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，每位參與者都帶來家鄉的茶或咖啡，熱情介紹其文化背景。從日本細緻精緻的茶道、台灣多元的珍珠奶茶與茶文化、韓國富有氛圍感的咖啡館潮流，到泰國濃郁甜美的冰奶茶與充滿活力的街頭咖啡文化，每一種飲品都承載著獨特的美學與情感價值。這些交流讓我們意識到，雖然各國的茶與咖啡在形式、風味及飲用方式上各不相同，但其背後都蘊含著人與人之間交流、放鬆與連結的時刻。
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.	由於工作坊時間有限，我們必須在短短幾天內完成市場調查、產品構想、介面設計，以及最終簡報與影片製作。跨國團隊的合作既充滿挑戰，也令人興奮，尤其是當我們在功能優先順序或設計風格上有分歧時。然而，這些創意上的碰撞促使我們成長。我們學會了以簡潔的語言與視覺清楚表達想法，並逐步建立出一套共同的設計語言。其中，我最自豪的貢獻之一，是擔任溝通橋梁與翻譯者，協助克服語言障礙，讓團隊能夠順利達成共識。
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.	回首這段旅程，我深刻體會到設計不僅關乎形式與功能，更是一種傳遞文化與情感的媒介。這次跨文化合作讓我學會傾聽、理解與包容多元觀點，並在差異之中尋找共鳴。最重要的是，我在這裡遇見了來自不同國家的夥伴，我們共同經歷挑戰與歡笑，一起創造了意義非凡的成果。對我而言，這不僅是專業上的成長，更是一段難以忘懷的文化交流之旅。

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