WeRBFF
A sticker photo booth redesigned for Koreans, based on the Japanese style.
To redesign a Japanese-origin sticker photo booth for Korean users by identifying usability pain points and cultural mismatches.
Timeline : April 2013 - September 2013
Type : Sticker Photo Booth Redesign
Team: 3 members (Collaborative project)
Role: UX Researcher · UI Designer
Problem Statement
Although sticker photo booths were once popular among young users, their appeal declined due to mobile photo apps.
Our analysis revealed that imported Japanese machines failed to consider:
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Cultural fit (Japanese text, female-oriented visuals)
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Usability issues (two separated workspaces, limited customization)
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Accessibility gaps (unclear flow, small typography, confusing color hierarchy)
Research Process
1. User Observation & Interviews
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Conducted on-site field study at the Times Square Game Center.
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Participants: 10 users (mixed gender, 20s).
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Methods: Observation, think-aloud, interviews, photo & audio recording.
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Compensation: 8,000 KRW per group.
2. Key Research Questions
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How do users navigate between photo and decoration booths?
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Which interface elements cause confusion?
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How do male vs. female users perceive the design differently?
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Which decoration tools and backgrounds are most/least used?
Insights
Information Architecture Issues
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Two-space workflow created unnecessary movement.
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No global navigation or overall progress indicator.
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Limited Korean localization; unclear Japanese icons.
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Excessive decoration categories and inconsistent naming.
Look & Feel Issues
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Pink-dominant palette made the design feel exclusive to women.
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Fonts lacked hierarchy and legibility.
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Interface elements lacked visual affordance.
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Poor contrast between text and background colors.
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Over-decorated visuals increased cognitive load.
User Pain Points
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Could not undo mistakes during photo selection.
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Poor visibility of camera instructions.
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Decoration interface felt cluttered and small.
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Limited male-oriented themes or items.
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No indication of printing time or progress.
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Difficulty sending photos to mobile devices.
Design Goals
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Unify photo & decoration spaces into a single, continuous flow.
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Localize UI for Korean users with culturally relevant themes.
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Introduce gender-neutral, color-balanced design.
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Simplify navigation hierarchy for first-time users.
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Enhance interaction feedback (clear buttons, icons, progress bar).
Shooting Booth
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Adjustable camera via joystick control.
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Distance sensor for dynamic framing.
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Four main themes: Solid / Seasonal / Movie / Celebrity.
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Real-time theme switching during shooting.
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User-controlled photo layout selection.
Decoration Booth
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Integrated single booth with intuitive navigation.
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Keypad system added for users uncomfortable with stylus writing.
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Real-time preview of final print layout.
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Pop-up hints for faster onboarding.
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Streamlined photo division and printing flow.
Improved Information Architecture
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Combined two-step process (shoot → decorate) into one coherent journey.
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Simplified menu hierarchy and clear feedback loops.
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Re-categorized decoration items for logical grouping.
Outcome
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Improved user flow with shorter task completion time.
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Broadened target audience beyond teenage females.
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Reduced confusion through localized, minimal UI design.
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Increased satisfaction and re-use intention through usability testing.
Reflection
“A culturally localized interface can make a familiar experience feel personal again.”
Through this project, we learned how critical cultural adaptation and information clarity are when importing digital products. It laid the foundation for my later UX work emphasizing cross-cultural usability and intuitive interaction flow.