Minor Project / Compilation Warisan XR

21.04.2025 - 07.08.2025 (Week 1 - Week 16)

Gunn Joey / 0366122

Minor Project / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

Project Compilation

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Instructions

2. Project Compilation 

3. Reflection

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INSTRUCTIONS

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PROJECT COMPILATION

Weekly Progress:

WEEK 3

Contextual Research Board

We began the project by developing a clear understanding of the client, their goals, and the overall context. Our first step was to gather background information to establish a solid foundation before moving into the later stages. This ensured that our decisions would be informed and relevant to the project objectives. As a group, we created a shared Miro board to organise our findings. We divided the work across different areas, with each team member focusing on a specific theme. Since the project, WarisanXR, is a cultural holographic experience developed in collaboration with Muzium Negara and set in Istana Satu, we explored topics such as augmented reality in museums, user engagement, cultural heritage, and the history of the location.

My main focus was on user experience principles related to AR in museums and cultural spaces. I looked into how AR can enhance learning, storytelling, and visitor interaction in these environments. Key principles I explored include intuitive interaction, context-aware design, accessibility, and minimal cognitive load to avoid overwhelming users. I also reviewed case studies of existing AR experiences in museums to understand what worked well and what challenges were common. This research helped me identify opportunities to create meaningful and engaging experiences while respecting the cultural context. These insights will be essential as we continue developing our ideas and design strategies.

Fig: My Contextual Research Board

WEEK 4

Refinement of Contextual Research

This week, we updated our Miro board with more refined insights. For my part, I added additional research on key elements of mixed reality and augmented reality design in museum environments. I explored how these technologies support visitor engagement, cultural learning, and interactive storytelling. Along the way, I also discovered cultural aspects of Malaysia that I had not come across before and was impressed by how well some local exhibitions applied AR in meaningful ways. This research reminded me of how important it is to build a strong foundation before moving into design. Reviewing case studies gave me a clearer view of current practices and common challenges, which will help guide my design decisions in the next stages.

During our consultation, Mr. Mike noted that some of our research areas were still too general. He advised us to narrow our focus and be more specific. Our group worked together to refine our topics and make sure they aligned more closely with the project direction. We then compiled our updated findings into a single, organised Miro board.

Fig: Context Summary

WEEK 5

Finalising Research

This week, we finalised our contextual board, making sure everything was clear, easy to follow, and visually structured. We went through the content carefully to tighten up how our research was presented and to make sure it made sense as a whole. Mr. Mike reviewed our work and gave us useful suggestions on how to improve both the clarity and focus of our research. He pointed out areas that needed more depth or clearer direction, which helped us see where adjustments were needed. After receiving his feedback, our group took the time to support each other. We went through one another’s sections and suggested ways to refine the content. 

Fig: Group Contextual Research

WEEK 6

Survey Questions and Interview Questions

This week, we moved into the user research phase by starting work on our survey. We met as a team to plan out the structure and agreed to divide the questionnaire into different sections, with each person drafting questions for one part. This made the process more manageable and ensured we covered all necessary areas. The survey was divided into the following categories:

• Demographics
• Cultural Interest and Heritage Engagement
• Awareness and Previous Experience with AR/MR
• Motivations and Expectations for Using AR
• Concerns About Using AR
• Introduction to WarisanXR

I handled the fifth section, which focused on participants’ concerns about using AR. My questions aimed to uncover potential discomforts, barriers, or hesitations users might have when interacting with AR in a cultural setting. These insights are important in making sure our design choices consider user needs and limitations.

Fig: Initial Survey Questionnaire

After completing the first draft, Mr. Mike reviewed our work and pointed out that some sections needed clearer wording and stronger direction. We then revised the questionnaire, making several improvements and including a short explanation for why each question was asked. 

Fig: Refined Version of Survey Questionnaire

Once the updated version was approved, we started sharing it online with a goal of collecting 100 responses by next week. We also began preparing interview questions for our upcoming field visit to the National Museum. To save time and reach more people during our visit, my group member created a QR code that links directly to the survey. This allowed visitors at the museum to access the form easily, helping us gather more responses within a shorter time frame.

WEEK 7

Museum Negara Site Visit

By the time we headed to the National Museum, we had already collected about 50 responses, which gave us a good head start. To keep things efficient during the visit, each group member was given a specific role. Jie Xuan and I conducted interviews with visitors, while Ser Chen documented the experience as our videographer. Tze Wei and Chelsea were tasked with reviewing the AR features, taking photos of sections C and D and handing out the survey. Felita covered section B and also helped with survey distribution. I was responsible for photographing section A and assisting in sharing the survey with museum-goers.

As one of the interviewers, I was responsible for preparing the interview materials ahead of our museum visit. I drafted a full list of interview questions and shared them with the group so everyone could review and give feedback before the actual session. This helped us stay aligned and ensured we were asking relevant, clear, and purposeful questions during the interviews. Having clearly assigned roles made it easier for us to stay organised and make the most of our time on-site.

Fig: Interview Questions I Prepared

Fig: Group Video Taken in Museum Negara

Fig: Interview Video

WEEK 8

Define Stage

After completing my research, I took time to organise everything and identify the most relevant points. I narrowed it down to the top five insights that I felt had the most value and potential impact on our project. These key takeaways covered important aspects of AR use in cultural spaces, including how it improves visitor interaction, supports learning, and enhances the overall experience. Summarising my findings in this way helped me stay focused on what really matters and made it easier to communicate these points to the rest of the team.

Fig: Group Insights Discovery

Fig: Top 5 Research Findings

After completing our research and wrapping up our visit to the museum, we moved forward with synthesising our findings. As a team, we finalised the problem statement, empathy map, and “How Might We” statement. These elements helped us clearly define the users’ needs, frustrations, and opportunities for improvement, giving us a stronger direction for the next phase of the project.

Fig: Crafting problem statement

Fig: Empathy map

Fig: How Might We

WEEK 9

Istana Satu Site Visit

Fig: Site Visit Video

This week, we met with our client Justin from WarisanXR and visited Istana Satu. We also tested the AR glasses to better understand the user experience and technical setup. Unfortunately, Jie Xuan and Chelsea were unable to join due to a scheduling conflict. 

Fig: Me Testing AR Glasses

Assigned Tasks:

• All members: Photograph and analyse the interior of Istana Satu, focusing on lighting conditions, space measurements, and traditional motifs.

• User Journey Mapping:
•  Museum Entrance & Car Park (Me, Ser Chen)
• MRT & Museum Exit (Janaan, Tze Wei, Felita)

• Client Interview: Interview Mr. Justin to gather insights on project expectations and technical requirements (Me, Ser Chen)

Client Interview Completed by me(Joey) and Ser Chen:

Fig: Me Interviewing Mr.Justin

User Journey Mapping taken by Ser Chen and I:

 

Fig: Car Park User Journey Mapping

 

Fig: Main Entrance User Journey Mapping

WEEK 10

Proposal Refinement & Feedback

This week, Ser Chen and I were assigned specific responsibilities by our group leader. I researched traditional Malay cultural patterns for inspiration and hand-drew the UI buttons in Procreate, incorporating these elements into the designs for an authentic touch. Throughout the project, Ser Chen and I collaborated on the entire art direction, sharing the workload equally and completing every task on time. Together, we discussed and researched visual styles that best matched the Mak Yong theme, ensuring the visuals were culturally relevant, consistent, and visually cohesive.

Fig: My Hand-drawn Progress in Procreate

Fig: Moodboard

Fig: Color Palette

Fig: Typography

Fig: Typography

Fig: UI Button

In addition to our main tasks, we also assisted our teammates with the decoration work. By supporting each other and sharing the workload, we ensured that every detail was in place and that the team was well-prepared for our upcoming presentation with the client.

Fig: Decorations

Fig: Decorations

Proposal Presentation and Client Feedback:

The client shared valuable feedback, emphasizing the importance of developing a stronger rationale for selecting Mak Yong and establishing a clear connection to our user research and target audience. They suggested refining the design to attract a younger demographic, increasing interactivity through elements like gamification, and maintaining consistent storytelling and branding across the project.

WEEK 11

Ideation Shift: Introducing “Mak Yong”

This week, our sub-teams worked on improving the proposal based on the client’s feedback.

• Research & Content Team (Felita, Me - Joey)
• Visual Design Team (Janaan, Ser Chen)
• UX & Interaction Team (Chelsea, Tze Wei)
• Mak Yong Pelakon Interview (Jie Xuan)

After discussing with Felita, I worked on the rationale and key findings about the cultural decline and preservation of Mak Yong. To make the conclusion clearer, I summarised my findings. All our research statements were supported by case studies, and we included reference links in our research and content board.

Fig: Rationale

Fig: Key findings about the cultural decline and preservation of Mak Yong

Fig: Summary of Key Findings

Fig: Case Studies Link

WEEK 12

Rethinking Direction

We needed to connect our user research more clearly to our choice of Mak Yong, beyond just its status as a forgotten art form or a UNESCO heritage. The visual design had to feel culturally authentic while still appealing to youth. We also lacked a solid interaction plan and missed chances to add gamified features. The client encouraged us to reach out to real Mak Yong practitioners and even suggested exploring volumetric capture for a performance. This feedback made us realize that, while our idea had potential, it needed deeper cultural grounding and a clearer strategy to truly engage our youth audience.

WEEK 13

Presentation Slides Refinement

We faced some uncertainty with the colour palette and overall art direction, which led to a temporary pause. Chelsea stepped in and proposed a bold retro cyberpunk aesthetic that pairs perfectly with Mak Yong’s vibrant, neon costumes. This style merges the traditional brightness of Mak Yong with futuristic, helped Mak Yong resonate more strongly with the younger target audience, aligning with the client’s feedback.

Fig: Moodboard

Fig: Moodboard

Fig: Colour Palette and Typography

Fig: Gamification References 

WarisanXR G1 Proposal

WEEK 14

Graphic Team Progress

This week, our group leader, Jie Xuan, assigned specific tasks to each member to ensure smooth progress. Ser Chen and I were placed in charge of the graphic team, where our role is to develop and refine the visual elements of the project. 

To start the task, Ser Chen and I planned to sketch several motifs that could be incorporated into our graphics. These motifs would serve as distinctive visual elements, giving Mak Yong’s titled poster a unique and recognizable identity. By integrating culturally inspired designs, we aim to make the poster not only visually appealing but also reflective of Mak Yong’s heritage, ensuring it stands out as a symbolic representation of the theme.

Fig: Elements Sketch

These graphic elements are just initial sketches to help us better identify which ones will become the main focus for our final design elements. They serve as a visual guide, allowing us to experiment and decide which motifs best represent Mak Yong’s essence before moving into the detailed design stage.

After experimenting with the poster, Ser Chen and I sent our work to our group members, Janaan and Chelsea, to get feedback and refine our design. We value their strong artistic sense and admire the way they approach their own tasks, so their input was important in helping us improve the poster.

Fig: Suggestion from Janaan

WEEK 15

Graphic Refinement

In the refining process, Janaan suggested that Ser Chen and I incorporate some pink tones into our poster design so it would better align with the mascot’s colour scheme and create a more cohesive overall look. Chelsea, on the other hand, recommended that we enhance the graphics with a more tech-inspired style to strengthen the cyberpunk aesthetic we had established earlier. Taking both of their feedback into consideration, we carefully refined the graphics, adjusting colours, shapes, and detailing to match their suggestions. This not only helped us maintain visual consistency across all our group’s design work but also ensured our poster felt more polished and aligned with the vibrant, modern direction of the project.

Fig: Graphic Poster

Fig: Graphic Poster

Fig: Directional Stickers

Fig: Ticket Front and Back

WEEK 16

Preparing For Presentation

Ser Chen and I are still in the process of refining our graphic artwork based on the feedback we received from Mr. Mike and our group members. After making several adjustments, we shared the updated designs again in our group chat to gather further input. This time, we followed Janaan’s suggestion to incorporate meaningful slogans about Mak Yong into the posters. The aim was to create a stronger emotional connection to the cultural roots of Mak Yong, making the posters not only visually striking but also more meaningful and relevant to the tradition itself. By adding these slogans, we hoped to make the designs feel more authentic, memorable, and engaging for our target audience.

Fig: Feedback from Group Member

Final Presentation Slides:

WarisanXR G1 Final Presentation 

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REFLECTION

Experience

Throughout this module, I was deeply involved in the graphic design process for the Mak Yong project. Working alongside Ser Chen as part of the graphic team, we began by brainstorming and sketching various motifs that could represent Mak Yong in a visually compelling way. These initial sketches served as the foundation for our poster designs, ensuring they had a distinctive and recognizable identity. After developing the first drafts, we shared them with our teammates, Janaan and Chelsea, whose artistic strengths we greatly admired. Their insights encouraged us to refine our designs further. Janaan suggested incorporating a pink tone to better align with our mascot, while Chelsea recommended integrating more technological elements for a cyberpunk feel. We implemented both suggestions, blending cultural motifs with modern aesthetics. This process taught me how collaborative feedback can elevate a design and ensure it meets both creative and thematic goals.

Observations

One of my key observations was how important visual consistency is when working as part of a larger creative team. Although each member worked on different aspects of the project, aligning our styles and color palettes created a more unified outcome. I also noticed how feedback could reveal overlooked opportunities. For example, adding slogans about Mak Yong, as Janaan later suggested, gave the posters a stronger cultural and emotional connection. Observing the work of others made me more aware of how different design choices, such as color harmony and motif integration, could influence the target audience’s perception. Additionally, seeing how our cyberpunk approach evolved based on client feedback showed me that adapting design direction to better balance tradition with modernity can significantly enhance audience appeal.

Findings

Through this experience, I found that the design process benefits greatly from early experimentation and openness to revision. Starting with hand-drawn sketches allowed us to explore possibilities without restriction, while consistent peer and lecturer feedback kept our work aligned with project goals. I also learned that combining cultural authenticity with contemporary design trends can successfully attract a younger audience without losing the essence of the tradition. Incorporating pink tones, technological textures, and culturally inspired motifs made our designs more vibrant and relevant. Furthermore, I discovered that small additions, like slogans, can deepen the impact of visual storytelling. Overall, the project reinforced the value of teamwork, iteration, and balancing creativity with cultural respect.