some brilliant UX / design examples i've stumbled upon in japan:
at ATMs, there are umbrella / cane & cup holders to put your items down when you get your cash
pathways that you can follow while taking trains so you don’t get lost during your transfer
stickers for veggies that are still available at a local farmers market to help navigation
also it’s super cute
suggested recipes on the back of a soup packet (that are sorted by season)
related note: study of macrobiotics is about embodied + intentional eating that respects cycles of the seasons and local geography
detachable pan handles for storage convenience
makes a ton of sense when you think about it..
sauce packets that don’t require you to rip the corner
they break upon squeeze- leading to a cleaner experience (+ less waste to keep track of)
collapsible car cup holders in the front seats
rotating platforms to allow for large vehicles to turn without making 3-point turns (added safety for pedestrians and passengers)
coin lockers in every transportation hub, allowing you to put your baggage down, and explore areas hands and hassle-free
additionally the dimensions of these lockers are exact to airport luggage dimensions
ok i can’t make a design thread about japan without including their premium toilets
public restrooms are spotless, usually equipped w bidets (w singing option for the shy), and top tier
related note: toilet paper refill just got more frictionless
decibel monitor for construction sites to help monitor noise throughout their process - so thoughtful!
pre-stocking ice cups for purchasing cold drinks
i imagine this also helps cuts down time for the staff, who do everything from restocking, helping people find items at the store, and check out process
oftentimes in grocery stores, you bring your haul to the counter and bag your items yourself
need to know how many bags to purchase? fear not, you’re given a cheat sheet for how many medium / large bags you need based off how full your cart is
tatami rooms are very modular and multipurpose - you create the setting in the moment based off your temporal needs
futons + tables are foldable and stored in closets so a living room can transform to a bedroom, workroom, meditation room, etc
more open space to play!
i have been really impressed by japan’s accessibility features as well
almost everywhere, there are yellow raised grooves (tenji blocks) have ridges to help guide the visually impaired
also look, this elevator has 3 sets of buttons- functionality is always within reach
in case you enter first and are at the back, you don’t have to ask someone else to push the buttons for you
rotating drawer for storing shoes
i imagine this saves some space + allows for more visibility for shoes / slippers
flowing noodle interaction
noodles are funneled through this half pipe and you catch them from the stream
conveyor belt sushi: multiple rows for parallel delivery to different customers
onigiris are wrapped in a way so that the seaweed and the rice are separated, so the former stays crispy
when you eat them, the plastic in between them is removed along with the outside wrapper
ok i could list infinite examples about the beauty and nuance of UX in japan but all this is just to say:
this is design that naturally happens when there is a high degree of empathy / regard for user experience
human-centered design is sometimes a forced concept, but when there is enough care and respect, it becomes an inevitable byproduct
(and i don’t think it’s a coincidence that these designs exist in a country that is also known for having excellent customer service)
great design is invisible, which is why it’s sometimes under-appreciated
but continues to add value and eliminate friction in ways that compound — and generally make existing and cohering with the world easier
when we have a more effortless existence, we have more mental resources to take care of public goods + care for each other
great ux -> more empathetic spaces -> more mindful people -> better ux
in short, it’s a virtuous feedback cycle that continues to inspire
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