Intercultural Design - Final Project & Portfolio

08/03/2025 - 21/03/2025 (Week 6 - Week 7)
Samantha Kristalyn / 0373905
Intercultural Design / Bachelors of Design (Honors) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Project 3: Final Project & Portfolio 

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JUMPLINKS

1. LECTURES

2. INSTRUCTIONS

3. TASK

4. FEEDBACK

5. REFLECTION

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LECTURES

There are no lectures during Week 6 until Week 7.

We were told to finish up our final presentation.

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INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK

Project 3: Final Project & Portfolio

MAIN OBJECTIVES

1.  Analyze how  the everyday driving culture can cause traffic, and what other aspects contributes towards it.

2. Improve traffic and create a better driving culture by inventing a more accessible traffic sign that is easier to follow.

In this project, we are going to finalize our idea, compiling it into a set of information and data.

To view our initial proposal and research, click here to view Project 1's blog.

To access the results of our data collection, click here to view Project 2's blog.

For the final project, we were all tasked to create a TikTok account that holds all of the research and output of our task. The TikTok account that we are posting them in will be a compilation of videos based on our work that we have worked on for the task within the semester. As our main topic is about the everyday design, we as a group have decided to pick the main focus of traffic signs in Indonesia as a point of interest. 

We emphasized how traffic is so prevalent not only in Indonesia, but throughout various densely populated countries like Malaysia as well, that it has became a culture of its own. Bad driving habits has contributed to the horrible traffic across the countries that it has turned into an everyday culture. 

As a group, we decided to tackle one of the sign that has contributed to the horrible congestion and bad driving culture, which is the “Belok Kiri Jalan Terus” (Turn left, continue straight) sign.

FURTHER RESEARCH

Upon observing the impact of the "Belok Kiri Jalan Terus" (Turn Left, Continue Straight) sign, we realized that while the intention behind the sign is to keep traffic flowing, in practice, it often causes confusion and risky maneuvers. Many drivers misunderstand the sign's meaning, or even have a hard time reading and processing the information quick enough to keep the traffic flowing smoothly. 

Many times, this has led to frequent near-collisions, honking, and sudden braking, which not only slows down traffic flow but creates tension and road rage, further embedding bad driving habits into our everyday driving culture.   

Fig. 3.1, Traffic congestion

Further Causes of Traffic Congestion from Driving Culture:

Traffic congestion is also often worsened by driving culture issues such as impatience and rule-bending, where drivers cut lanes or ignore right-of-way signs. Inconsistent driving behavior, due to varied interpretations of traffic rules, also leads to unpredictable movements on the road. Many drivers rely on informal signals like honking instead of proper signage, weakening the traffic system. Limited driver education and poorly designed or unclear road signs further contribute to confusion and congestion.

FINAL SOLUTION

Proposed Solution: A More Accessible and Intuitive Sign

Our main goal was to create a traffic sign design that is more visually distinct, intuitive, and easier to process in real-time driving situations. We recognized that conventional text-based signs often require more cognitive effort and delay driver reaction times, especially in busy or fast-paced traffic environments. This can lead to confusion, hesitation, and even unsafe driving behavior.

Fig. 3.2, Improving Road Safety Signage Article by JTI News

After conducting detailed research and combining ideas from all group members, we developed a series of redesigned signs that prioritize clarity and visual communication. The proposed signs utilize pictograms with simplified directional arrows and symbolic cues that can be interpreted instantly by drivers without the need to read and process lengthy text. In addition, we included elements such as color-coded indicators and traffic light symbols to provide contextual guidance—making it easier for drivers to understand when it is safe or necessary to proceed, yield, or stop.

Fig. 3.3, Final digitalized pictogram-based designs by our group for "Belok Kiri Jalan Terus"

By digitizing these outcomes, we aimed to visualize how such improvements could be implemented in real-life traffic systems. The designs are intended not only to improve readability but also to promote safer driving behavior and reduce the cognitive load on drivers.

These signs can be especially effective in multicultural or multilingual contexts, such as in Indonesia or Malaysia, where language diversity may hinder comprehension of text-based signs. This proposed solution supports the broader goal of improving traffic efficiency and fostering a better, more responsible driving culture.

TIKTOK CONTENT

As we were told to upload informational content on our TikTok account, we have uploaded up to five videos so far.

Our TikTok account consists of educational videos in various formats. We have created and uploaded videos such as:

1. Public Reaction Interviews: asking drivers how they interpret traffic signs and what they think of the redesign,

2. Educational Snippets: short, engaging videos explaining the meaning of misunderstood traffic signs and promoting better driving etiquette,

3. Informational Reel: a compilation of stock videos and information regarding our topic,

and so on. 

Fig. 3.4, Final TikTok videos in multiple formats

From uploading these TikToks, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of clear and effective traffic signage, especially in densely populated areas like Indonesia. By presenting information in an accessible and engaging format, we aim to educate the public, encourage better driving behavior, and spark conversations around the need for improved traffic design. Our goal is not only to inform but also to influence a shift in driving culture, promoting safer roads through better understanding and more intuitive sign systems. Through social media, we believe we can reach a broader audience and make a meaningful impact beyond traditional educational methods.

Fig. 3.5, Our group's TikTok page

Click here to view our TikTok page (@roadcritics).

To sum it all up, we created some final presentation slides to present the output of our whole project. Below is the PDF form of our PPT slides. 

Final PPT:

Presentation Video:

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FEEDBACK

Week 6

Our group decided not to seek any external feedback this week, as we have developed a clear understanding of our individual and group responsibilities. We were focused on finalizing our work and ensuring that all components of the project are completed efficiently.

Week 7 (No classes or consultation)

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REFLECTION

Experience

Throughout this module, I have gained valuable insights into the intersection of design, culture, and user experience. Our group project on traffic signs in Indonesia provided practical experience in researching real-world problems and developing a practical design solution. The process of analyzing driving culture, identifying key pain points, and proposing a more intuitive signage system was challenging, but thanks to our collective teamwork, we got to finish our project quickly and it felt very rewarding. Additionally, creating educational TikTok content to communicate our findings allowed us to experiment with different media formats and understand how to present complex and educational information in a more engaging way.   

Observation

Throughout the module, I observed that effective communication in design is not solely dependent on aesthetics but heavily relies on clarity, cultural understanding, and user-centric functionality. Our exploration of traffic signs in Indonesia highlighted how easily misunderstood signage can contribute to unsafe driving behavior and traffic congestion. I also noticed that public perception and comprehension vary significantly depending on the form of communication—whether text or pictograms. The engagement on platforms like TikTok also revealed how social media can serve as a powerful tool in spreading awareness and influencing behavior through accessible content.

Moreover, teamwork and cross-cultural collaboration played an essential role in developing our project. Group discussions, research contributions, and peer insights enriched the final outcome. I learned how different perspectives; especially from individuals from different countries, provided valuable context and helped us evaluate the problem more holistically.

Findings

1. The importance of intuitive design:

Simplicity and clarity is a very important aspect in design, especially when dealing with public infrastructure such as road signs.

2. Cultural and behavioral factors impact design effectiveness:

Design effectiveness does not only come from its aesthetics and physical form, but also on how the public perceives the design itself. Culture and behavior also takes an important role  on the effectiveness of communicating the design's purpose.  

3. Social media is a powerful tool, even for education:

By utilizing TikTok, we were able to present out research and solutions in an accessible way, making design education more engaging for a broader audience.  

Strengths and Weaknesses

My Strengths:

I excelled in research and critical analysis. I was able to identify key issues, contribute meaningful insights, and help translate complex data into easily understandable visuals. 

My Weaknesses:

Time management was a huge challenge, especially in balancing design work, research, and video production. Additionally, while our project provided a strong theoritical solution, testing the redesigned signs in real-world traffic conditions would have strengthened our argument further. However, we could not really find the proper sources and time to do it since we only had seven weeks for this project. 

How Have I Changed After Taking This Module?

This module has reshaped my understanding of how design influences everyday life. I have developed a more critical eye for the usage of intercultural design that I witness in my everyday life. I have also became more confident in collaborative research and multimedia presentation, both of which are valuable skills for future projects.  

If I Could Improve This Module, It Would Be.... 

One improvement that I would make is incorporating more hands-on fieldwork or usability testing. While our research was thorough, real-life driver reactions to our redesigned signs would have provided deeper insights into their effectiveness.