What - Why - How - What-if
WWHI Proposal
This proposal will define the purpose of my project; my subject area, motivation, methodology and research strategy. It shows my personal goals and passions that are based on the research question. The " What - Why - How - What-if" indicates four different of the planned project that shows a clear and coherent of my research journey.
WHAT?
What is the subject or area that you intend to research? What is the precise question that you will be addressing?
Feng Shui is a practice that has affected the well-being of people living all over the
countries of East Asia. Feng Shui focuses on the connection of humans to th eir environment
which promot ing positive energy and well being (Wang 1991 G ood fortune object
decorations are part of Feng Shui belie f that people still use as home decorations
N owadays these objects are considered outdated and do not match the modern interior
design. T he new generation sees Feng Shui practice as superstitious, irrational and
undeve loped . This project aims to address this design conflict with the question:
How can traditional Feng Shui objects be tr ansformed in to a modern style?
WHY?
Why will this research be of value to you - and the world?
Due to the conflict between traditional beliefs of Feng Shui principle and modern design, the challenge of this project is to reconcile traditional beliefs with modern living, and change people’s perspectives to reflect the essence of Feng Shui. The design will bend two different perceptions, reduce the gaps between them and promote balance and harmony. This project undertaking is of particular value to me because personally having a new generation’s perspective, I need to step into the uncertain and unknown area of traditional principles and can find what the perception gap is in order to address it.
HOW?
How will you accomplish your project in practical terms? What will be your methodology, management strategy, and schedule?
The project will follow the project management process using a design methodology that is aimed at finding solutions to problems. The first stage is researching; primary research and secondary research, and contextualizing to understand the problem. This involves consulting experts in Feng Shui experts, product designers, and members of the general people to understand the issue. The next step is the design thinking process. In this case, this project will use techniques such as mind mapping, sketching, and provocation as the method to help to find a way of testing. Then, at this stage, the project can create prototypes to test and intervene with stakeholders in the integration of insights into a design. I will use the prototype as a tool to test the changes that will occur or how people will experience something new. For example, I will create a modern Feng Shui product with different shapes, colors, and materials, from the traditional product, and ask people; How they feel about this design, and keep feedback for developing ideas. This process will use action research (Figure 1) as the cycle incorporates the process of planning, action, observing, and reflecting with the end result being the development of new practices and will follow the schedule outline(Figure 2).
WHAT-IF?
What are the positive implications and potential if you achieve this mastery? How will this position you (and your stakeholders) at the end of the Course?
If this project is successful, it will make the good luck objects more responsive to the new generation and it might change people’s perspectives to understand the essence of Feng Shui principle rather than consider it as superstition. Moreover, the implication of this project is to reduce the radical bias of design that relates to the beliefs of a new generation. The purpose of this project will allow the design to be open to perception and new ways of understanding. Finally, researching this project will help me refine the methodology and management strategy in the design process.