01 Project Brief
3 Weeks Design Sprint
Sponsored by Atlassian
UX & UI Design
Graphic Design
Designer
Meijun Wang
Dai Liang Qi Boris
Rui Xiong
Alicia Setiawan
Visual System
Interface Design
User Research
Adobe Illustrator
Canva
The current project includes design solutions for
- Deeper Connections: Transform surface-level interactions into authentic exchanges that celebrate Sydney's cultural and environmental richness.
- Explore Suburbs: Highlight hidden gems in Sydney's local suburbs to encourage meaningful exploration beyond tourist hotspots.
- Inclusive Dialogue: Foster open, judgment-free conversations among people with diverse interests and perspectives.
02Problem Statement
Design Challenge
Research
- Primary Research:
- Conducted qualitative interviews with 9 participants, comprising both Sydneysiders and tourists.
- Engaged in online ethnography by analyzing tourism-related conversations across platforms like YouTube, Reddit, Red, and Lemon8.
- Secondary Research:
- Industry Reports: Reviewed insights and publications from Destination NSW, Tourism Australia, and other relevant organizations.
- Social Media Analysis: Tracked community trends and shared experiences using hashtags such as #VisitSydney, #ThingsToDo, and #Sydney.
- Case Studies: Investigated successful projects and events—both within Sydney and globally—that focus on connecting tourists with locals.
Coding Themes
Through thematic analysis, we categorized insights from our research and interviews into the following key themes:
- Definition of Sydneysiders
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Sydney’s Attraction and Activities
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Reasons for culture interaction
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Challenges in Multicultural Practices
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Experience with Interacting with Tourists
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Lack of Cultural Representation
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How to obtain Cultural Interaction
- Tourism
Uncovering the Insights
Challenge
The analysis revealed two critical issues to address:
- Surface-Level Interactions: Limited depth in engagements between locals and visitors.
- Cultural Segregation: Both physical and mental disconnects preventing meaningful connections.
Key Question
How can we foster meaningful connections that break cultural segregation and facilitate deep, impactful interactions?
03 Archetype
Archetype
User Pain Points
For example:
- A person who lives in and is familiar with Suburb A can still experience being a "tourist" in Suburb B. This is shaped by both physical and mental unfamiliarity.
Key Takeaway
Both Sydneysiders and tourists share a common challenge: a lack of connection to unfamiliar aspects of Sydney, whether these are physical, emotional, cultural, or social.04Design Solution
The MoleCube design solution addresses the brief by creating a space of connection where both Sydneysiders and tourists can explore and engage with the multicultural, historical, and environmental richness of Sydney. MoleCube enables users to form meaningful, multi-faceted, and lasting connections with the city through interactive, personal storytelling tied to specific locations.
- Immersive Location Exploration: Using geolocation and Augmented Reality (AR), users can experience stories tied to specific Sydney locations. They can access detailed descriptions and tips from contributors, encouraging exploration of the city’s diverse suburbs and hidden facets. This immersive experience fosters deeper connections with Sydney’s heritage and culture.
- See What the Story Creator Sees: Each story cube provides a window into the unique perspective of its creator, showcasing visuals captured directly at the location where the story originated. Users can virtually step into the storyteller's shoes, experiencing the same details that inspired the narrative.
- Hear What the Story Creator Hears: The sounds of a place often tell a story as powerful as the visuals. Story cubes include audio recordings captured at the moment of creation—be it the birds chirping or the waves crashing. These auditory elements allow users to hear the world as the creator did.
- Feel the Story Creator’s Emotions: Each cube conveys the creator’s emotions, thoughts, and reflections, recorded in real time. Through written narratives or voice recordings, users can sense the creator's feelings—whether it’s joy, nostalgia, or awe. These personal touches transform the stories into more than just descriptions of a place.
Left: Content Creator POV
Right: Viewer POV
05 Reflection
Inital Approach
We initially explored a solution centered around food, aiming to help people uncover and appreciate diverse cultures through culturally specific dishes and the stories behind them. However, this approach faced several obstacles:
- Dietary Restrictions and Allergies: The inclusivity of the solution was limited.
- High Content Creation Costs: Developing food-specific stories posed logistical challenges.
- Broader Perspective Needed: We realized cultural understanding could be approached more holistically.
Final Solution: Molecube
Shifting our focus to storytelling allowed us to address cultural understanding from a broader perspective, culminating in the creation of Molecube—our final design solution.
My key contributions to the project included:
- Generating and brainstorming ideas
- Conducting in-depth research on the topic
- Designing the user interface
- Testing prototypes for usability and effectiveness
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