Redesigning interface design through exploring the connection between cultural context and user interface.

Context: 4-months individaul thesis research project

In today’s digital world, technology transcends geographical boundaries, allowing global digital products to reach users in diverse countries and regions. For designers, this means our work isn't confined to our surroundings but extends to users in very different cultural contexts. Having lived and worked in various cultural contexts, I’ve observed how deeply cultural contexts shape people’s mindsets, behaviors, and preferences. However, in my experience designing global digital product interfaces, I’ve noticed that these nuanced cultural differences are often overlooked or simplified in the design process. It’s common in the digital product world to create one version of a design and simply swap languages to launch it in as many markets as possible. What if we could make the design process more culturally aware and create interfaces that are more responsive to different cultural contexts?

Project Starting Point

Why do apps in different cultural contexts look so different?
Both GaoDe Map (from China) and Uber (from US) aim to provide a better experience and help users travel from A to B efficiently and conveniently. However, "efficient" and "convenient" can mean significantly different things in different cultural contexts. For some, it may mean receiving information in the most direct, simple, and intelligent way, while for others, it may mean having access to abundant information and various options to minimize risks and make the best choice.

How can incorporating cultural contexts into the design process inspire a more flexible and adaptable interface design, ultimately enhancing the user experience?

Research Framework

In my research, I explore how culture influences users' mindsets and behaviors across various dimensions, such as language and social structure. I also analyze these impacts and categorize culturally adaptive interface design into different levels.

Design Practice

In my design practice, I rethink assumptions that interface designers often take for granted and explore ways to make the interface design process more flexible fundementally, and make it being able to responsive to different contexts fluidly.

Read my full research report here 🙌