Side Project
TapGlyph
Side project exploring research, discovery loops, and physical interaction design.
Role
Prototype Designer · Researcher
Status
Prototype
Tools
Figma, Web NFC, React
Bridge note
Before designing anything I ran observational research and curator interviews across three institutions to find out whether this was a recognized problem or a solution looking for one. That instinct mirrors how I approach new game features: validate the player motivation before designing the experience. The prototype emerged from that research rather than a predetermined idea of what the tool should be.
Context
- TapGlyph explores NFC-based museum interactions that open directly in the browser. The concept was shaped through curator interviews and visitor observation rather than starting with a predetermined app idea.
Problem
- Museums wanted better visitor engagement but had low confidence in app-first experiences.
- Visitors often ignored downloadable apps and long digital setup flows.
- Curators needed a way to manage interpretive content without technical overhead.
My role
- Prototype Designer · Researcher
- Prototype needed to support Android Web NFC and iOS URL fallbacks.
- Museum budgets and staff workflows shaped the concept.
- Research had to validate the operational problem before product build-out.
Design decisions
- I used discovery interviews, observational research, and a lightweight prototype to test the value proposition and staff workflow fit before pursuing a pilot.
Outcome
- Prototype shaped through curator interviews and observational research across three institutions.
- Positioned NFC-to-browser as a lightweight physical-to-digital interaction.
- Clarified pilot requirements before broader build-out.
What this shows
- TapGlyph demonstrates research maturity, prototyping, and end-to-end initiative outside my professional game work.