Problem Statement

With the decline popularity of the heritage of Malacca culture, many people have forgotten the tradition roots such as Kasut Manek. By using our knowledge of creating digital products, we aim to have people get to know and preserving the local tradition.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to come up with a digital solution and product that serves to preserve the cultural heritage of Malacca specifically Kasut Manek which are hand-crafted, unique, traditional beaded shoes. By creating this we are able to preserve heritage through visibility:

• Showscase the artistry that captures the intricate beadwork, unique designs, and cultural significance

• Telling the stories by integrating narratives about the shoemakers, techniques, and cultural inspirations

• Vitual exhibitions through interactive games

and also boosting sales by:

• E-commerce platform that facilitates easy to navigate and user friendly experience

• Providing new ways of customizing their personalized Kasut Manek

• Direct connection to artisans which partners the makers to showcase their individual profiles and stories, fostering a personal connection with buyers

Landing Website

In order to introduce new generations to this relatively old-fashioned culture that they might not have been exposed to, a landing page is being placed to inform all visitors of the website of what the Kasut Manek culture is. With articles and blog post specifically written to introduce them to the culture of Malacca that needs to be preserved over time. This website also will be the entry point for user to not only purchase their very own Kasut Manek but also to explore the interactive game and subscribe to the newsletter to let them receive up to date news.

Order Customization

Since we have a done a site visit to the one of the original maker of Kasut Manek and gain valuable access that could not be done in other ways, we have asked several inquires in which we received valuable feedback. One thing that we consider is the customization of the beaded shoe since people nowadays are more expressive on the way they display themselves, beaded shoe will be a medium that they will use to personalize and have their own uniqueness. After interviewing the maker, we can came up with two (2) possible solutions for customization which are:

• Upload Images as design

• Paint design from scratch

Order and Checkout Process

To keep the process of ordering and check out simple and straightforward, we have adapted the website in a way that user is familiar with the user interface and easily navigate through it

Remarks

This project has taught me that designing a digital product is not just about making a feasible product but also embrace the back story of why we should preserve the local culture