Intercultural Design: Final Project
Low Yu Kai | 0381377
Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Intercultural Design
Mr. Asrizal
Task 3: Final Project
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Instructions
2. Process Work
3. Feedback
4. Reflection
1. Instructions
2. Process work
The project focuses on improving accessibility for visually impaired people in urban environments. Based on our research and field research in Kuala Lumpur, especially around the Kuala Lumpur business district, we aim to identify the problems they face in their daily travel and propose design solutions to improve their experience.
Through our research and observation, we have found that visually impaired individuals face many difficulties when moving in cities.
First, the blind path is often incomplete or abruptly interrupted, making it difficult for users to determine where to go. In some cases, it is also blocked by cars, motorcycles, signs, or other objects, forcing users to leave the safe path.
Secondly, even if the blind path is relatively complete, there are still many hidden dangers, such as uneven sidewalks, drainage ditches, and poorly maintained sidewalks. These are very dangerous for visually impaired users.
Additionally, most navigation apps are not designed for blind people. They do not provide sufficient accessible paths or obstacle information, making it difficult for users to travel safely and independently.
Fig 2.1 Problem Analysing
To raise public awareness of these issues, our group created a series of three public welfare posters.
Poster 1: Safe Blind Paths
This poster emphasizes the importance of the blind path. We use visual metaphors to indicate that broken or blocked paths may pose dangers and affect the safety of visually impaired users.
Fig 2.2 Poster 1
Poster 2: Advocating for the Blind
This poster depicts a real-life dangerous situation where a blind path is blocked by a hazardous obstacle. It aims to make people aware of how serious these issues can be in daily life.
Fig 2.3 Poster 2
This poster focuses on hope and support. It shows how society and community can help the visually impaired, in line with our design.
Fig 2.4 Poster 3
After identifying the issue, we developed a conceptual design for a mobile application called EchoPath. The goal of the application is to help visually impaired users navigate cities more safely and independently through voice guidance. Echo represents sound and voice guidance, and path represents direction and movement.
Application Name and Logo
The name "EchoPath" combines two concepts: The logo includes elements such as location markers, sound waves, and paths, representing navigation and audio guidance support.
User Interface Design and User Experience
Fig 2.5 EchoPath Logo
The application adopts a simple and clear interface design. It uses:
- High-contrast colors
- Large fonts
- Minimalist layout
Fig 2.6 UI Design
Voice Navigation is the core feature of this application. Users can:
Video Call (Become Your Eyes)
In conclusion, this project emphasizes the importance of inclusive design in urban environments. Through research, visual communication, and conceptual design, we aim to raise awareness among people about improving accessibility and provide potential solutions. We believe that design should not only be functional but also inclusive, helping everyone navigate the city safely and independently.
Week 6: In Week 6, our group focused on developing our design ideas based on our previous research. We discussed the directions and ideas for the final project and decided to create a few posters to raise people's awareness of the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals.- Get real-time routes
- Receive alerts about obstacles
- Use voice commands
Fig 2.7 Voice Navigation
One important feature of this app is the video call function. This app is open for everyone; normal users can use this app as a basic navigation app, and visually impaired users can connect with other users for help. The helper can see the surroundings and guide them in real time. This feature helps improve safety and provides support when needed. This function also includes a rating system; users can rate each other for a better user environment.
Fig 2.8 Become Your Eyes
In conclusion, this project emphasizes the importance of inclusive design in urban environments. Through research, visual communication, and conceptual design, we aim to raise awareness among people about improving accessibility and provide potential solutions. We believe that design should not only be functional but also inclusive, helping everyone navigate the city safely and independently.
3. Feedback
We collaborated at school to design the posters. Each member contributed to the visuals, layout, and information. We also referred to our field photos and research results to ensure the design was meaningful and relevant to real-world issues.
By the end of the weekend, we had developed the main concepts for all three posters and began refining the visual style and composition.
Week 7: We focused on completing the final designs and preparing our presentation. We continued to improve the poster designs and made adjustments based on feedback and discussions.
Meanwhile, we began working on developing our application concept — EchoPath. We assigned tasks to team members, including logo design, interface layout, voice navigation functionality, and one-click video call functionality.
Everyone was responsible for different parts, and we collaborated to integrate all elements into a complete design. Finally, we compiled the work into a presentation, ensuring everything was clear and ready for demonstration.
4. Reflection
At this stage, we are still exploring different design directions, thinking about how to most effectively convey our visual ideas. This process helps us reflect on how design can address real-world social issues. Looking ahead, we hope to translate our research findings into meaningful design outcomes, promoting more inclusive and accessible urban environments.
According to our research, our group plans to jointly develop the final design in the form of a poster and conceptualize public facility ideas that can improve accessibility.
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