Media, Merch, and Meaning: A Toolkit for Collaborative Culture Making

How do total beginners hack the impossibles of a new language? How can visual language become a community practice?

In this session, we’ll explore 字圆其说 · I Got One — a crowdsourced, cross-cultural design project that invites learners to creatively reinterpret Chinese characters through personal meaning-making. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how the project combines a self-built web platform, participatory design, social storytelling, intercultural dialogue, social media engagements, and merch production to engage a global community and bring language learning into unexpected spaces.

We’ll break down how to build projects that are community-driven, multimedia-rich, and culturally resonant — even if you’re not a language or education person. Whether you’re curious about designing participatory systems, building niche communities, or translating complex ideas into visual formats, this session offers a playful and practical look at culture-making in motion.

Expect stories, sketches, and maybe even stickers.

Zero background in language education is required.