Thread by @michellehuang42

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