Danuelle (Yulong) Hu

Danuelle (Yulong) Hu from China studied for an MDes 2009-10

"My project Making Culture is designed for educators both in schools and beyond. It is an educational tool kit to facilitate children's craft workshops, specifically kimono making workshops. Children learn the cultural significance of certain motifs and colours and embrace aesthetics and philosophy of other communities. The activities are also designed to promote inquisitive thinking and collaborative working. I have worked with school clubs and museums during my research to develop and evaluate the kit. The workshops also explore the relevance of this traditional Japanese garment in the 21st century. The kit can be further developed to explore traditional clothing from other cultures: developing a system of methods to give a modern educational purpose to traditional clothing."

Danielle finished her Bachelor of Economics in China then worked as a Japanese interpreter, pattern designer and illustrator before studying design. Her passion for traditional Japanese crafts began whilst working for Japanese magazine from 2005 - 2008. Danielle has also taught art and language in a children's centre in China.