Discovering Boston Chinatown through pastries, a photo-first experience that makes hidden favorites accessible
ROLE
Product Designer
Art Director
TOOLS
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Indesign
TIMELINE
Jan-May 2025
DISCIPLINES
Prototyping
Visual Design
Interaction Design
Branding
THE CHALLENGE
Why is it so hard to learn about Chinatown bakery items?
Chinatown bakeries are full of rich stories, cultural significance, and delicious treats, but many people don’t know where to start. Whether it’s due to language barriers, unfamiliar ingredients, or limited signage, these shops can feel unapproachable to outsiders.
THE SOLUTION
Bun Voyage is a photo-first mobile experience designed to make Chinatown bakeries more approachable. Users can explore local treats visually, learn about their ingredients and cultural context, and discover where to find the best versions across Boston’s Chinatown.
Onboarding flow
View user posts
Learn more about an egg tart
HMW
HMW create a tool that lets curious customers uncover the names, ingredients, and stories behind Chinese bakery items they encounter?
AKA helping people figure out “what is this?” without feeling awkward about asking
USER INTERVIEWS
Why non-Chinese/Cantonese speakers struggle to discover Chinatown bakery favorites
I spoke with 10+ food lovers about how they find and try new foods, the apps they turn to, and the roadblocks they hit, especially when the food comes from cultures or languages they’re less familiar with.
1.
Language barriers between customers and bakery staff
2.
Customer food allergies/ diet restrictions
3.
The bakeries hold no online presence
CREATING THE BRAND
One-page brand guideline
I drew from traditional Taiwanese and Chinese design elements to build a green, red, and beige color palette for Bun Voyage. To match the friendly tone of the bun mascot I created, I used rounded fonts that helped tie the visual system together in a simple, approachable way.
DESIGN DECISIONS
Prioritizing information in user cards
The final design displays the item’s image, name, star rating, and the user who posted it, allowing users to quickly grasp key information without needing to click through.
DESIGN DECISIONS
Phonetic pronounciations
Usability testing revealed that while users could learn about bakery items and their cultural context, many were unsure what to do once they found the item or how to ask if a bakery carried it. With the pronounciation feature helps users confidently say the name, making in-person discovery easier and more approachable.
TAKEAWAYS
Microinteractions matter 🤓 Tiny details can bring personality and delight to the experience.
Culture can guide design 🥮 Visual choices rooted in culture help users feel connected and understood.