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
Overview
Overview
Griddy Boards is an interactive installation designed to help students connect in simple, playful ways. Placed in everyday campus spaces, it invites people to draw, respond, and create together on shared surfaces. By turning passing moments into small acts of participation, the project explores how creativity can encourage spontaneous social connection.
Griddy Boards is an interactive installation designed to help students connect in simple, playful ways. Placed in everyday campus spaces, it invites people to draw, respond, and create together on shared surfaces. By turning passing moments into small acts of participation, the project explores how creativity can encourage spontaneous social connection.
Background
Background
The project was created by a two-person team for the University of Sydney’s User Experience Design Studio course (DECO2014), based on the Playful Cities: Urban Playgrounds Everywhere brief. We noticed that many campus spaces are used mainly for moving through rather than staying or interacting. Griddy Boards was designed to gently interrupt that routine, encouraging students to pause, take part, and connect with others through low-pressure, open-ended play.
The project was created by a two-person team for the University of Sydney’s User Experience Design Studio course (DECO2014), based on the Playful Cities: Urban Playgrounds Everywhere brief. We noticed that many campus spaces are used mainly for moving through rather than staying or interacting. Griddy Boards was designed to gently interrupt that routine, encouraging students to pause, take part, and connect with others through low-pressure, open-ended play.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Campus social spaces are often underused because many students prefer to keep to themselves or stay within familiar social and language boundaries.
Campus social spaces are often underused because many students prefer to keep to themselves or stay within familiar social and language boundaries.
Simple design choices, such as shared seating or communal activities, can make interaction feel more natural and less forced.
Simple design choices, such as shared seating or communal activities, can make interaction feel more natural and less forced.
Open-ended creative activities like collaborative drawing provide an easy, low-pressure way for people to connect.
Open-ended creative activities like collaborative drawing provide an easy, low-pressure way for people to connect.
Real-world testing and iteration are essential to making interactive installations feel intuitive and inviting.
Real-world testing and iteration are essential to making interactive installations feel intuitive and inviting.
Problem Scenario
Problem Scenario
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.
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.
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.
Research and Insights
Research and Insights
To understand how students experience social interaction on campus, we used a mix of surveys and interviews. Surveys helped identify broader patterns in social behaviour, while interviews provided deeper insight into personal experiences and motivations.
To understand how students experience social interaction on campus, we used a mix of surveys and interviews. Surveys helped identify broader patterns in social behaviour, while interviews provided deeper insight into personal experiences and motivations.
We collected 40 survey responses and conducted five semi-structured interviews. After analysing the data using an affinity diagram, key themes emerged around isolation, hesitation to initiate interaction, and the lack of engaging social spaces.
We collected 40 survey responses and conducted five semi-structured interviews. After analysing the data using an affinity diagram, key themes emerged 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 reinforced the need for a low-pressure, shared activity that could help students connect naturally, without relying on language, confidence, or existing social groups.
These findings reinforced the need for a low-pressure, shared activity that could help students connect naturally, 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 conversation rather than simply passing through.
Flexible group seating encourages students to linger, gather, and engage in casual conversation 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 our design challenge: creating campus social spaces that support meaningful, low-pressure student interactions.
These insights shaped our design challenge: creating campus social spaces that support meaningful, low-pressure student interactions.
User Persona
User Persona
We created this persona to represent the students we observed throughout our research. By synthesising insights from surveys, interviews, and key pain points, it helped us design more focused and meaningful social experiences on campus.
We created this persona to represent the students we observed throughout our research. By synthesising insights from surveys, interviews, and key pain points, it helped us design more focused and meaningful social experiences on campus.
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 what we learned from our research, we explored ideas that could make social interaction feel easy and approachable. We sketched six storyboard concepts focused on shared, creative activities in everyday campus spaces. From these, we chose a collaborative graffiti wall where students draw together on a shared surface, using simple prompts to spark creativity and conversation.
Building on what we learned from our research, we explored ideas that could make social interaction feel easy and approachable. We sketched six storyboard concepts focused on shared, creative activities in everyday campus spaces. From these, we chose a collaborative graffiti wall where students draw together on a shared surface, using simple prompts to spark creativity and conversation.
Concept Selection
Concept Selection
To narrow down our ideas, we compared the strongest concepts using a decision matrix that looked at how engaging, practical, and scalable each idea would be. This helped us confidently shortlist three concepts to explore further.
To narrow down our ideas, we compared the strongest concepts using a decision matrix that looked at how engaging, practical, and scalable each idea would be. This helped us confidently shortlist three concepts to explore further.
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 the original single-wall idea felt overwhelming, requiring too much effort and space to engage with. We refined the concept into Griddy Boards: four smaller interactive tables that together form a shared artwork. This approach lets students participate at their own pace while still contributing to something collective. Comparing ideas based on engagement, practicality, and scalability helped confirm this direction.
Feedback showed the original single-wall idea felt overwhelming, requiring too much effort and space to engage with. We refined the concept into Griddy Boards: four smaller interactive tables that together form a shared artwork. This approach lets students participate at their own pace while still contributing to something collective. Comparing ideas based on engagement, practicality, and scalability helped confirm this direction.
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 pods were assembled, secured, and visually refined to create a stable and inviting setup that encouraged small, comfortable group interactions. In parallel, my teammate developed the digital interface to support collaboration. Together, we ensured the physical and digital elements worked seamlessly as one experience.
I led the physical prototyping of Griddy Boards, building four individual drawing pods using simple materials such as cardboard and whiteboards. The pods were assembled, secured, and visually refined to create a stable and inviting setup that encouraged small, comfortable group interactions. In parallel, my teammate developed the digital interface to support collaboration. Together, we ensured the physical and digital elements worked seamlessly as one experience.
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:
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 standout moment occurred when all four boards connected to reveal a shared artwork, surprising and delighting participants. After refinements, the prototype achieved an average usability score of 85 from 28 participants, well above the industry benchmark of 68.
The sessions showed strong social engagement, with strangers naturally starting conversations and drawing together. A standout moment occurred when all four boards connected to reveal a shared artwork, surprising and delighting participants. After 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 what we learned from testing, we refined Griddy Boards into a more polished version for presentation. I created and animated a 3D model of the physical setup to clearly show how the boards come together, along with a poster that highlights the key features in an easy-to-understand way. At the same time, my teammate produced and narrated a short video to demonstrate how people would interact with the system.
Building on what we learned from testing, we refined Griddy Boards into a more polished version for presentation. I created and animated a 3D model of the physical setup to clearly show how the boards come together, along with a poster that highlights the key features in an easy-to-understand way. At the same time, my teammate produced and narrated a short video to demonstrate how people would interact with the system.
Promotional Poster
Promotional Poster
Promotional Video
Promotional Video
Reflection
Reflection
Working in a two-person team meant taking on multiple roles, from research and prototyping to testing and documentation. Building and iterating on three physical prototypes while running seven testing sessions was more time-intensive than expected, pushing us to make fast decisions and adapt continuously.
Working in a two-person team meant taking on multiple roles, from research and prototyping to testing and documentation. Building and iterating on three physical prototypes while running seven testing sessions was more time-intensive than expected, pushing us to make fast decisions and adapt continuously.
I focused on shaping the physical experience and spatial layout, while my teammate led the digital components. This collaboration strengthened my communication and time management skills, especially under tight constraints. Iterative testing also highlighted how small design decisions can have a large impact, such as refining the concept from one large graffiti wall to four smaller boards, which made participation feel less intimidating and more inviting.
I focused on shaping the physical experience and spatial layout, while my teammate led the digital components. This collaboration strengthened my communication and time management skills, especially under tight constraints. Iterative testing also highlighted how small design decisions can have a large impact, such as refining the concept from one large graffiti wall to four smaller boards, which made participation feel less intimidating and more inviting.
This project reinforced the importance of designing for real contexts and real people. It strengthened my confidence in working within constraints, responding to feedback, and designing social experiences that prioritise accessibility, inclusion, 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 importance of designing for real contexts and real people. It strengthened my confidence in working within constraints, responding to feedback, and designing social experiences that prioritise accessibility, inclusion, 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
Hidden Factors
A UX research project uncovering how subtle task traits influence productivity.
A UX research project uncovering how subtle task traits influence productivity.
Urban Alert
Crowdsourced civic tech tools for reporting and resolving everyday infrastructure issues.
Crowdsourced civic tech tools for reporting and resolving everyday infrastructure issues.
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.
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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