91猫先生

This summer, I had the privilege of participating in the Asia Design Workshop 2025 held in Japan. The theme of this year’s program was “Reimagining Tea and Café Cultures in the Digital Age.” Students from Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea came together to share their unique tea and coffee traditions, exploring innovative ways to experience these beverages in today’s digital era.	今年夏天，我有幸參加在日本舉辦的 Asia Design Workshop 2025。今年的主題是 「在數位時代重新想像茶與咖啡文化」。來自台灣、泰國、日本及韓國的學生齊聚一堂，分享各自獨特的茶與咖啡文化，共同探索在當代數位環境下體驗茶與咖啡的新方式。
On the first day of the workshop, each participant brought tea or coffee from their home country and passionately introduced its cultural background. From Japan’s refined and meticulous tea ceremony, Taiwan’s diverse bubble tea culture, Korea’s atmospheric café trends, to Thailand’s rich and sweet iced milk tea and vibrant street coffee culture, every presentation revealed a distinct aesthetic and emotional value. These exchanges made us realize that while the forms, flavors, and rituals of enjoying tea and coffee differ across cultures, they all embody moments of connection, relaxation, and human interaction.	工作坊第一天，每位参与者都带来家乡的茶或咖啡，热情介绍其文化背景。从日本细緻精緻的茶道、台湾多元的珍珠奶茶与茶文化、韩国富有氛围感的咖啡馆潮流，到泰国浓郁甜美的冰奶茶与充满活力的街头咖啡文化，每一种饮品都承载着独特的美学与情感价值。这些交流让我们意识到，虽然各国的茶与咖啡在形式、风味及饮用方式上各不相同，但其背后都蕴含着人与人之间交流、放鬆与连结的时刻。
Our group, Team KitKat, spent the next few days brainstorming and refining ideas. After multiple rounds of discussion, we decided to design a cross-cultural tea snack experience that blended elements from the four countries while emphasizing interactivity and storytelling. We named our project “PAKI,” inspired by the Japanese onomatopoeia パキッ—the crisp sound made when breaking open a snack—symbolizing moments of sharing and connection.	我們的團隊名為 Team KitKat。經過多輪頭腦風暴與討論後，我們決定設計一個結合四國文化的跨文化茶點體驗，同時強調互動性與故事性。我們將這個計畫命名為 「PAKI」，靈感源自日文擬聲詞 パキッ，即打開零食時「啪嗒」的脆響聲，象徵著分享與連結的瞬間。
PAKI was conceived as more than just a snack; it was envisioned as a cultural journey combining technology, tradition, and sustainability. We created four snack bar flavors, each inspired by the tea culture of Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Thailand. To enhance user engagement, we designed an interactive vending machine and mobile app that allowed users to select teas based on mood, unlock AR cultural videos by scanning the packaging, explore illustrations and stories from each country, and even watch simple instructional videos on brewing tea.	PAKI 不僅僅是一款零食，更是一段融合科技、文化與永續理念的茶文化旅程。我們設計了四種茶風味的能量棒，分別代表日本、台灣、韓國與泰國的茶文化。為了增強互動體驗，我們還設計了一款互動販賣機與行動應用程式，使用者可以依據心情選擇茶飲，掃描包裝解鎖AR 文化短片，瀏覽各國的插畫與故事，甚至觀看簡易的泡茶教學影片。
Since the workshop lasted only a few days, we had to complete market research, product ideation, interface design, and final presentation within a very limited timeframe. Working in a cross-national team was both exciting and challenging—especially when we had different priorities or design preferences. However, these creative clashes pushed us to grow. We learned to express our ideas clearly through concise language and visual communication, gradually developing a shared design language. Personally, one of my proudest contributions was stepping into the role of mediator and translator, bridging communication gaps caused by language barriers and helping the team reach consensus.	由於工作坊时间有限，我们必须在短短几天内完成市场调查、产物构想、介面设计，以及最终简报与影片製作。跨国团队的合作既充满挑战，也令人兴奋，尤其是当我们在功能优先顺序或设计风格上有分歧时。然而，这些创意上的碰撞促使我们成长。我们学会了以简洁的语言与视觉清楚表达想法，并逐步建立出一套共同的设计语言。其中，我最自豪的贡献之一，是担任沟通桥梁与翻译者，协助克服语言障碍，让团队能够顺利达成共识。
Beyond the design process, we also immersed ourselves in field research and cultural exploration. Together, we visited Japanese tea houses and modern cafés, observing the intricate rituals of traditional tea ceremonies and the way contemporary cafés use spatial aesthetics and storytelling to engage customers. These experiences inspired our packaging illustrations and interactive features, allowing us to infuse PAKI with authentic cultural meaning. Sharing our observations and insights not only expanded our perspectives but also strengthened our teamwork.	在設計之外，我們也進行了田野調查與文化體驗。我們一起參訪日本茶屋與現代咖啡館，觀察傳統茶道儀式的細節，以及現代咖啡館如何透過空間美學與故事敘事吸引顧客。這些經驗啟發了我們在包裝插畫與互動功能上的設計，為 PAKI 注入真實且深厚的文化內涵。過程中，我們彼此分享觀察與見解，不僅拓展了文化視野，也進一步強化了團隊合作。
Looking back, I realized that design is not merely about form and function—it is also a medium for conveying culture and emotion. This cross-cultural collaboration taught me the importance of listening and embracing diverse perspectives while finding common ground within differences. Most importantly, I met friends from different countries, and together we created something truly meaningful through both challenges and laughter. For me, this journey was not only a milestone in professional growth but also an unforgettable experience of cultural exchange.	回首这段旅程，我深刻体会到设计不仅关乎形式与功能，更是一种传递文化与情感的媒介。这次跨文化合作让我学会倾听、理解与包容多元观点，并在差异之中寻找共鸣。最重要的是，我在这裡遇见了来自不同国家的伙伴，我们共同经歷挑战与欢笑，一起创造了意义非凡的成果。对我而言，这不仅是专业上的成长，更是一段难以忘怀的文化交流之旅。

---