Interviews So Far IDB 1

Preparation of Interviews

I prepared the questions for the interviews with professionals. I focused more on Gynecologists, but I had a section for Psychologists, in terms of the emotions of a young pregnant woman.

I also found a young Malay boy who agreed for an interview, there were only 2 person who agreed, one was a foreigner so I preferred to interview only that guy.

Finding a Professional

This is perhaps the hardest task, one week and I couldn't even get in touch with one professional. I tried, Instagram, LinkedIn, an app called Tele, another called Doc2Us and I even sent the following email to a private clinic.

No responses yet..... I found a few clinics on Google Maps, and I will give those a try on Monday.

Interviews done

The first interview I did was with one of my classmates, she's a Malay, and she knows about my project, cuz we had a tutorial together.

Here's her responses:

Actually I was thinking of depicting it using fruits that looks like a penis, do you think they might accept this visual approach, or they will still take it wrongly?

Fara Diyana: i think the audience in Malaysia generally will have a mixed reaction. But since malays are the highest population, most of whom are muslim, brands won't be so direct.

Fara Diyana: anything that insinuates a penis or a vagina, there will be a group of muslims who will find it unnecessary and insulting

Fara Diyana: especially in Kelantan, if you're planning on doing the campaign for that specific target audience

Fara Diyana: in Selangor, or where Shariah law isn't so strongly implemented, you will get mixed reactions

Fara Diyana: i think you should research on past campaigns done by Condom brands in Malaysia and see how they have marketed it

Fara Diyana: https://instagram.com/durexmalaysia?utm_medium=copy_link

Fara Diyana: you can search the condom brands' instagram pages to see their campaigns.

make sure it's a page for malaysia

Fara Diyana: there is a group of audience in Malaysia who are just sensitive to the references of anything sexual. That's why brands mostly don't do anything too direct

Then I proceeded to the Interview with the Malay Guy from the Survey.

Here's the whole conversation:

Hi, I'm Adeeb, thank you so much for participating in my survey... 😃

It was a success, but I do have some additional question to find the right art direction would you mind answering some question in the form of an interview?

Hello! I don’t mind answering so additional questions!

Thank you so much...

Btw I will take some screenshot of our conversation as a proof, is that okay with you?

totally fine with me, go ahead

So first of all I'd like to have your opinion about the project, here's the direction that I'm going for: there will be a whole ad campaign with banners and leaflets, maybe a website and a video, to spread awareness on the subject, however, it will also be accompanied with a condom vendor machine, with some related artwork on it, placed, close to school to make sure the youth don't feel shame to get the condom in front of an adult, and if they indulge in the act, they'd be safe

I'd just like to know your opinion about the campaign, do you think it will work or not? And why?

I like the direction of the campaign and i think it'll work, however I think placing a condom vendor machine close to a school might have its own problems. One of them could be bullying from other students. I think if it were placed in public areas such as malls or even parks will make it even more likely to be used by the youth as there’s no people that they have connections with that can see them thus making them feel more safe. Another opinion i have is on the artwork, I think different states here in Malaysia have different styles that appeal to youths. Cities such as Georgetown in Penang, or Johor Bharu in Johor and Kuala Lumpur especially should have a wide arrange of designs for the vendor machine that appeals to the different cultures and styles that are present there. However, in rural areas the vending machine should be more informative and striking as those that unfortunately aren't educated in safe sex they can learn from the brochures or pamphlets thats provided at said machine.

Wow... That's a very useful information... Thank you so much....

Talking about which... Since I'm a foreign student here I'm not fully aware of those different styles.... My project was supposed to be based in kelantan, since the rate of teenage pregnancy is slightly higher there, on the other hand though, I did hear about the conservative Muslims there, do you have any recommendations as to how to approach them safely? Like can you imagine how they would react to such a campaign?

If you plan on putting a vendor machine you have to ask permission from the Majlis Perbandaran there. I think the reaction by the conservative muslims there will be volatile unfortunately. The best bet you might have at proceeding with the campaign there is to target it as Halal and has religious beliefs intertwined with your message

Kelantan is very very conservative. You have to point out that condoms can “ elakkan zina ” (adultery) and “ mengurang hubungan luar batasan “ (out-of-bound relation - before marriage)

That's yet again some very interesting details you're giving me.. Might be hard to achieve... But I'll try to research about it more..

Do you happen to know anyone who can guide me through the process of asking the permission with the masjid? Doesn't have to be someone at the masjid itself... But someone who knows the process? If not... That's totally fine... Haha

Well it's a multiple step process.

First, you have to ask the city council in the area of where you're putting the vendor machine. Example: Pasir Mas City Council or Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Mas. For a vendor machine that's distributing or selling condoms, you'd probably have to give a proper written statement with your intent. If they agreed, you'd then have to purchase a vendor machine and get a supplier of condoms. Once that's sorted, you'd have to ask the places that you're planning to put it at. Example: If you're putting it at a mall, you'd have to talk to the manager of the mall.

My next question is, while addressing an audience such as the kelantanese youth, do you think a joyful tone will work best or a more serious educative tone?

I think a mix of the two would be better. Fun and educational so the whole project isn't perceived as educational propaganda. Something light hearted with a message would work wonders.

Going back to my earlier point, I'd suggest you to contact someone that's knowledgeable on Islam that could point you to the ways you can approach the youth there in a way that can intertwine religion and your project's message.

I'm already looking at various possibilities for the vendor machine distributor... But for the process... I was less knowledgeable haha

Do you know anyone? Can you recommend me somewhere where I can find such a person?

you could try to contact lecturers but i unfortunately don’t have any contacts

At least I have a starting point... I think lecturers will be easier to find online..

Definitely, I think if you could get in contact from a lecturer in UM or UKM would be a great help

Another question I had was... Is there anything I should avoid? In terms of the art direction... Like is using fruits as a way to safely and humorously display sex or genitals an acceptable direction by the conservative Muslims or should I avoid any of that?

I’d definitely advise you against it, any depictions of sex or genitals in general will strike a nerve with conservative Muslims even if its humorous..

I think I got almost everything I needed.... Except for 2 questions..

So yea... Can you direct me to a project that you might know about that had a similar sensitive subject but that was successful? It's okay if you don't know haha

I'm not sure, you'd have to ask someone from there. So sorry

Haha that's totally fine..

And finally last question, do you happen to know anyone who was a teenage mom or who is a teenage mom? Again that's totally fine if you don't know any...

I dom't know anyone, again so sorry

That's okay...

Thank you so much for this interview, it was really insightful and I'm already starting to conceptualize it based on it... Thanks a lot...

Then I proceeded to find a Vendor Machine Maker, I found 2 actually, but I got a reply only from one of them from Facebook.

Here's the whole script:

Hello! I guess you are want to know more about our vending machine. 1 minute video of how's vending machine workshttps://youtu.be/uNjPxcCBVbA

I have a more specific enquiry

I am a Graphic Design student at Inti College Subang and I'm currently working on a mock advertising campaign to place some condom vending machine in a specific area in Malaysia. It is a mock campaign, thus it will not be made in real life, but I have to find real life partners and enquire about the process behind it and everything to strengthen my project, it will be greatly appreciated if you could guide me through the process of how it is done in real life

Hi Adeeb thanks for your interest towards vending machine

However, we are just manufacturer and developer of vending machines. Our vending machines produced to sell only. We don't have collaboration model

So sorry about that

But can you produce a custom made vending

Yes we can, we can customize the slot in the vending machine

To fit products like camera, skincare, printer cartridges, snacks and drinks, and etc

If I was to modify the vending machine so that it can hold individual condom packs, as small as that? Can, we have existing customers doing that already

Placed in hotel and condo

Wow that's amazing

1 machines can place up to 900 individual condom packs

Our vending machine is fully ewallet cashless

And if I was to create a specialized interactive screen attach to it to help educate people while they are buying condoms, can this be done too? Our machine comes with 22 inch interactive touch screen

https://says.com/my/lifestyle/disposable-camera-vending-machine-one-half-pj

You may check out on this reviews

I will definitely look it out Are you also responsible of adding the graphic on the vending machine? Or this one is in another company's hand? I've checked the article.. The vending machine definitely look good and I like that big interactive screen.. we provide the system, the vending machine owner will be the one adding graphic

https://landing.vechnology.com.my/the-breakthrough-solution-for-automated-income-business/ Here you may check out for more

If you wish to place order, we will issue a quotation for you

I have 5 more questions for you, can I proceed with those? I will answer if I can

Do you have a 3d digital object of the condom vending machine which I can use and render, adding my own graphic to it for the project? If you can actually provide me with it without any patent or copyright issues? Hi, we don't understand about this

That's fine... No issues haha Thank you

Can I screenshot this conversation as a proof that I did this small interview with you for my project and can include your logo on the banners that I'm designing, considering you as a partner for the mock campaign I'm designing?

We doesn't provide any partnership model at this moment. You can screenshot our conversation and mention we have a conversation about exploration of vending machines

Hope it's helps, thank you

It will haha... Thank you so much... You are welcome. For the things that we couldn't help, you can look for other suppliers in the market

Thank you

There might be others who can help you.

Thanks and don't forget to like our page All the best and good night

Thanks and goodnight to you too

I will try to have at least 1 interview with a professional next week, but if I still can't I'll have to give this part of the project up. I do already have enough to start conceptualizing the campaign.