After completing my placement, I took some time over the summer to reflect on my experiences and think about where I’d like to take my dissertation. While exploring different topics, a few ideas really stood out to me. I had lots of thoughts and directions I could go in but I decided to narrow it down to three main areas that I’d like to explore in more depth.
AI or other platforms.**
With the rapid rise of AI tools like OpenAI’s Sora people are finding it harder to know what’s real and what to trust online, especially while scrolling through Tiktok you really can’t tell if its real or AI. This project would explore how design choices such as layout, tone of voice, and visual cues can influence how much users trust AI driven platforms. The aim is to understand what makes an interface feel reliable and transparent and how designers can build trust through thoughtful design rather than just technology.
scrolling) in popular apps.**
I often find myself getting carried away and scrolling for hours without even realising it. Many apps are designed to keep users hooked through subtle “dark patterns” features that encourage endless engagement. This topic would explore how these design choices affect user wellbeing and how ethical UX design could help reduce doomscrolling. The aim is to understand how apps can be designed to respect users time and attention while still keeping them engaged in a positive way.
After travelling to Beijing last year, I was fascinated by how different Western and Asian apps felt in both design and functionality. The digital experience in China seemed to form a complete ecosystem everything was connected. What stood out most to me was the strong sense of community, not just in the culture itself, but also within the apps people used. This made me curious about how culture influences design choices and why Western apps often feel more focused on the individual rather than being connected like those in Asia.
I knew I wanted to explore Cultural UX in more depth, which is why I first looked into how Asian apps use games and reward systems compared to Western ones. We’re starting to see this approach appear more in Western platforms too like TikTok Lives. I wasn’t completely sure if this would be my final topic, but I knew it was the direction I wanted to take.
We got into groups of three and I shared my idea with my group to hear their thoughts on my chosen topic. To be honest, I would’ve appreciated a bit more feedback from one of the participants but it was still helpful to get another perspective on my chosen topic.
Feedback
Based on feedback from my group, my title was seen as a good starting point but slightly broad so I’ll look at ways to narrow it down. My research question was described as interesting but not fully aligned with the title which shows I need to make sure both clearly connect and focus on the same theme. The references I’ve included so far are relevant and academic but I’ll continue exploring more sources to strengthen my research base. I was pleased that my dissertation structure was recognised as clear and well thought out which gives me a solid foundation to build on as I refine my topic.
To help me better understand the differences between Asian and Western design approaches, I created a visual comparison chart of UX habits across both cultures. I broke it down into key areas such as app models, payments, onboarding, trust, navigation, and colour symbolism.
This really helped me see how design priorities and user expectations can be so different. Asian apps tend to focus more on connection, community, and having multiple features all in one place like super apps, in app games, and social shopping. In contrast Western apps usually aim for simplicity, minimal design, and a more individual experience.
