This project required me to make something happen and document it in a way that is relevant to the event. During Studio Lab, Maia Magoga’s work Meditation on Red was introduced, which inspired me to create a food-themed workshop exploring the meanings and emotions behind food. Drawing from my personal identity as a Chinese international student, I decided to host an event where I would invite fellow Chinese students to cook together. Each participant would prepare a dish and share the personal memories and emotions associated with it. 
   
    I felt that exploring the connection between food and emotions was a meaningful theme. To document the event, I planned to create a zine, capturing the experience and stories shared. I wanted to present it as a gift to each participant, serving as a special keepsake from the workshop.


    The Liu Zi Fan project was a new and meaningful experience for me. Hosting an event was both challenging and exciting. I think I would love to organise more events with interesting themes in the future. Overall, the event went smoothly and followed my initial plan well.

    However, if I had more time and budget, I would refine the details further—for example, designing personalised aprons for each participant or incorporating more immersive interior decorations rather than just using simple wall posters. I would love to include an old television set playing classic Chinese TV series from our childhood, such as My Fair Princess (还珠格格), Legend of the White Snake (白蛇传), and Journey to the West (西游记)—shows that used to air every summer on Chinese television. This would better evoke nostalgic memories and allow participants to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere.

    Another idea would be to create masks using childhood photos of the participants (with permission), so they could symbolically "become" their younger selves again, revisiting a time of carefree innocence, comfort, and nostalgia.

    I also really like the idea of designing the event documentation as a gift, making it feel like a meaningful souvenir for participants. If I had more time, I would explore different ways to present and preserve these memories—perhaps by creating a toy-like object that plays video recordings or a three-dimensional display for photographs, making the experience even more interactive and unique.

    This project has provided me with a lot of inspiration and valuable insights. It has encouraged me to explore the cultural significance of food and its emotional connections to people, while also helping me refine my graphic design skills. Additionally, I gained a deeper understanding of Chinese aesthetics, such as Chinese Dreamcore, traditional Chinese colours, and how pink is symbolically used in Chinese culture to evoke warmth and nostalgia. I also learned more about the relationship between colour and emotional expression in design.