Griddy Boards
Griddy Boards
Role
Role
UX Designer & Researcher
UX Designer & Researcher
Timeline
Timeline
Mar 2024 - Jun 2024
Mar 2024 - Jun 2024
Project Type
Project Type
Collaborative Duo Project
Collaborative Duo Project
Tools/Skills
Tools/Skills
Figma, Blender, Canva, 3D Modeling, Physical Prototyping, User Research
Figma, Blender, Canva, 3D Modeling, Physical Prototyping, User Research
Project Overview
Project Overview
Griddy Boards explores how playful, shared creative activities can reduce social barriers and encourage spontaneous connection in everyday campus spaces. Through the design and testing of an interactive installation, the project investigates how low-pressure participation can make social interaction feel more accessible, inclusive, and optional for students.
Griddy Boards explores how playful, shared creative activities can reduce social barriers and encourage spontaneous connection in everyday campus spaces. Through the design and testing of an interactive installation, the project investigates how low-pressure participation can make social interaction feel more accessible, inclusive, and optional for students.
The Problem
The Problem
I began this project after noticing that many campus spaces are designed for movement rather than interaction. While students are often surrounded by others, these environments rarely encourage people to pause, participate, or engage socially. This led me to question how shared spaces could better support low-pressure, spontaneous social connection, especially for students who feel hesitant initiating interaction.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Campus social spaces are underused because many students feel more comfortable staying within familiar social and language boundaries.
Campus social spaces are underused because many students feel more comfortable staying within familiar social and language boundaries.
Simple design choices, such as shared seating or communal activities, make interaction feel more natural and less forced.
Simple design choices, such as shared seating or communal activities, make interaction feel more natural and less forced.
Open-ended creative activities like collaborative drawing provide an easy entry point for social connection.
Open-ended creative activities like collaborative drawing provide an easy entry point for social connection.
Small interaction and spatial details strongly influence whether people feel comfortable engaging.
Small interaction and spatial details strongly influence whether people feel comfortable engaging.
Context & Evidence
Context & Evidence
University campuses provide shared spaces for students to gather, yet many fail to support meaningful social connection. Language barriers, personal comfort levels, and unengaging environments often discourage casual interaction, leaving students feeling isolated even when surrounded by others.
University campuses provide shared spaces for students to gather, yet many fail to support meaningful social connection. Language barriers, personal comfort levels, and unengaging environments often discourage casual interaction, leaving students feeling isolated even when surrounded by others.
Students lack accessible, low-pressure ways to connect with one another in everyday campus spaces.
Students lack accessible, low-pressure ways to connect with one another in everyday campus spaces.
Research highlights loneliness as a significant issue among university students, with many experiencing shallow or infrequent social relationships (Diehl et al., 2018).
Research highlights loneliness as a significant issue among university students, with many experiencing shallow or infrequent social relationships (Diehl et al., 2018).
Studies in interactive public space design also show that shared, interactive installations can strengthen social connectedness, particularly when people engage together (Thom Boheemen & Hu, 2014).
Studies in interactive public space design also show that shared, interactive installations can strengthen social connectedness, particularly when people engage together (Thom Boheemen & Hu, 2014).
Despite this evidence, many campus social areas remain passive and underutilised, missing opportunities to encourage spontaneous interaction and play.
Despite this evidence, many campus social areas remain passive and underutilised, missing opportunities to encourage spontaneous interaction and play.
User Research
User Research
To understand how students experience social interaction on campus, I used a mix of surveys and interviews to identify both broad patterns and personal motivations. In total, I collected 40 survey responses and conducted five semi-structured interviews.
To understand how students experience social interaction on campus, I used a mix of surveys and interviews to identify both broad patterns and personal motivations. In total, I collected 40 survey responses and conducted five semi-structured interviews.
Analysis revealed recurring themes around isolation, hesitation to initiate interaction, and the lack of engaging social spaces.
Analysis revealed recurring themes around isolation, hesitation to initiate interaction, and the lack of engaging social spaces.
32.5%
32.5%
of students reported not forming any meaningful connections on campus.
of students reported not forming any meaningful connections on campus.
40%
40%
said they rarely engage in conversations with others.
said they rarely engage in conversations with others.
These findings highlighted a clear need for low-pressure, shared activities that allow students to connect without relying on language, confidence, or existing social groups.
These findings highlighted a clear need for low-pressure, shared activities that allow students to connect without relying on language, confidence, or existing social groups.
By bringing together insights from both the survey and interviews, we identified three key themes that shaped the final design.
By bringing together insights from both the survey and interviews, we identified three key themes that shaped the final design.
Social Barriers
Social Barriers
Students often avoid social spaces not because they lack interest, but because language differences, comfort levels, and unwelcoming environments make interaction feel intimidating.
Students often avoid social spaces not because they lack interest, but because language differences, comfort levels, and unwelcoming environments make interaction feel intimidating.
Outdoor Seatings
Outdoor Seatings
Flexible group seating encourages students to linger, gather, and engage in casual interaction rather than simply passing through.
Flexible group seating encourages students to linger, gather, and engage in casual interaction rather than simply passing through.
Meal Gatherings
Meal Gatherings
Shared meals provide a natural, low-pressure way for students to connect and build shared experiences.
Shared meals provide a natural, low-pressure way for students to connect and build shared experiences.
These insights shaped the design challenge: creating campus social spaces that support meaningful, low-pressure student interactions.
These insights shaped the design challenge: creating campus social spaces that support meaningful, low-pressure student interactions.
Persona
Persona
This persona represents the core user group identified through research and was used to ground design decisions in real student behaviours, motivations, and everyday social constraints.
This persona represents the core user group identified through research and was used to ground design decisions in real student behaviours, motivations, and everyday social constraints.
Levi Kusen, 20
Levi Kusen, 20
Levi Kusen, 20
Second-year student
Second-year student
Commuter
Commuter
Sydney
Sydney
Levi comes to campus regularly but struggles to form new connections outside of classes. While he wants to meet new people, most social spaces feel awkward to enter without a clear reason to interact, so he often keeps to himself.
Levi comes to campus regularly but struggles to form new connections outside of classes. While he wants to meet new people, most social spaces feel awkward to enter without a clear reason to interact, so he often keeps to himself.
Challenges
Challenges
Initiating conversations with strangers feels intimidating
Social spaces often feel closed-off or clique-based
Language differences raise the barrier to casual interaction
Without a shared activity, interaction feels awkward
Initiating conversations with strangers feels intimidating
Social spaces often feel closed-off or clique-based
Language differences raise the barrier to casual interaction
Without a shared activity, interaction feels awkward
Motivations
Motivations
Meet people in natural, low-pressure ways
Feel included in campus life beyond classes
Connect through shared experiences rather than introductions
Build friendships that grow organically over time
Meet people in natural, low-pressure ways
Feel included in campus life beyond classes
Connect through shared experiences rather than introductions
Build friendships that grow organically over time
Core Insight
Core Insight
Levi isn’t avoiding social connection; he’s avoiding the awkward first step. Shared, low-pressure activities create a natural entry point that makes interaction feel optional, safe, and easier to begin.
Levi isn’t avoiding social connection; he’s avoiding the awkward first step. Shared, low-pressure activities create a natural entry point that makes interaction feel optional, safe, and easier to begin.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Campus social spaces are often underused not because students lack interest in connecting, but because initiating interaction feels uncomfortable or intimidating. Through research, we found that personal comfort levels, language differences, and the absence of engaging activities discourage casual interaction, even in shared spaces. This highlights the need for campus environments that provide low-pressure entry points for social connection, allowing students to engage naturally and on their own terms.
Campus social spaces are often underused not because students lack interest in connecting, but because initiating interaction feels uncomfortable or intimidating. Through research, we found that personal comfort levels, language differences, and the absence of engaging activities discourage casual interaction, even in shared spaces. This highlights the need for campus environments that provide low-pressure entry points for social connection, allowing students to engage naturally and on their own terms.
Ideation
Ideation
Building on the research insights, we explored concepts that could reduce social friction and make interaction feel optional rather than forced. We focused on shared, creative activities that could act as natural conversation starters in everyday campus spaces, allowing students to participate without the pressure of initiating direct social interaction.
Building on the research insights, we explored concepts that could reduce social friction and make interaction feel optional rather than forced. We focused on shared, creative activities that could act as natural conversation starters in everyday campus spaces, allowing students to participate without the pressure of initiating direct social interaction.
Concept Selection
Concept Selection
To narrow down our ideas, we compared the strongest concepts using a decision matrix based on engagement, practicality, and scalability. This helped us confidently shortlist three concepts to explore further, with the interactive graffiti wall standing out for its balance of low effort, high engagement, and ability to support group participation without relying on verbal interaction.
To narrow down our ideas, we compared the strongest concepts using a decision matrix based on engagement, practicality, and scalability. This helped us confidently shortlist three concepts to explore further, with the interactive graffiti wall standing out for its balance of low effort, high engagement, and ability to support group participation without relying on verbal interaction.
Meal Sharing Table
Decision Matrix score: 9
Decision Matrix score: 9
No Tech Zone
Decision Matrix score: 3
Decision Matrix score: 3
Interactive Graffiti Wall
Decision Matrix score: 10
Decision Matrix score: 10
Feedback showed that the original single-wall concept felt overwhelming, requiring too much effort and space for students to comfortably engage. We refined the idea into Griddy Boards: four smaller interactive tables that form a shared artwork. This shift reduced social and physical friction, allowing students to participate at their own pace while still contributing to a collective outcome. The concept was selected for its balance of accessibility, engagement, and scalability in real campus settings.
1st Iteration
1st Iteration
Shared drawing surface
Encouraged creative participation
Open, unstructured interaction
Shared drawing surface
Encouraged creative participation
Open, unstructured interaction
2nd Iteration
2nd Iteration
Single shared board felt distracting
Required too much space to work effectively
Single shared board felt distracting
Required too much space to work effectively
3rd Iteration
3rd Iteration
Simplified the overall concept
Shifted word prompts to visual prompts
Improved versatility and portability of the drawing pods
Simplified the overall concept
Shifted word prompts to visual prompts
Improved versatility and portability of the drawing pods
Prototyping
Prototyping
Mid-fidelity Prototype
Mid-fidelity Prototype
I led the physical prototyping of Griddy Boards, building four individual drawing pods using simple materials such as cardboard and whiteboards. The goal was to quickly test scale, placement, and how small groups would gather around each pod in real space.
This physical setup allowed us to evaluate comfort, visibility, and ease of participation before investing in higher-fidelity materials. In parallel, my teammate developed the digital interface to support collaboration. Together, the physical and digital components were designed to work as a single system, ensuring the experience felt cohesive rather than fragmented.
How Participants Used Griddy Boards
How Participants Used Griddy Boards
1
Find Griddy Board
2
2
Gather people
3
3
Choose an image prompt
4
4
Draw your part
5
5
Combine your pieces
Griddy Board Features
Griddy Board Features
Physical
Physical
Movable, draw-on pods that support small group interaction.
Movable, draw-on pods that support small group interaction.
Digital
Digital
Simple visual prompts that guide participation without over-structuring.
Simple visual prompts that guide participation without over-structuring.
Spatial
Spatial
Placed in high-traffic areas to encourage spontaneous engagement.
Placed in high-traffic areas to encourage spontaneous engagement.
Playful
Playful
Shared drawing activities that make interaction feel fun and low-pressure.
Shared drawing activities that make interaction feel fun and low-pressure.
User Testing
User Testing
We tested Griddy Boards across seven sessions during a university fair, with small groups of around four students at a time. Feedback was gathered through short surveys, conversations, and observation, focusing on:
How well the boards encouraged social interaction
How well the boards encouraged social interaction
How easy the physical and digital elements were to use
How easy the physical and digital elements were to use
How collaboration and engagement could be improved
How collaboration and engagement could be improved
The sessions showed strong social engagement, with strangers naturally starting conversations and drawing together. A key moment occurred when all four boards connected to reveal a shared artwork, reinforcing the value of collective participation.
fter refinements, the prototype achieved an average usability score of 85 from 28 participants, well above the industry benchmark of 68.
7
Sessions
4
Per group
28
Participants
85
Usability score
High-fidelity Prototype
High-fidelity Prototype
Building on insights from user testing, we refined Griddy Boards into a high-fidelity prototype to clearly communicate the final interaction concept and physical form. I created and animated a 3D model of the setup to demonstrate how the boards connect and function together in real space. This allowed the experience to be understood without needing physical deployment.
Building on insights from user testing, we refined Griddy Boards into a high-fidelity prototype to clearly communicate the final interaction concept and physical form. I created and animated a 3D model of the setup to demonstrate how the boards connect and function together in real space. This allowed the experience to be understood without needing physical deployment.
In parallel, my teammate produced a short promotional video to illustrate how users would discover, interact with, and collaborate through the system. Together, these artefacts were used to validate the final concept and communicate the design effectively to stakeholders.
In parallel, my teammate produced a short promotional video to illustrate how users would discover, interact with, and collaborate through the system. Together, these artefacts were used to validate the final concept and communicate the design effectively to stakeholders.
Design Poster
Design Poster
Concept Video
Concept Video
Reflection
Reflection
Working in a two-person team required balancing research, prototyping, testing, and documentation across a tight timeline. Building and iterating on three physical prototypes while running seven testing sessions highlighted the importance of making fast, informed design decisions in real-world conditions.
Working in a two-person team required balancing research, prototyping, testing, and documentation across a tight timeline. Building and iterating on three physical prototypes while running seven testing sessions highlighted the importance of making fast, informed design decisions in real-world conditions.
I focused on shaping the physical experience and spatial layout, while my teammate led the digital components. This collaboration reinforced how closely physical form and interaction design need to work together to support social behaviour. Iterative testing showed that small design choices can have a significant impact, particularly the shift from a single large graffiti wall to four smaller boards, which reduced social friction and made participation feel more approachable.
I focused on shaping the physical experience and spatial layout, while my teammate led the digital components. This collaboration reinforced how closely physical form and interaction design need to work together to support social behaviour. Iterative testing showed that small design choices can have a significant impact, particularly the shift from a single large graffiti wall to four smaller boards, which reduced social friction and made participation feel more approachable.
This project reinforced the value of designing for real contexts and real users. It strengthened my confidence in working within constraints, responding to feedback, and designing social experiences that prioritise accessibility and low-pressure interaction. With more time, I would further refine the digital experience and explore how Griddy Boards could scale across different campus and public settings.
This project reinforced the value of designing for real contexts and real users. It strengthened my confidence in working within constraints, responding to feedback, and designing social experiences that prioritise accessibility and low-pressure interaction. With more time, I would further refine the digital experience and explore how Griddy Boards could scale across different campus and public settings.
Other Works
Other Works
Other Works
Urban Alert
Crowdsourced civic tech tools for reporting and resolving everyday infrastructure issues.
Crowdsourced civic tech tools for reporting and resolving everyday infrastructure issues.
Hidden Factors
A UX research project uncovering how subtle task traits influence productivity.
A UX research project uncovering how subtle task traits influence productivity.
Beyond Academia
Design work completed in collaboration with companies, alongside select independent and passion projects.
Design work completed in collaboration with companies, alongside select independent and passion projects.
Glad you were here :)
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Kyaw Nyi Nyi
2025©All rights reserved.
Social
Glad you were here :) I'd love to hear from you!
Kyaw Nyi Nyi
2025©All rights reserved.
Social
Glad you were here :)
I'd love to hear from you!
Kyaw Nyi Nyi
2025©All rights reserved.
Social