Design Research Methodology Weekly

22.04.2025 - 29.06.25 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Task (Exercises / Task)

Design Research Methodology / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

Emily Ong Su Yu / 0365304   

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Table of Contents

1. Instructions

3. Projects Process & Feedbacks

4. Final Outcome

5. Reflections

Design research methodology ExerciseS

Instructions

Module Information Booklet

 

Figure 1.1 Module Information Booklet (Week 1 21/04/25)

Project Task

Task 1: Proposal 20% Individual

Task 2: Critical Review (Secondary research) 20% Individual

Task 3: Primary Data 20% Individual

Task 4: Reflection Report and Recorded Presentation - 40% Individual

Brief for Final Task (Week 12)

Submission

Final Compilation (PDF)

Slides 20-25 pages

Blog Link, Google Drive Link and Presentation Link

Use Zoom to record, face don't cover the words on the slides

Have Cover with name, specialisation, module name and student id

Due 30 July

Projects

Proposal

Proposal Requirements:

1. Select a topic that is related to a BDCM specialisation that you are interested in (UI/UX, Entertainment Design, Graphic Design, Digital Animation and Immersive Design).

2. Identify a specific research area (research problem) within that topic. Remember, the selection should be based not only on interest but also on adequate and substantial research from reading relevant research articles. READ:

What is a research article (can also be called a research paper)?

What is an example of a research article?

Below is the list for your Proposal in Google Docs:

    a) Your BDCM specialisation
    b) Research topic
    c) Research problem
    d) Problem statement (in-text citations from relevant research is necessary)
    e) Research objective(s)
    f) Research question(s)
    g) Reference list in alphabetical order, APA style, 7th edition.

3. Submission Convert Task 1 from Google Docs to PDF and label it as <Your

Name>_Task 1. Upload the PDF to your GDrive folder. Ensure that

your lecturer has the link to your GDrive folder.

Brainstorming

Figure 2.1.1 Brainstorming (Week 3 15/05/25)

Proposal (First Draft)

Figure 2.1.2 Proposal #First Draft (Week 3 15/05/25)

Make: I did the brainstorming map and also proposal version 1 in the first few weeks.

Feedbacks: Mr Asrizal state that is not suitable to investigate the marketing of Ne Zha 2, can focus at character design or visual design, understanding is not good for a start of Research Topic, change a word for that.

Proposal (Second Draft)

Figure 2.1.3 Proposal #Second Draft (Week 4 22/05/25)

Improvement Make: After receiving feedback from Mr Asrizal, I have changed the Research Topic and also the Research Questions by focusing at the 3D modelling and cultural representations of Ne Zha 2 but I am afraid of whether it is suitable, thus I prepared two options.

Feedbacks: Go with the Investigating Chinese Culture through 3D Modelling in Enhance the Emotional Storytelling of Chinese Mythology in Ne Zha 2. Proceed.

Proposal (Final Outcome)

Figure 2.1.4 Proposal #Final Draft (Week 5 08/06/25)

Improvement Make: After decided to research at Investigating Chinese Culture through 3D Modelling in Enhance the Emotional Storytelling of Chinese Mythology in Ne Zha 2, I finish up the Research Problem and Problem Statement.

Feedbacks: Okay, look better this time.

Critical Review

Critical Review (First Draft)

Figure 2.2.1 Critical Review #First Draft (Week 4 30/05/25)

Make: I have research a lot of papers that touch with Chinese animation especially Ne Zha 2. 

Feedbacks: -

Critical Review (Second Draft)

Figure 2.2.2 Critical Review #Second Draft (Week 5 05/06/25)

Improvement Make: After discussion with classmates and checking the MIB, I realise it does not need so much of articles for the Critical Review Task. Thus, I left the important articles and the articles I need to be review for researching.

Feedbacks: Okay with this four articles, follow the format provided.

Critical Review (Final Outcome)

Figure 2.2.3 Critical Review #Final Draft (Week 6 07/06/25)

Improvement Make: I changed the format of the Critical Review and also complete it.

Feedbacks: -

Primary Data Individual

Briefing In Tutorial

General Feedbacks in Week 8: 

Look back to previous task 1

quantitative: can be measured; qualitative: research and analysis

Can break in down into pros and cons

Your steps: 1. Extract keywords from your research title/statement

         2. ROs and RQs; what exactly would you like to find out/answer to?

Open-ended is quantitative

Get the questions from literature related to your topic, have examples that contain to their instrument, can get from there and adapted to your survey

Demographic is a given, one section answer one question

Qualitative -google form

Quantitative -5-Likert Scale

Primary Data Individual (First Draft)

Figure 2.3.1 Primary Data Individual #First Draft (Week 9 19/06/25)

Improvement Make: I wrote down the forms and methods I want to use and start to plan about it.

Feedbacks: Open-ended questions uses. The element of 3D in animation enhanced my understanding of chinese culture //allow me to know: 5 likert scale.

Primary Data Individual (Second Draft)

Figure 2.3.2 Primary Data Individual #Second Draft (Week 10 26/06/25)

Improvement Make: I have decided to use Mixed Method:  Online Questionnaire Survey and Visual Analysis. Visual analysis is to refer back to my research topic and problems which is Ne Zha 2 remains mostly unexplored, I plan to conduct this analysis by watching the movie frame by frame and gathering insights from sources such as YouTube (film critics, animator reviews or reactions) and articles. And for the Online Questionnaire Survey is to help my research not to be subjective by providing audience perspectives and comments.

Feedbacks: Ok all good to go.

Primary Data Individual (Third Draft)

Figure 2.3.3 Primary Data Individual #Third Draft (Week 11 04/07/25)

Improvement Make: I collect responses from 115 participants and wrote down the data analysis.

Feedbacks: When you're analysis, can pick highest/lowest data and comment on it. Not necessarily describe all.

Primary Data Individual (Final Outcome)

Figure 2.3.4 Primary Data Individual #Final Draft (Week 12 21/07/25)

Improvement Make: I complete most of the work in Primary Data Individual Task and.

Feedbacks: Good job, proceed.

Final Outcome

Proposal

Proposal

Figure 3.1 Proposal #Final Outcome (Week 5 08/06/25)

Critical Review

Critical Review

Figure 3.2 Critical Review #Final Outcome (Week 6 07/06/25)

Primary Data Individual

Primary Data Individual 

Figure 3.3 Primary Data Individual #Final Outcome (Week 12 21/07/25)

Final Compilation

Research Reflection Report 

Figure 3.4.1 Research Reflection Report #Final Outcome (Week 14 30/07/25)

Presentation Slides

Figure 3.4.2 Presentation Slides #Final Outcome (Week 14 30/07/25)

Recorded Presentation

Figure 3.4.3 Recorded Presentation #Final Outcome (Week 14 30/07/25)

Google Drive Link

Design Research Methodology Folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Qc8hvbdlsimcmYFUVrphYJiiLFPC_0X0?usp=drive_link

Reflections

Experience

I have learnt a lot throughout the 14 weeks that I have been working in Design Research Methodology. I have gained experience working on research proposals, critical reviews, primary data, and analysis as a result of the research task. Analysing the gathered data and observing data analysis and visual analysis was an intriguing experience. While researching my research topic, Investigating Chinese Culture through 3D Modelling in Enhance the Emotional Storytelling of Chinese Mythology in Nezha 2, I discovered a lot of interesting participant opinions as well as a lot of unexpected visual analysis techniques. I also face various problems, such as selecting a research topic, developing research objectives, and deciding between qualitative and quantitative methods. Fortunately, with the guidance and feedback from my tutor and friends, I am able to overcome the challenges of the task.

Observation    

Aside from that, this module has taught me a lot. I watch how a research proposal, critical review, primary data, and analysis are finished. As I worked on the data analysis and visual analysis for my research on the topic of Investigating Chinese Culture through 3D Modelling in Enhance the Emotional Storytelling of Chinese Mythology in Nezha 2, I also paid close attention to the specifics and the procedures involved in finishing the study. The audience witnessed a lot of details and the team's effort, which required careful observation to learn. 

Findings   

Finally, I have learnt a lot from this module. I look up films for Ne Zha 2, expert critiques, and papers about chinese animation strategies on the internet. That leads me to believe that the production team, which includes the director, animators, creators, and crew, worked really hard on the project. Ne Zha 2 demonstrates how the film uses emotional storytelling, cultural representation, and advanced 3D modelling techniques to create a captivating visual and narrative experience. From realistic skin textures and dynamic hair simulations to expansive architectural vistas inspired by Chinese mythology, the animation achieves an unprecedented level of detail and realism through character, procedural, and environmental modelling. Traditional characteristics of character and clothing design, architectural allusions, and the skilful reinterpretation of historical things constructed into the story are all effective ways to portray cultural identity. Ne Zha 2's cultural and creative depth is enhanced by emotive storytelling  approaches such as dynamic cinematography, expressive body language, lighting and colour symbolism, and the symbiotic use of effects and camera work. Finally, I aim to apply what I've learnt in this session to my future task.