Designer’s Tweets About Japan’s UI Perfections Are Heartwarming & Delightful
Image via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Japan appears to be a world of its own. Innovation is second nature in this nation, where naturally blue chocolates exist, ice cream doesn’t melt, and AI reads your mind. There’s also a ‘Human Uber’ service that lets strangers attend gatherings in your stead using tablet displays that bear your face.
Naturally, designer and typographer Marcin Wichary was in awe during his first visit to Japan. Amazed by the unique hospitality and user interface quirks that meet his way, he decided to live-tweet his encounters, and his heartwarming posts have since gone viral.
“[Here are] things that surprised [or] amazed me about Japan… [they’re] more likely UI than food, but you know this already.”
View some enlightening tweets below and read the entire thread here.
Things that surprised/amazed me about Japan, an ongoing thread.
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
(More likely UI than food, but you know this already.)
It’s my first time here. Please comment away and/or point out my cultural insensitivities!
First keyboard I interacted with in Japan was already kind of amazing. Mechanical numeric keypad in an ATM! pic.twitter.com/U0bnG3rWui
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
4. I bought a personalized subway travel card like a pro. From a vending machine! pic.twitter.com/eiO6g31M72
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
5. The (Tokyo) subway shows an animation as you arrive at a stop, with the position of your car and a diagram of the station. It feels garish, but really useful. pic.twitter.com/EIelvaxUVo
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
8. The toilet seat raised itself as I opened the restroom door and FREAKED ME THE HELL OUT.
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
13. This UI might not be specific to Japan, but that’s not going to stop me from FALLING IN LOVE. pic.twitter.com/rL2H12hn5l
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
15. Okay, the magnetic Do Not Disturb/Clean Up sign is pretty genius, particularly compared to the usual paper one that always falls to the ground. pic.twitter.com/d38kF8ONlp
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
17. Interesting system: you pay for a ticket to a restaurant in front of it, and then enter and give it to a server. No tips, and after finishing you just get up and leave? pic.twitter.com/DVkYPhPl1S
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
22. All the vending machines I used so far (three) used lights to show me what I could afford after putting in money. pic.twitter.com/h88FLevp8f
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 1, 2018
36. I like this type-heavy visualization of what’s on this and adjacent half-floors. pic.twitter.com/H5djk6qMtN
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 2, 2018
51. And, in the “brands I recognize doing things I don’t” department…
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 2, 2018
(Also, an amazing place name in that second photo.) pic.twitter.com/iJX2c5d7ob
60. Manspreading: A global epidemic. :·/ pic.twitter.com/2A2cReIqH6
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 3, 2018
76. Walking up the stairs is good for you! pic.twitter.com/zBGp4uUDzN
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 3, 2018
94. There are so very many “keep on this side” signs, sometimes beautifully worn out by millions of feet walking over them. (Will try to take more photos of those.) pic.twitter.com/kBrosxnjgb
— Marcin Wichary (@mwichary) February 3, 2018
[via Marcin Wichary, cover image via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)]
