference image given by TBS students. The second design, I tried remaining
the natural shape of bamboos, and I quite like the slightly curved in part of
the cup. However, the protruding parts on the outside of the bamboo are
solid on the inside, so I came up with the third design, which makes more
sense.
During the meeting on week 2 (5/9) with TBS students, they said that design 1
with lid (the one in a green box) is the direction of how they want the cup to
be.
Fig 3.5 Task Allocation - Task 1 (2.9.2023)
We distributed the parts for Task 1 in order to come up with the empathy map
and the problem statement.
Fig 3.6 Research done by Vernice and Cheryl (2.9.2023)
Vernice and Cheryl are in charged of the research part. They did some research
on bamboo cups, market research, and competitors. The findings are shared with
the team through our group's Miro board.
Fig 3.7 Art Direction by Cecelia - Graphic Design (4.9.2023)
Cecelia, being our group's only graphic design student, started working on the
art direction on week 1. The slides shown above is not the final version, as
this is not part of Task 1. Our collaborators mentioned that they want a
Olive/Matcha green color palette. The art direction for the branding will be
minimalistic and playful. For the logo, a logotype is fine, but with bamboo
elements in it sounds great.
Fig 3.8 Survey Questions Draft 1 (2.9.2023)
Britney and I are in charged of the survey. We created the survey questions in
a Google Docs first, as it is easier for us to look at. This is the first
draft of the survey questions.
Fig 3.9 Personas (3.9.2023)
Evaleez and Siew Ni are in charged of the personas. Our group created four
personas from different perspectives.
- Pick a time that everyone in the group (TDS and TBS) is available for our first meeting
- Research: bamboo cups, market research, competitors, etc.
- Survey questionnaire
- Persona
WEEK 2
Fig 4.1 Miro Board (3.9.2023)
Our group uses Miro board to compile everything, so that it will be easier for
our own references as well as for the weekly tutorial session.
Fig 4.2 Second Meeting with TBS Students (5.9.2023)
We had our second meeting with TBS students to further discuss on some details
regarding the product. As there is time limit for both Zoom and Google Meet,
our group created a Discord server for meetings.
Fig 4.3 Finalized Survey Questions (5.9.2023)
We modified the survey questions based on the feedback received during
consultation. The above is the finalized survey questions presented in Google
Docs.
Fig 4.4 Screenshot of Google Forms (9.9.2023)
We created the survey questionnaire using Google Forms and distributed it to
our friends and family. We received 63 responses in total.
Fig 4.5 Survey Analysis (9.9.2023)
After a few days sending out the survey, Britney and I analyzed the data for
each question.
Fig 4.6 Empathy Map (9.9.2023)
This is the empathy map created by Evaleez according to the personas. After
the presentation on week 3, we were given feedback that our survey target and
the empathy map findings do not connect with each other.
Fig 4.7 Problem Statement (9.9.2023)
We referred to how we did the problem statement in Minor Project module and
came up with the one shown above. After the presentation for Task 1, we were
given feedback that they problem statement is too general.
Fig 4.8 Presentation Slides (9.9.2023)
We had a meeting on Discord to finalize the slides for the presentation.
Later on, we distributed the parts for the presentation, so each members
gets a chance to speak.
Fig 4.9 Project Document - Google Docs (10.9.2023)
We finalized the project document in Google Docs based on the framework
provided in myTIMeS.
Week 2 Feedback:
- It is good to see that there are personas of different backgrounds with different standpoint.
- Communicate with TBS students about the pricing as it is too expensive for the target audience, plus the market price is way lower.
- Finalize survey questionnaire by today (5/9) and send them out.
- The art direction should be discussed during task 2.
- [TBS]: The font Borax feels a bit too bold. The cup design will be something similar to design 1 with lid.
Week 2 Next Course of Action:
- Finalize the survey and send out by today (5/9).
- Discuss with TBS students about the pricing of the bamboo cups.
- Prepare empathy map, problem statement, presentation slides, project document for next week's presentation and submission (12/9).
WEEK 3
Fig 5.1 Project Document - Google Slides (11.9.2023)
We double checked on the submission message Ms Lilian sent in the group chat
before the presentation, and we realized that we should submit the project
document in the form of slides instead of Google Docs. So, we moved what we
have in the Project Document Google Docs into Google Slides.
On the next day, we had our Task 1 Presentation with our TBS collaborators.
I felt a bit pity that only one or two of them from TBS Team 2 joined that
the rest did not get to see our progress. There are some flaws in our
content, and we hope to make improvements on that for our future
references.
Week 3 Feedback:
Task 1:
- The verbal presentation and the slides are clear
- The problem statement is too general
- The survey demographics and the personas don't connect with each other
- We can make amendments for our own references, it won't be graded
Task 2:
- The typeface "Borax" could be used for the headings for posters, website, etc., but Ms Lilian also agrees with our collaborators that it isn't suitable for the logo.
- Ask the TBS students what they think about cup design 2 and 3, since the design is more interesting compared to the one they had chosen (design 1 with lid).
- The customizable cup idea sounds good, further discuss with the TBS students about the features.
Week 3 Next Course of Action:
- Prepare Task 1 blog and Weekly Assessment for next week's submission (19/9)
- Decide what needs to be done for the branding
- Modify cup design
- Create mood board for branding art direction
SUBMISSION
Fig 6.1 Presentation Slides (12.9.2023)
Fig 6.2 Project Document Slides (12.9.2023)
REFLECTION
Experience:
The project for this semester is very similar to what I have done for Minor
Project module in the previous semester. Although it is not highly associated
with my specialization (digital animation), I think that it is a good
opportunity for me to sharpen my graphic design skills, which could be helpful
for my future career. Since the project will be carried out in the form of
groups, I was really worry that there will be someone in the group who will go
missing in action. Luckily, I know most of my teammates before, and from my
observation they are responsible people, which I am very grateful for. I hope
that we can work together and deliver the best that we can. For the
assignment, it was a bit confusing at first, as our group is expected to
produce the product designs besides the branding. Despite that, we managed to sort things out at the end. Our group made quite some mistakes in Task 1, I hope
that we will perform better in the following assignments.
Observation:
My communication skills have improved slightly through this module, hope that
I will get better throughout the semester. I found that the timeline for Task
1 is a bit short, but I totally understand that it is to ensure that we meet
the deadline for the Innofest. The atmosphere of the class is quite relaxed, I don't feel overly anxious while having consultations.
Findings:
I tend to speak less when I am with a group of people, but I think I have improved this semester. To further improve, I should hesitate less whenever there is a question. In addition, I think my time management skills need to be improved since we have tight deadlines for this module. I should speed up my working pace to make sure every task for all modules is done on time and presented in the highest quality that I am capable of.
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