AKIHABARA
AKIHABARA
AKIHABARA
How it Started
How it Started
The Context
The Context
As a designer passionate about creating solutions for real-world problems, this project was born from my personal frustrations. Akihabara was an arcade bar I frequented, along with similar establishments, where I repeatedly encountered the same pain points: carrying coins around, making constant trips to the ATM, paying unnecessary fees, or being forced to get more coins than I actually needed for the games I wanted to play.
These insights, essentially rooted in my own experience, became the foundation for a solution that would transform the arcade bar experience from fragmented and cash-dependent to seamless and digital!
As a designer passionate about creating solutions for real-world problems, this project was born from my personal frustrations. Akihabara was an arcade bar I frequented, along with similar establishments, where I repeatedly encountered the same pain points: carrying coins around, making constant trips to the ATM, paying unnecessary fees, or being forced to get more coins than I actually needed for the games I wanted to play.
These insights, essentially rooted in my own experience, became the foundation for a solution that would transform the arcade bar experience from fragmented and cash-dependent to seamless and digital!
UX/UI Skills Utilized
UX/UI Skills Utilized
Market Research
Competitive Analysis
User Research
Usability Testing
Wireframe
Prototyping
UI Design
Tools Used
Tools Used
#1 Complaint Payment frustration in arcade bar reviews
2-4 Interruptions Per typical arcade visit for coins
Colorado-wide Issue Problem across multiple venues
Was There Ever a Problem?
Was There Ever a Problem?
The Challenge
The Challenge
Arcade bars today face a fundamental disconnect, they operate on coin-based systems in an increasingly cashless world. At Akihabara, customers were repeatedly forced to interrupt their social experience to withdraw cash and purchase coins, often incurring ATM fees and frustration.
Through customer reviews analysis, I discovered this wasn't just my personal frustration, it was the #1 complaint across multiple arcade bar venues.
The core question became:
How might we eliminate physical coins while preserving the authentic arcade experience?
Arcade bars today face a fundamental disconnect, they operate on coin-based systems in an increasingly cashless world. At Akihabara, customers were repeatedly forced to interrupt their social experience to withdraw cash and purchase coins, often incurring ATM fees and frustration.
Through customer reviews analysis, I discovered this wasn't just my personal frustration, it was the #1 complaint across multiple arcade bar venues.
The core question became:
How might we eliminate physical coins while preserving the authentic arcade experience?
Arcade bars today face a fundamental disconnect, they operate on coin-based systems in an increasingly cashless world. At Akihabara, customers were repeatedly forced to interrupt their social experience to withdraw cash and purchase coins, often incurring ATM fees and frustration.
Through customer reviews analysis, I discovered this wasn't just my personal frustration, it was the #1 complaint across multiple arcade bar venues.
The core question became:
How might we eliminate physical coins while preserving the authentic arcade experience?
Payment frustration was the #1 complaint in reviews of arcade bars across Colorado
The typical arcade bar visit involved 2-4 interruptions to get more coins
Reviews indicated customers were highly receptive to digital payment solutions
The opportunity gap I identified was for a venue-branded app that offered a complete experience beyond just payments
User Journey Map
User Journey Map
This mapping exercise highlighted the cumulative negative impact of multiple interruptions throughout what should be a seamless social experience. By visualizing the emotional arc of users, I could identify where digital intervention would create the most significant improvements in customer satisfaction.
The journey map also revealed that solving the payment problem alone wouldn't be enough, true innovation would require addressing the entire experience from arrival to departure.
This mapping exercise highlighted the cumulative negative impact of multiple interruptions throughout what should be a seamless social experience. By visualizing the emotional arc of users, I could identify where digital intervention would create the most significant improvements in customer satisfaction.
The journey map also revealed that solving the payment problem alone wouldn't be enough, true innovation would require addressing the entire experience from arrival to departure.
UX Process
UX Process
Finding the Friction
Finding the Friction
To identify the most impactful solution, I needed to understand both user pain points and market opportunities for arcade bar experiences.
To identify the most impactful solution, I needed to understand both user pain points and market opportunities for arcade bar experiences.
Market Analysis
Competitive audit examining both direct and indirect competitors in the digital payment space for entertainment venues.
Empathy Map
I created an empathy map from my customer review analysis to better understand the arcade bar patron's perspective and emotional journey.
User Journey Map
I created detailed journey maps to visualize the current arcade bar experience, focusing on pain points and emotional states throughout the customer journey.
Iterate, Iterate, Iterate
Iterate, Iterate, Iterate
Maybe you’ve noticed, but I use this phrase often. I always start with paper wireframes first so I can get the gist of the key components in my design.
I’m really trying to focus on structure here and getting a feel of the layout. Usually, I make multiple versions of the same page and pick out key areas that I like and then add them to a final paper wireframe.
Maybe you’ve noticed, but I use this phrase often. I always start with paper wireframes first so I can get the gist of the key components in my design.
I’m really trying to focus on structure here and getting a feel of the layout. Usually, I make multiple versions of the same page and pick out key areas that I like and then add them to a final paper wireframe.
Maybe you’ve noticed, but I use this phrase often. I always start with paper wireframes first so I can get the gist of the key components in my design.
I’m really trying to focus on structure here and getting a feel of the layout. Usually, I make multiple versions of the same page and pick out key areas that I like and then add them to a final paper wireframe.
You'll notice that I designed a prominent customer profile area as a direct implementation of the 'Enhanced Gaming' principle.
This dashboard displays the user's coin balance, accumulated points for potential rewards, and quick access to the games section.
By giving users visibility into their gaming status and progress, this feature transforms the app from a mere payment utility into a core part of the arcade experience.
You'll notice that I designed a prominent customer profile area as a direct implementation of the 'Enhanced Gaming' principle.
This dashboard displays the user's coin balance, accumulated points for potential rewards, and quick access to the games section.
By giving users visibility into their gaming status and progress, this feature transforms the app from a mere payment utility into a core part of the arcade experience.
You'll notice that I designed a prominent customer profile area as a direct implementation of the 'Enhanced Gaming' principle.
This dashboard displays the user's coin balance, accumulated points for potential rewards, and quick access to the games section.
By giving users visibility into their gaming status and progress, this feature transforms the app from a mere payment utility into a core part of the arcade experience.
You'll notice that I designed a prominent customer profile area as a direct implementation of the 'Enhanced Gaming' principle.
This dashboard displays the user's coin balance, accumulated points for potential rewards, and quick access to the games section.
By giving users visibility into their gaming status and progress, this feature transforms the app from a mere payment utility into a core part of the arcade experience.
You'll notice that I designed a prominent customer profile area as a direct implementation of the 'Enhanced Gaming' principle.
This dashboard displays the user's coin balance, accumulated points for potential rewards, and quick access to the games section.
By giving users visibility into their gaming status and progress, this feature transforms the app from a mere payment utility into a core part of the arcade experience.
While I explored multiple approaches for the unique gaming features, I took a more streamlined approach to checkout and cart pages by balancing innovation with familiar e-commerce patterns that would minimize cognitive load during the payment process.
Therefore, I wanted to make it clear that users could save and easily access past payment types to give them a sense of ease when completing purchases.
While I explored multiple approaches for the unique gaming features, I took a more streamlined approach to checkout and cart pages by balancing innovation with familiar e-commerce patterns that would minimize cognitive load during the payment process.
Therefore, I wanted to make it clear that users could save and easily access past payment types to give them a sense of ease when completing purchases.
While I explored multiple approaches for the unique gaming features, I took a more streamlined approach to checkout and cart pages by balancing innovation with familiar e-commerce patterns that would minimize cognitive load during the payment process.
Therefore, I wanted to make it clear that users could save and easily access past payment types to give them a sense of ease when completing purchases.
From UX to UI
From UX to UI
Data to Design
Data to Design
With a clear understanding of user pain points and market opportunities, I needed to translate research insights into tangible design solutions. The competitive analysis and journey mapping exercises gave me a concrete direction for how the app needed to function.
These were my key areas of focus when brainstorming the UI for the app, based on my key findings during UX research:
With a clear understanding of user pain points and market opportunities, I needed to translate research insights into tangible design solutions. The competitive analysis and journey mapping exercises gave me a concrete direction for how the app needed to function.
These were my key areas of focus when brainstorming the UI for the app, based on my key findings during UX research:
Friction-Free Payments: Create a digital wallet that eliminates the need for physical coins and ATM visits, addressing the #1 pain point identified in review analysis
Integrated Experience: Combine game activation, drink orders, and tab management into a single interface, eliminating the disjointed experience revealed in the journey mapping
Enhanced Gaming: Add value through leaderboards, game information, and social features to transform the app from a utility into an essential part of the arcade experience
Friction-Free Payments: Create a digital wallet that eliminates the need for physical coins and ATM visits, addressing the #1 pain point identified in review analysis
Integrated Experience: Combine game activation, drink orders, and tab management into a single interface, eliminating the disjointed experience revealed in the journey mapping
Enhanced Gaming: Add value through leaderboards, game information, and social features to transform the app from a utility into an essential part of the arcade experience
Where to begin transforming these insights into an interface? I started with sketches, exploring multiple approaches before committing to digital wireframes.
Where to begin transforming these insights into an interface? I started with sketches, exploring multiple approaches before committing to digital wireframes.
Before
After
After
Oh Behave…
Oh Behave…
Test Early & Refine
Test Early & Refine
I tested my low fidelity prototype through a moderated usability test with 5 participants to observe how users naturally behave while using the coin & tap-to-play function.
I presented participants with tasks matching the key function for the business: Use the app to purchase coins for the arcade game.
After the studies, I used an affinity diagram to reveal a couple of patterns, those being:
I tested my low fidelity prototype through a moderated usability test with 5 participants to observe how users naturally behave while using the coin & tap-to-play function.
I presented participants with tasks matching the key function for the business: Use the app to purchase coins for the arcade game.
After the studies, I used an affinity diagram to reveal a couple of patterns, those being:
The Tap-to-Play screen needed a clear indicator that a physical action was needed to start the arcade game.
The game overview page needed to indicate to users when their coins would be deducted and when the game would actually start.
The Tap-to-Play screen needed a clear indicator that a physical action was needed to start the arcade game.
The game overview page needed to indicate to users when their coins would be deducted and when the game would actually start.
I now had a clear priority to create explicit signposting throughout the user journey to eliminate confusion at critical interaction points.
I iterated the low fidelity designs and ensured that the visual design matched my key areas of focus. Changes included adding “Insert Coins” and “Tap-to-Play” on the respective screens to better indicate to the user where they were in the game activation journey.
I now had a clear priority to create explicit signposting throughout the user journey to eliminate confusion at critical interaction points.
I iterated the low fidelity designs and ensured that the visual design matched my key areas of focus. Changes included adding “Insert Coins” and “Tap-to-Play” on the respective screens to better indicate to the user where they were in the game activation journey.
Visual Design
Visual Design
Channeling Retro-Futurism
Channeling Retro-Futurism
I start my visual design process by creating a mood board of references and inspiration for the app’s look and feel. I knew I wanted to shoot for bold, vibrant colors that matched the nostalgic 90’s Japanese era. This research informed a bold color palette featuring vibrant electric blues, hot magentas, and cyber yellows that would feel at home in both a nostalgic arcade and a modern mobile interface.
I start my visual design process by creating a mood board of references and inspiration for the app’s look and feel. I knew I wanted to shoot for bold, vibrant colors that matched the nostalgic 90’s Japanese era. This research informed a bold color palette featuring vibrant electric blues, hot magentas, and cyber yellows that would feel at home in both a nostalgic arcade and a modern mobile interface.
As far as typography I went with a simple Serif font, Oxygen, which served as the primary font for its exceptional legibility. I paired it with Roboto Mono, a monospaced font that evokes the technical precision of early computer interfaces while adding distinctive character that reinforces the retro-tech aesthetic.
The iconography system draws directly from 8-bit and 16-bit gaming heritage, featuring deliberately pixelated elements and geometric forms that feel both nostalgically familiar and purposefully crafted.
This cohesive visual language creates an immediate emotional connection with users, transforming a simple payment app into an extension of the arcade experience itself.
As far as typography I went with a simple Serif font, Oxygen, which served as the primary font for its exceptional legibility. I paired it with Roboto Mono, a monospaced font that evokes the technical precision of early computer interfaces while adding distinctive character that reinforces the retro-tech aesthetic.
The iconography system draws directly from 8-bit and 16-bit gaming heritage, featuring deliberately pixelated elements and geometric forms that feel both nostalgically familiar and purposefully crafted.
This cohesive visual language creates an immediate emotional connection with users, transforming a simple payment app into an extension of the arcade experience itself.
Evolution Digitized
Evolution Digitized
From Retro to Brutalist
From Retro to Brutalist
Several months after the initial launch, I revisited the app's design with fresh perspective gained from real-world experience. My work as a co-founder at Ziva Energy had sharpened my understanding of user-centered design principles, while continued education expanded my design methodology toolkit.
This growth prompted a bold design pivot: I embraced brutalist design principles that felt more authentic to the raw, unpolished energy of classic arcade culture. Where the original design leaned into polished retro-futurism, the new direction celebrated the gritty, utilitarian aesthetic of actual 80's and 90's arcade cabinets with purposefully stark layouts.
Several months after the initial launch, I revisited the app's design with fresh perspective gained from real-world experience. My work as a co-founder at Ziva Energy had sharpened my understanding of user-centered design principles, while continued education expanded my design methodology toolkit.
This growth prompted a bold design pivot: I embraced brutalist design principles that felt more authentic to the raw, unpolished energy of classic arcade culture. Where the original design leaned into polished retro-futurism, the new direction celebrated the gritty, utilitarian aesthetic of actual 80's and 90's arcade cabinets with purposefully stark layouts.
Project Challenges
I'm anticipating a critical user acquisition barrier: requiring app registration for casual arcade visits could create significant adoption friction. Recognizing that arcade gaming is inherently spontaneous, I identified the tension between necessary business data collection and user convenience early in the design process, prompting consideration of progressive engagement models like guest modes and social authentication (Google, Apple ID) to maximize conversion rates.
Project Changes
Several months post-launch, I completely redesigned the visual direction from retro-futurism to brutalist design principles. This major aesthetic pivot, informed by professional growth and expanded design education, required rebuilding the entire interface hierarchy and visual system to better capture the raw, utilitarian energy of authentic arcade culture.
Let Me Cook
Let Me Cook
Moving Forward
Moving Forward