Journal

To improve Taipei, we gathered together to compete in the International Cyberfair. We searched for topics that represent Taipei through discussion, browsing online information and local magazines. After discussing, we gave up many topics. Still, we learned to cooperate as a team. After listening to team members presenting the topics they want to do, the following topics remain: Song Shan Cultural Park, City Yeast, Cama Cafe and Ice Monster ice-cream store. Finally, after in-depth research, we chose “City Yeast” as our topic.

(photo taken on 5th February 2013)

Based on our teammates’ experience and City Yeast's group structure, we formed our project graphic organizer and listed the information we needed to get. Then, we chose people in charge of every subproject. Since we need much primary data, the original graphic organizer we made focuses on our participation of improving the world around us as City Yeast does, and attending City Yeast’s activities. Moreover, we thought about establishing a club in our school to follow the path of City Yeast.

(screenshot from project graphic organizer)

While learning about City Yeast, we discovered that most projects and activities were led by Ms. Chou. In order to understand more about this kernel City Yeast member, we contacted her and asked for permission to interview her. We discussed questions for the interview and assigned group members to bring a recorder and a camera. Arranging our meeting at 2012/11/15 6:30P.M. in her studio, we look forward to a successful interview.

(photo taken from: http://www.tedxccu.net/?p=1564)

We arrived at the Agua Design studio after dinner. After receiving permission to record and setting up the camera, we started the interview. We asked Ms. Chou about how she thought about her work, her ideals, the origin of City Yeast and the obstacles they faced. Finally we asked for Ms. Chou’s advice towards our to-be club. Through her answers, we gained valuable knowledge and tips for running our club, confirming activities we plan to hold in school.

(from City Yeast facebook page)

We arranged our videos and notes we brought in from meeting Ms. Chou. We highlighted important parts, discussed the advice she gave us and listed ways to improve our club.

(photo taken on 10th March 2013)

We sorted data about the establishment of City Yeast from the “30 magazine”. While staying in touch with City Yeast crew members, we contacted experts in related fields of design such as a Turkish product designer that participated in “Design over Workshop” hosted by City Yeast.

(photo taken on 17th March 2013)

Since the beginning of this project, we’ve approached City Yeast by solely using online information and interviewing City Yeast workers. Therefore, we decided to learn about City Yeast from a different perspective: from Taipei citizens’ views. Hence after brainstorming, we made a questionnaire for Taipei citizens to gather different thoughts from various viewpoints.

(photo taken on 10th March 2013)

During this meeting, we continued sorting data about the establishment of City Yeast from the “30 magazine”. While staying in touch with City Yeast crew members, we contacted experts in related fields of design such as a Turkish product designer that participated in “Design over Workshop” hosted by City Yeast.

(photo taken on 10th April 2013)

After interviewing Ms. Chou, we decided to apply City Yeast concepts into our club activities. We decided to form a club “Innovia” to spread creativity throughout our school. Also, we decided to host “Metamorphosis” to discuss with all students about how to make our School Anniversary more creative.

(photo taken on 13th April2013)

Our School Anniversary is around the corner. We put on “Metamorphosis” posters at the school cafeteria, corridors and the rooftop garden. We encourage all students to write down their thoughts on improving the School Anniversary on post-it notes and stick them on the posters.

(photo taken on 20th April 2013)

Today, we got into our groups and worked on our given jobs, searching for information on City Yeast’s development and activities. We also interviewed a Japanese product designer through email. Additionally, we worked on drawing a logo of Innovia.

(photo taken on 27th April 2013)

During today’s meeting, we continued looking for information about City Yeast’s development and activities, interviewing the Japanese product designer and drawing the logo of Innovia.

(photo taken on 3rd May 2013)

Previous school anniversaries are solely held by school departments. This year, we want students to participate, so we set up posters which students can stick post-it notes with their creative ideas on them. After a few days, we gathered all the post-it notes. After classifying and organizing their creative ideas to improve our school anniversary and made a report for the Department of Student Affairs.

(photo taken on 10th May 2013)

We gave out questionnaires in banks and hospitals, at Song Shan Cultural Park, Ice Monster ice-cream store, schools and gyms. We tried our best to approach them despite being repeatedly rejected, wanting to obtain different views on City Yeast.

(screenshot from questionaires)

After mailing participants of City Yeast, Ms. Ye replied our letter first and accepted our request to interview her. Ms. Ye is a poet and a City Yeast project participant. We brainstormed questions to ask her in order to gain maximum knowledge from this interdisciplinary designer.

(screenshot from Ms. Ye interviewing questions)

At McDonalds, we interviewed Mimi Ye and had dinner together. She observed Taipei thoroughly not only through her windows of her soul but also through her camera. Ms. Ye used poems to express her enthusiasm towards the city. The experience gained from interviewing a poet enriched our website indeed.

(photo taken on 15th June 2013)

Today, we arranged information obtained from interviewing Ms. Ye.

(photo taken on 22th June 2013)

We attended the activity ”Food Zero Waste”, eating expired food with them. Surprisingly, much of the expired food hasn’t lost its flavor. We hope everyone can be aware of expiration dates so we can reduce food waste. Also, we can eat food that is not expired for long. This way, we can avoid wasting food.

(photo taken on 4th July 2013)

One of City Yeast’s concepts is about discovering the uniqueness within our surroundings. Therefore, we started to observe the little happiness around where we live. Afterwards, we started to introduce the advantages and the points that need to be improved. We also decided to shoot a video about the little happiness around our school.

(screenshot from small pleasures)

The activities history of City Yeast
Making a video of the little pleasures
Designing our club logo
Arranging the information on the “Food Zero Waste”

(photo taken on 11th July 2013)

As a platform for students to express creative thoughts, we held another activity “My October” after “Metamorphosis”. Everybody’s impression towards October usual consists of National Day and Halloween; we hope students can have more creative thoughts about October. We designed a poster, hoping to let everyone know about this activity.

(screenshot from “My October” advertising poster)

Although we put up posters, we didn’t get as much feedback as expected. Maybe due to the lack of attractiveness, people didn’t see the posters. Henceforth, we went to each class to advertise our activity, telling them the rules and stimulating them to participate.

(photo taken on 25th June 2013)

After advertising our activity, more students got interested in our activity. Gradually, submissions started to flow in. Then, we determined the ranking after voting and gave them gifts for their effort.

(photo taken on 1st November 2013)

We interviewed an Argentinean designer. Some of us wrote feedbacks after reading books about City Yeast; others arranged information to make a website about Ms. Chou and Agua Design.

(photo taken from:http://addons.books.com.tw/G/N00/t/8/N000065788_t_10.jpg)

We divided into groups and did the work we were distributed. Some of us interviewed the Argentinean designer, some of us made a simple introduction of Ms .Chou, Agua Design and another design group Tien Tien Circle.

(photo taken on 15th November 2013)

After interviewing Ms. Yeh;Mr Wang, a photographer, also accepted our request to interview him. Once participating in the Balcony project, Mr. Wang is the professional photographer of City Yeast. We came up with questions about creativity, design, photography and City Yeast to ask him, hoping to obtain precious thoughts and ideas.

(screenshot from interviewing questions for Mr. Wang)

We interviewed Mr. Wang at McDonalds. Being an interdisciplinary designer and regarding the fact that he read through our questions thoroughly, we were able to absorb great , brand new thoughts and experiences. During the interview, he shared different college design course styles and his unique view towards this generation. We really learned a lot from Mr. Wang’s clear and detailed answers.

(photo taken on 2nd December 2013)

At the Super City Forum, designers of different areas gathered to exchange ideas of improving Taipei. With the cooling breeze and the beautiful music, I felt like I wasn't in a busy metropolis with all the people and traffic but relaxing by the beach, listening to other experts exchanging their ideas. After the forum, I gained knowledge to improve my city, Taipei.

(photo taken from:http://www.cityyeast.com/passion_show.php?newstype_id2=83&news_id=964)

In Taipei Fuhsing Private School, December is the month of gratitude. During this month, we would thank the people around us who helped us through the year. Our club “Innovia” is going to hold an activity to let students show their appreciation to the people around them. We hope to cooperate with the counseling office in order to catch more attention.

(photo taken from “New Art” advertising poster)

Grateful "Art" is the activity Innovia holds in December, hoping to inspire students to show appreciation to the people around them through creative actions. Students should record their actions to participate this activity. Today, we went introducing our new activity and our club from class to class, hoping to get many submissions.

(photo taken on 30th December 2013)

After searching on information about City Yeast, we found Mr. Tang, an associate professor who was once in this organization. Having attended previous City Yeast activities, Mr. Tang agreed immediately to our request to interview him. Today, we sat together, brainstorming and discussing questions to ask him about his opinions towards creativity, art, and City Yeast.

(photo taken from interview questions for Mr. Tang)

From this interview, we were warmed by his open-hearted welcoming. Mr. Tang believes his work not only involves design but combines design and functionality, such as putting up signs and coloring the maze-like Taipei train station to help people distinguish ways and paths. The result isn’t just beautiful, it’s practical. Mr. Tang has many ideas that are possible to carry out, hopefully we can change the lives of others by design as well.

(photo taken on 10th January 2013)

During this meeting, we separated different jobs for everyone. We organized information from interviewing Mr. Tang, organized the information from attending the activity Food Zero Waste, wrote feedbacks from our interview and our project narrative for the website.

(photo taken on 17th January 2013)

In this last meeting, every group transformed images and information into website pages, and made last website amendments.

(photo taken on 24th January 2013)