Spatial design （assignment 2）

 SPATIAL DESIGN II: 

User research, Storytelling & Functional Art Development

Ding Jiaqi/0379388

Spatial Design/ Bachelor of interactive spatial design

Questionnaire

At the initial stage of the project, I began by systematically analyzing the collected questionnaire data. From the responses, I selected 10 valid answers that were most relevant to my design direction. These results were then visualized using pie charts and bar graphs to better understand and organize the users’ real needs and preferences.

Based on the survey results, users prioritize improvements that enhance comfort, immersion, and engagement in the bookstore. The most desired changes include more private or individual seating areas, additional charging ports, and quiet reading zones. Users also expressed interest in interactive features such as AR, QR code interactions, and cultural events. While visual elements like lighting and photo spots are appreciated, the strongest demand is for functional upgrades, particularly in seating design, navigation, and spatial flow, reflecting a clear preference for a modern, tech-integrated, and user-centered bookstore experience.

User personal & User journey map

I constructed typical user personas (Jason and Alya) based on the research data to represent the key user groups’ characteristics, goals, and needs.

🧑‍💼 Jason – User Persona Summary: Jason is a 34-year-old finance professional who often visits Tsutaya after work to relax, read business literature, and hold informal meetings in a comfortable environment. He values efficiency, technology, and aesthetics, and prefers premium, curated experiences with strong functionality. His main needs include clearly categorized book sections, comfortable seating for short meetings, and convenient checkout with e-payment options. However, he is dissatisfied with the poor book categorization, the lack of discussion areas, and long queues at the cashier. He hopes to unwind and stay productive in a space that balances both efficiency and visual appeal.

👩‍🎓 Alya – User Persona Summary: Alya is a 21-year-old student majoring in Visual Communication Design. She enjoys visiting Tsutaya to seek creative inspiration, relax, and explore design-related books. Introverted and detail-oriented, she values beauty and personal growth, and prefers calm, reflective spaces that emphasize sustainability. She hopes to find a quiet corner for reading and studying, and to access design resources at student-friendly prices. Her main pain points include limited seating during busy hours, noise in the café area, and the high cost of design books. Alya desires a space that inspires creativity, supports focused work, and considers the needs of student budgets.

This user journey map follows Alya’s complete experience at the library, covering eight key stages from discovering the space online, arriving, exploring the reading area, café, and children’s section, to purchasing a book and reflecting afterward. Throughout her visit, she engaged with interactive installations, enjoyed immersive reading, and observed children’s activities. However, she also encountered some pain points such as a lack of power outlets, long wait times, and limited picture book variety. While her overall experience was positive, her emotions fluctuated at certain stages. The journey map reveals her real needs and feelings, providing clear direction for improving space design, service flow, and user engagement.

Emotion keyword

I identified these three emotional keywords based on the original and rustic style of the bookstore.

Tranquility

The wooden interior design style, combined with soft lighting, creates a calm and relaxing reading environment.

Warmth

The bookstore's soft lighting and wooden decor exude warmth and humanity, offering comfort and emotional solace rather than feeling cold or impersonal.

Timelessness

The classic wooden elements, curated books, and peaceful atmosphere blend together to go beyond trends, creating a space where time feels paused - inviting people to slow down, reflect and enjoy a moment of quiet eternty

Function and mood board

This functional concept page outlines three key design interventions that align closely with user needs and enhance the spatial experience: 

1.  Decoration in Guiding Customer Flow

Decorations are not merely aesthetic but also functional, helping users intuitively navigate the space while reinforcing brand identity and emotional consistency. They reduce confusion and guide movement through subtle visual cues.

 2.  Interactive Light Installation

Lighting features act as immersive and dynamic tools, especially appealing to younger audiences. They create memorable moments and transform the library into a creative and inspiring environment.  

3.  Art-Style Chair

Based on user feedback, artistic chairs will be integrated to enrich the aesthetic tone of the space while serving practical needs—providing areas for rest and reading, and visually blending with installation art.

I searched for inspiration in many images and drew numerous sketches. However, my teacher pointed out several issues with my drafts: they lacked artistic quality and structural coherence. Additionally, the teacher showed us many reference examples-small modular units assembled through splicing to form aesthetically pleasing artworks.

Process：

Canva link：

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGp7miiXmc/PmKMdyD57ypKkkjW3Y-H8Q/edit?utm_content=DAGp7miiXmc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton