design journal

Coming into Studio 1 at the start of this semester I didn’t quite know what to expect, but if there is anything that I can take from it, it would be a better understanding of what the ‘real’ design industry might be like. The lectures acted as major catalyst for me to reconsider what my understanding of design. It also introduced my to a broader range of design areas that didn’t know existed previously. 

Essentials classes really helped provide an insight into the business aspects of design - how things actually happen in the industry. These classes were quite intense with a lot of content being passed onto us that were relevant to the needs and management of projects as designers. At times, I found myself quite overwhelmed, it was a bit of a challenge because of the semi business set up that the classes were arranged in. Though despite the content of these classes being dry in nature, they were really valuable, I felt like I was able to grasp how, in general, projects are managed and what is expected of us in the role of a designer. So despite the lack of creativity we were able to explore in the class like we do in our other classes, I feel like the knowledge we gained was much more valuable and would be helpful for us in the industry.

Throughout the semester, I really enjoyed the overall theme being food! I feel like it is such a universal topic and it was pretty cool how it can be used as a metaphor for describing design and how it fits into the world and our society. In my particular studio, I enjoyed being able to work on one project for the whole semester. It really gave me time to think about how I could continue improving my work and allowed me to do research and put proper thought into my work. Especially because my studio was about culture and our personal experiences, I feel like the studio model really allowed me to explore my own culture in depth. I also found, along the way that I ended up with a redefined understand of my cultural representation, I came to have a stronger connection with who I am as a Vietnamese-Australian. 

I can’t say that it was smooth sailing through all of the studio though, my studio’s brief was quite loosely defined - we could create whatever artefact we wanted. I would say that this was one of my major challenges, it really forced me to make decisions. I am usually quite indecisive, and being offered that I could create anything made me contrarily counter-productive and lost. Through the studio, I came to learn that I really just need to go for it and not doubt myself because I don’t actually know how things will turn out until I try it out. I feel like I would have been able to get more done if I didn’t hold back on ideas because I wasn’t sure if I should do them. Of course, that doesn’t mean I should just do anything without much thought and research, but I often overthink way way too much. In the project, I changed my ideas quite a few times, I learned that this is okay, I need to let myself make errors so that I can keep improving. 

WEEK 13 FOOD EVENT

At last our artefacts are done and ready to present at the studio event. We gathered as a cohort this Monday to exhibit all our work we had been doing for the past semester. It was great to see everything as a whole in the one place. I actually loved how there was such a variety in what each studio had to present, from our own unsouvenir shop set up, to the tacit taste short films and metamorphosis cards, there are a great range in the work presented. It was also interesting to see how some of the projects I had followed throughout the semester either through tumblr or from my friends had developed out to become the final, finished project.

For my studio in particular, we had a cafe like set up going on where we would present our artefacts. So one of the things we did to prep the area was cut out table cloths to go over the tables so that the projects could be easily placed on the table, then we promptly placed our work there alongside others as well. It was quite I simple set up, but I thought it was quite cute with the round tables, like we were viewing the artefacts as the food.

NOSHTALGIA - FINAL PROJECT

ON THE GO VIETNAM

Growing up as a Vietnamese-Australian, I have always felt a strong connection to Vietnamese food culture despite never physically being there. This is much because of the Vietnamese food that my mum still cooks at home as well as the multicultural and fusion food culture I have experienced growing up in Melbourne.

In my final project, I have put a contemporary take to presenting the traditional flavours of Vietnam through a travel pack of uniquely Vietnamese garnishes and seasonings. For me, as much as these ingredients symbolise the tastes that remind me of Vietnam, the whole essence of Vietnamese culture within Melbourne is in the experience itself of being able to experiment and use these flavours in new and exciting ways in other food. 

In these 4 weeks, I was able to learn, in much more detail about what the production timeline entails. I found that there were a lot of things that need to be considered, outside of the designing process, that after something is designed there is also a production stage that takes up quite a lot of time.

At this point my artefact is almost complete, I came in for the final review just to make sure that everything I had done was okay, I also wanted to be able to share my ideas and look at everyone in my class’ work for more insight. 

With all that I had done so far, and upon discussing this with Suzie, I realised that I needed a brief descriptor sheet for my package. This is because I wrote the labels in Vietnamese, so although it is a nice element to the cultural project, its not really self explanatory to others what the condiments are. So I will add that. 

Also, I have ultimately decided to take out the labels on the bottle. Instead, I will just have the circular graphics that I made on the lid. These will help identify the condiments with reference to the descriptor sheet I am going to create. 

Ultimately, I decided to change my sauce bottles to condiment bottles. One of the reasons was because the sauces would get quite messy, if fish sauce was to by chance leak... it would stink a lot to be honest. I also changed it as in the end I felt like the sauces were quite intense products that didn’t necessarily portray the fresh and vibrant culture I was going for. So instead I have picked out three condiments I have grown up with, fried onions, dried chilli and dried citrus assortments. All are things that are put on top of food to enhance the flavours and textures.

I am going to use the Vietnamese name of these in the packaging as well, I think it is a nice way to introduce them as authentic products.

I went back to my transparent materials idea and have decided to incorporate a sheer drawstring pouch that will have inside of it, another pouch made with my pattern fabric, which will then contain my bottles. 

I simply folded the fabric in half, and sewed the two sides of it to make a pouch, I am consciously deciding to leave it unhemmed and raw so that my package maintains that makeshift look to it. 

I feel like the layers of packaging really do make it look more dainty and intricate and act as an appropriate sentiment towards the makeshift culture of Vietnam that I’ve grown up with. 

Also, I didn’t want to just completely abandon my topographical patterns so I have begun to adapt them into swing tags and labels for the packaging.

NOSHTALGIA - work in progress

Maybe I might create a drawstring bag with my patterned fabric?

I really like the simplicity of the bag and it is very portable compared to a furoshiki which might still be bulky and not easily popped in a bag, the drawstring is more compact.