Jenny Shen

UX Case Study – Shokujikan (ショクジカン) 🍱 The Problem: In Japan, overworked salarymen face the same lunch struggle every day. Tight schedules, limited budgets, and zero time for decision-making. Most settle for konbini meals or overpriced delivery apps. And Corporate offices? They’re stuck juggling bulk orders, dietary needs, and logistical headaches. “Food delivery in Japan is a disaster – inconsistent timing, missing items, high markup.” – A user on Reddit (r/japanlife) Market Gaps Identified: 👉🏻 No fixed-time delivery services tailored to daily lunch routines 👉🏻 Existing delivery apps prioritize variety, not consistency 👉🏻 Frozen "healthy" meals lack taste and cultural familiarity 👉🏻 Traditional bento providers lack mobile UX, personalization, and transparency Research & Validation: I conducted: 👉🏻 A competitive analysis of both bento-specific and general food delivery services in Japan 👉🏻 Ethnographic research from Reddit communities (r/japanlife, r/tokyo) 👉🏻 A cultural UX analysis of salarymen lunch behaviors and “one-coin meals” This revealed a clear gap: Japan has no tech-enabled, behaviorally consistent bento delivery service built around routine. Everyone is solving for variety — when users actually crave predictability and peace of mind. The Solution: Shokujikan - A subscription-based bento delivery app designed to deliver personalized, handcrafted meals at a fixed time — every workday. Key Features: 👉🏻 Personalized bento quiz to match taste and dietary needs 👉🏻 Fixed-time delivery slots (e.g., 12:15 PM sharp) 👉🏻 LINE-based authentication to align with user habits 👉🏻 Emoji-based feedback that encourages lightweight emotional expression 👉🏻 Built-in pause, skip, and resume controls for frictionless flexibility Design Focus I wasn’t designing a food delivery app. I was designing a habit — one that brings calm to chaotic routines. The entire product was shaped around: 👉🏻 Reducing cognitive load 👉🏻 Building trust through familiarity (LINE, clear billing) 👉🏻 Prioritizing reliability over endless options 👉🏻 Creating soft, human micro-interactions 👉🏻 Reinforcing routine through design, not notifications Design Goals 👉🏻 Make lunch feel automatic and stress-free 👉🏻 Reduce decision fatigue with set-and-forget experiences 👉🏻 Use culturally familiar tools to build trust from day one 👉🏻 Let users control without being forced to think 👉🏻 Balance delight with discipline — functional, yet warm What's Next: During the research phase, I realized this problem goes beyond individuals.The next phase of Shokujikan will introduce Group Ordering, where teams can order together, but still receive personalized bentos Feedback, thoughts, and bento-loving appreciation are always welcome. Check full case study: https://lnkd.in/gwJnbhh3 #Figma #UIDesign #ProductDesign #UXDesign #UXUI #InteractionDesign  #DesignCommunity

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𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅, 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.  In her latest article, our designer Mai Sugahara explores how Japanese UX operates under very different assumptions than most global design frameworks. Information density, layered interfaces, and visual saturation are not flaws to be fixed. They are responses to cultural context, usage patterns, and expectations around efficiency and autonomy. The real gap is not usability. It is interpretation. When global teams apply universal UX standards without understanding local logic, they misread intent as friction. The point is not about choosing between Japanese UX and global UX. It is about learning to see density as a design language, not a mistake. #UXDesign #JapanDesign #ProductDesign #DesignResearch https://lnkd.in/gnQD9DZb

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Great UX fails if it can’t be executed. I wrote a short UI/UX note on Medium about plans and specifications, and why clear documentation is what turns UX intent into consistent execution. Design only works when it survives handoff. Read the note : https://lnkd.in/gva9fk5D #UX #UIUX #DesignOps #ProductDesign #UXThinking

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After my recent UX sharing in Taiwan 🇹🇼, a few people messaged me asking for more, so I turned it into a full article. Why do Asian e-commerce sites feel busier than their Western counterparts? Why do super apps dominate in Asia but not in the West? And how do language, culture, and market forces quietly shape what we see on screen? 🤔 If you’ve ever wondered why Amazon and Taobao look so different, or how culture drives interface decisions, this piece might give you a new perspective on the psychology behind design. ✍️ In this piece, I break down 15 key differences between Western and Asian product design, from visual style to monetisation models, and how cultural psychology influences every click, scroll, and interaction. Or, if you design for a global audience, this might just change the way you see your own work. https://lnkd.in/gCP4K7th #uxdesign #ecommerce #userexperience #productdesign #psychology #uiux #westernux #asianux

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UX only creates impact when it’s communicated. I wrote a short UI/UX note on Medium about narrative reports and presentations, and how UX insights start influencing decisions when they’re told as a clear story. Good UX doesn’t stop at insights — it moves people. Read the note : https://lnkd.in/gGefAYy6 #UX #UIUX #UXResearch #ProductDesign #DataInformedDesign

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UX Researchers in multi-cultural / multi-country product teams so often overlook this. Imagine this! You are a UX Researcher living in Thailand. You are moderating a user interview in Thai language and several (non Thai) stakeholders listening in from France, UK, US and Hong Kong. You have engaged 2 interpreters: Interpreter 1: ‘Thai to English’ Interpreter 2: ‘Thai to French’ Participants on the call are now listening to the English and French (Interpreter) audio channels. The stakeholders on those interpreter channels have complains that you aren’t asking the right questions. You listen and compare the Thai & English recordings after the interview. It turns out that the interpreters aren’t effective. A lot of the interview conversation is getting lost in language translation. How do you deal with interpretation shortcomings like these? 1. Interpreter uses general words instead of the terminology in your project e.g. calling ‘Consent’ ‘an agreement’ 2. Stakeholders (non Thai) can’t differentiate whether the participant is speaking or moderator. 3. No tonality in interpreted audio. Stakeholders can’t figure out whether participant is currently thinking, hesitating or confused. There could be more issues like above three. As a UX Community, we could benefit if other UX Researchers can share their experiences and also how you deal with this.

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Direct Design promised to eliminate the painful handoff between designers and developers—but it turns out removing pixels-to-code friction is only half the battle. The real challenge? Someone still has to decide what to build in the first place. In our latest blog post, we explore why emerging 'direct design' approaches need an Intent Layer — a structured, traceable bridge between user reality (friction, feedback, journeys) and execution (whether by humans or AI agents). Key ideas: -Design tools are getting faster at output → but input (clear, shared intent) is still messy and human-only -Without structured intent, even the best AI-native workflows drift or build the wrong thing -The missing layer synthesizes signal → defines success → feeds context downstream Read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/dDEvi4Ce #ProductDiscovery #AIDesign #IntentLayer #ProductManagement #DesignEngineering

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🚨 Hiring designers in 2025? Enter the age of adaptability over perfection. With tools evolving fast and user needs shifting constantly, the best Product designers aren’t just great with Figma… They’re strategic, curious, and comfortable with ambiguity. Yet many hiring processes still prioritise pixel-perfect portfolios over problem-solving mindset 🧠💡 The strongest designers I speak to are: 📈 Adapting quickly to real user data 🤖 Experimenting with AI in their workflow 🧠 Thinking beyond the brief If your process isn’t focused on those traits, you could be missing the talent who’ll evolve with your product, not just design for it. How are you approaching design hiring differently this year? (asking for a friend 🤔)

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Latent Minds and Cultural Ambiguity: Are We Doing Enough? with Ayumu Takeuchi Ayumu Takeuchi, a Senior UX Researcher at Mitsue Links, will challenge the way we think about user understanding at UX Masterclass 2025. In his session, "Latent minds and cultural ambiguity: are we doing enough?", he'll argue that traditional user segmentation and personas are no longer enough in a world of complex user behavior. Using examples from his work with Gen Z and Japanese users, he will demonstrate the importance of delving deeper into cultural context and psychology to truly understand user motivations. You'll learn to: - Move beyond surface-level user behaviors and assumptions. - Uncover the "latent minds" of users by exploring cultural influences. - Apply a new approach to global UX research. Secure your spot now and start shaping the future of UX: uxmasterclass.com 🗓️ 10th October 2025 📍 St. Johns Auditorium, Bengaluru #UX #UXdesign #UXresearch #globalresearch #culturalinsights #userbehavior #UXmasterclass2025 #Bengaluru #professionaldevelopment #Japan

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3 Career Lessons from a Principal UX Designer Role at Quince The $240K‑$260K principal position at Quince shows how senior designers can shape product strategy at scale. Here are three universal takeaways you can apply in any career: 1️⃣ Lead with impact metrics: Highlight how your design decisions drove user growth, conversion or time‑on‑task. Numbers give hiring managers proof of your value. 2️⃣ Build a systems mindset early: Even before a title change, think about component libraries, design tokens and cross‑team collaboration. Treat each project as a building block for a larger ecosystem. 3️⃣ Advocate for inclusive design from day one: Embed accessibility guidelines into your workflow and mentor teammates. Showing commitment to diverse users positions you as a strategic leader. Ready for more insights and a curated list of top UX roles? ➡️ Explore the full article and the complete list of opportunities at the link below https://lnkd.in/g2z2VB5i #CareerGrowth #UXDesign #JobSearch #Accessibility #TechJobs

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Designing for the Japanese market? 🇯🇵 Our new blog post dives into effective user research techniques to uncover crucial insights for better localized product design. Find out what makes Japanese users unique and learn how to build products they’ll love. https://lnkd.in/gnWTGhBn #UserResearch #ProductDesign #UXDesign #JapanMarket #TechBlog #DesignThinking

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Remember those urgent "Only 1 piece left‼️" messages that pop up on shopping sites? They are often a deceitful UX trick called "Dark Pattern." In this episode of Leaps to Learn, Supriya Amatya, our Senior Product Designer, will tell you how these persuasive psychological ploys are designed to make you panic shop. 🛍️🏃‍♀️💨 Ready to be immune to digital deceptions? #LeapfrogTechnology #LeapsToLearn #DarkPatterns #UXDesign #TechTricks #OnlineShopping

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Everyone talks about "strategic UX" and "user-centered design thinking," but I just read UX Foundation Vietnam's report, and the reality hit me hard. 📊 Here's what Vietnamese Product Designers ACTUALLY do every day: - 89% regularly work on High-Fi UI Design - 86% handle Implementation Requirements (detailed specs) - 84% create UI Guidelines - 83% do Design Handoffs But here's the gap: 💼 Only 35% regularly work on Business Requirements 💡 Only 51% do Solution Concepting regularly 🧠 Strategic activities like ideation workshops? Most designers rarely do them. We're stuck in execution mode. Is this good or bad? Should we push for more strategic involvement, or master execution first? 🤔 If you want to move beyond execution: 1. Start small - ask "why" in every brief you receive 2. Volunteer for user research opportunities 3. Learn business metrics that matter to your company 4. Practice presenting design decisions with business impact The goal isn't to abandon great execution. It's to add strategic thinking on top. What's your experience? Are you mostly executing or strategizing? 💭 Source: UX Foundation Vietnam - UX Map 2025 #UXVietnam #UXStrategy #UXMap2025

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🎨 Figma Config 2025 conference (happening right now in San Francisco) introduced several exciting new features and products aimed at enhancing design and product development workflows. Here’s a breakdown of the key announcements: NEW PRODUCTS Figma Make – An AI-powered prompt-to-code tool that transforms written descriptions or existing designs into working prototypes or apps. Figma Sites – A platform for building and publishing dynamic websites with limitless interactions and customizations powered by code and AI. Figma Draw – A set of enhanced vector editing and illustration tools for greater visual expression and high-craft design. Figma Buzz – A tool for brand and marketing teams to create visual assets at scale while maintaining brand consistency. ENHANCED FEATURES Advanced AI Capabilities – Includes image generation, editing, and auto-suggest features to speed up workflows. Grid System – A new responsive layout tool that adapts seamlessly to designs and generates CSS code in Dev Mode for smoother design-to-dev handoff. Pattern Fills & Brushes – New illustration tools like shape builder, lasso, and multi-edit for more precise vector editing. Dynamic Stroke & Effects – Customizable stroke frequency and new texture effects for a more refined design experience. Keynote: https://lnkd.in/gMCATrgw

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UI inspiration and resource I found useful for product design: • 60fps – Motion design ideas (60fps.design) • Divs – Webflow components (divs.idreezus.com) • Efecto – CSS effects (efecto.app) • Raydain – Design and code references (raydian.dev) • Visitors – Simple web traffic tool (visitors.now) • SaaSUI – Clean SaaS UI patterns (saasui.design)

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Solving everyday problems ourselves. We just released a new version of Frame to 3D Figma Plugin, that now supports multi frame animations of your designs, placed in flexible 3D meshes. We got rid of being dependent of mockup creators releasing the newest devices. Built as designers with cursors composer 1. insane. • Real-time 3D preview with smooth controls • Ultra-high quality PNG export (16x MSAA) • Professional lighting & material system • Multi-frame animation export • Preset system for quick iterations https://lnkd.in/dMbuEWGt #figma #figmaplugin #mockups #vibecoding

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Been reflecting on UX Research portfolios lately — both as something candidates create and something teams try to evaluate consistently. This piece does a nice job of framing portfolios around clarity of thinking and impact, rather than completeness of artifacts. Subtle, but important. Would love to hear different perspectives: What signals matter most to you when reviewing (or building) a UX research portfolio? https://lnkd.in/evzxge2E #UXResearch #UXCareers #ResearchPortfolio #Hiring #DesignResearch

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Progress update on LiftKit Studio, my upcoming build-your-own-UI-kit tool for Chainlift. Designs are done, development has officially begun, and the style config panel is underway. You can preview different prop configs for each component and edit the major styles. You'll export a single config file that personalizes your whoooole liftkit. Exciting! If you haven't already, check out LiftKit on GitHub! We're almost at 2k stars! https://lnkd.in/gDh6GCG2 Subscribe to LiftKit updates here: https://lnkd.in/gGTM6-9Y

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