Group members:
Mansi Chottani, Kye Li Chia, Ruoxi Song
Research question:
How can we preserve traditions through games?
Our solution
Introducing traditional games to the public through a local traditional games fest
Date:
3rd July - 24th November 2023
We were thrilled about showcasing our work at LDF. However, persistent bad weather throughout the week resulted in a lower-than-expected turnout. Despite this, we managed to capture valuable interactions between our exhibition and the public, garnering insightful feedback on our designs and suggestions for improvement.
We also faced some unfortunate incidents, including our infographics disappearing and our standees being dismantled. Nevertheless, we gathered valuable insights through the observation of those interacting with our displays, specifically recognising that the dimensions and height of our exhibits presented significant challenges.
Aside from that, we were really excited and nervous about conducting our very first workshop. We printed templates for participants to create their own zines and gathered materials to set up the workshop space.
The workshop began with us introducing ourselves, our exhibit, and explaining the motivation behind our project to the participants. This was followed by our zine-making session, during which we provided prompts and questions for the attendees to answer through drawings. By the end of the session, they each had a completed zine to take home with them.
Our workshop was structured in a way that after the attendees completed each prompt, we encouraged them to discuss what they had drawn or written in their zines, aiming to initiate a group conversation. However, despite our efforts to foster open discussion, the format tended to lean more towards a formal meeting atmosphere than the interactive conversation we envisioned. The attendees frequently provided explanations for their prompts before swiftly moving on, prompting us to realise the need to adopt a different strategy to encourage more meaningful discussions.
At certain stages of the zine making process, we saw a few attendees engaging in spontaneous discussions and making comments about each other's work. It was interesting because they seemed to feel more relaxed and confident when not explicitly prompted to speak, fostering a more natural conversational atmosphere compared to when discussions were guided by specific prompts.
Additionally, we observed that, despite our encouragement for drawing, making, cutting, and sticking, many participants opted for simply writing words. This was unexpected, as we initially assumed people would eagerly embrace the opportunity for more hands-on creative activities. It became apparent that our assumption was rooted in a design-student perspective, overlooking the fact that a significant number of participants did not have a background in design and writing is their main way of illustrating their thoughts.
Note: I was away during the workshop but provided support remotely to the best of my abilities. I am genuinely thankful for my team and for having the opportunity to be part of the entire process leading up to LDF with them.
LDF Learnings:
- Learned to work and communicate with external parties
- Source suitable materials for the design
- Plan and conduct a public interactive workshop
- Design a public interactive exhibtion
- Work within a tight budget
LDF Challenges:
- Displays lack public interaction
- Limitations set by land owner's rules and regulations, cost of materials and weather
- Unable to constantly monitor the displays
Reflection:
This experience has been enlightening, and despite being my first, it has fueled a desire to engage in similar endeavors in the future. Reflecting on our LDF experience, I am eager to undertake future opportunities, armed with the lessons learned, and strive to enhance the quality of both my exhibition and workshops.