CultureConnect
โจ Highlights
THE PROBLEM
Cultural learning is often passive and lacks engagement
Existing platforms provide disconnected experiences without personalization
Users struggle to emotionally connect with different cultures through digital content
WHAT ARE THE USER NEEDS?
Users need an engaging way to explore cultures beyond surface-level information
They want to connect with real people, stories, and communities around shared cultural interests
They want personalised cultural content based on their interests and background
They need food, music, events, places, and community experiences brought together in one accessible platform
They value visual and interactive experiences that make cultural learning more immersive
Users need clear guidance and context to understand cultural traditions respectfully and avoid stereotypes.
Connecting people to cultures in a personal and immersive way.
Design Brief
โข Users have limited access to meaningful and immersive cultural experiences
โข Existing platforms provide surface-level content with little personalization
โข Users struggle to connect emotionally with different cultures through digital platforms
Timeline
January 2025 โ May 2025
Role
End-to-end UX design (research โ ideation โ prototyping โ testing)
The ideation phase translated research insights into a personalised cultural discovery experience, bringing food, music, events, places, and community content into one engaging and accessible platform.
PROBLEM STATEMENT & HMW QUESTIONS
Ideation
MID-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
โจ Key Features
FEATURE (01) โ Food & Cooking
๐ฑ Discover recipes from different cultures and cuisines
๐ฑ Filter dishes by cuisine, country, and preferences
๐ฑ View ingredients, preparation time, difficulty, and servings
๐ฑ Get real-time substitutions and cooking support from the AI assistant
๐ฑ Share recipes and cooking discoveries with others
FEATURE (02) โ Events & Cultural Activities
๐ฑ Discover cultural celebrations and events nearby
๐ฑ Search and filter events by culture and location
๐ฑ View dates, locations, descriptions, and event details
๐ฑ Use location to find relevant local experiences
๐ฑ Share events and invite friends to join
FEATURE (03) โ Music Discovery
๐ฑ Discover artists and music from different cultures
๐ฑ Explore music by culture and genre
๐ฑ Read original lyrics alongside English translations
๐ฑ Learn about artists, genres, and cultural background
๐ฑ Continue listening through Spotify or share tracks with others
FEATURE (04) โ Community Stories
๐ฑ Discover cultural experiences shared by other users
๐ฑ Create posts about personal traditions and experiences
๐ฑ Like and comment on community stories
๐ฑ Explore user profiles and shared cultural content
๐ฑ Connect with people through common cultural interests
FEATURE (05) โ AR Cultural Exploration
๐ฑ Discover culturally significant landmarks from around the world
๐ฑ Explore detailed stories, history, and cultural context
๐ฑView landmark imagery before entering the immersive experience
๐ฑ Experience selected places through interactive AR/VR exploration
๐ฑ Move from learning about a landmark to exploring it visually in one flow
Design System
User Testing โ High-Fidelity Evaluation
โจ Reflections
UNDERSTANDING THE USER
To understand how people explore and connect with unfamiliar cultures, I conducted primary and secondary research focused
on cultural discovery, accessibility, and engagement.
Key Insights
โข Users wanted cultural information in one accessible place
โข Food, music, events, and places were key entry points for cultural discovery
โข Users preferred personalised recommendations based on their interests
โข Visual and interactive experiences made cultural exploration more engaging
โข Language and lack of context could make unfamiliar cultures harder to explore
โข Users wanted deeper cultural understanding beyond surface-level information
Conducted
โข 5 User interviews
โข Secondary research
โข Competitor analysis
I analysed cultural discovery, travel, community, and learning platforms to understand how people currently explore cultures,
discover local experiences, and connect with cultural content.
The analysis revealed an opportunity for a more connected and personalised experience that brings cultural learning, food,
music, events, places, and community interaction together in one platform.
โจ Research Summary
Market Insights & Competitor Analysis
โจ The Challenge
โจ The Solution
WHAT ARE THE END GOALS OF CULTURECONNECT?
โจ Design Process
Connecting people to cultures in a personal and immersive way.
CultureConnect
Timeline
January 2025 โ May 2025
Role
End-to-end UX design (research โ ideation โ prototyping โ testing)
Design Brief
โข Users have limited access to meaningful and immersive cultural experiences
โข Existing platforms provide surface-level content with little personalization
โข Users struggle to connect emotionally with different cultures through digital platforms
โจ Highlights
โจ The Challenge
THE PROBLEM
Cultural learning is often passive and lacks engagement
Existing platforms provide disconnected experiences without personalization
Users struggle to emotionally connect with different cultures through digital content
WHAT ARE THE USER NEEDS?
Users need an engaging way to explore cultures beyond surface-level information
They want personalised cultural content based on their interests and background
They value visual and interactive experiences that make cultural learning more immersive
They want to connect with real people, stories, and communities around shared cultural interests
Users need clear guidance and context to understand cultural traditions respectfully and avoid stereotypes.
โจ The Solution
WHAT ARE THE END GOALS OF CULTURECONNECT?
Market Insights & Competitor Analysis
โจ Research Summary
I analysed cultural discovery, travel, community, and learning platforms to understand how people currently explore cultures, discover local experiences, and connect with cultural content.
The analysis revealed an opportunity for a more connected and personalised experience that brings cultural learning, food, music, events, places, and community interaction together in one platform.
UNDERSTANDING THE USER
To understand how people explore and connect with unfamiliar cultures, I conducted primary and secondary research focused on cultural discovery, accessibility, and engagement.
Conducted
โข 5 User interviews
โข Secondary research
โข Competitor analysis
Key Insights
โข Users wanted cultural information in one accessible place
โข Food, music, events, and places were key entry points for cultural discovery
โข Users preferred personalised recommendations based on their interests
โข Visual and interactive experiences made cultural exploration more engaging
โข Language and lack of context could make unfamiliar cultures harder to explore
โข Users wanted deeper cultural understanding beyond surface-level information
The ideation phase translated research insights into a personalised cultural discovery experience, bringing food, music, events, places, and community content into one engaging and accessible platform.
Ideation
โจ Design Process
PROBLEM STATEMENT & HMW QUESTIONS
MID-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
โจ Key Features
FEATURE (01) โ Food & Cooking
๐ฑ Discover recipes from different cultures and cuisines
๐ฑ Filter dishes by cuisine, country, and preferences
๐ฑ View ingredients, preparation time, difficulty, and servings
๐ฑ Get real-time substitutions and cooking support from the AI assistant
๐ฑ Share recipes and cooking discoveries with others
FEATURE (02) โ Events & Cultural Activities
๐ฑ Discover cultural celebrations and events nearby
๐ฑ Search and filter events by culture and location
๐ฑ View dates, locations, descriptions, and event details
๐ฑ Use location to find relevant local experiences
๐ฑ Share events and invite friends to join
FEATURE (03) โ Music Discovery
๐ฑ Discover artists and music from different cultures
๐ฑ Explore music by culture and genre
๐ฑ Read original lyrics alongside English translations
๐ฑ Learn about artists, genres, and cultural background
๐ฑ Continue listening through Spotify or share tracks with others
FEATURE (04) โ Community Stories
๐ฑ Discover cultural experiences shared by other users
๐ฑ Create posts about personal traditions and experiences
๐ฑ Like and comment on community stories
๐ฑ Explore user profiles and shared cultural content
๐ฑ Connect with people through common cultural interests
FEATURE (05) โ Social / Community
๐ฑ Share experiences and advice with other students
๐ฑ Discover community posts from people in similar situations
๐ฑ Build a personal profile and connect with peers
๐ฑ Find students from the same university or with similar interests
๐ฑ Use PeerMatch to make new connections and feel less isolated
Design System
User Testing โ High-Fidelity Evaluation
โจ Reflections