01 — Overview
Campus services,
one screen.
This project explored how interactive information systems can support communication, learning, and access to services within a public university environment. The proposed kiosk integrates physical presence and touch-based digital interaction to create a shared communication point for students and faculty.
Developed as a bachelor thesis using a research-through-design methodology, the project covers the full spectrum from user research and benchmarking through interface design to the physical form of the kiosk unit itself.
A single touchpoint for course registration, document requests, educational information, and student services — designed to reduce friction in daily campus life.
02 — Context & Problem
Fragmented
services.
University campuses often distribute their services across multiple offices, websites, and notice boards, forcing students to navigate an inconsistent landscape of information. Registration happens in one place, document requests in another, academic news somewhere else entirely.
This fragmentation creates cognitive load, wastes time, and is particularly difficult for first-year students and non-native speakers unfamiliar with institutional processes. A unified physical touchpoint in shared campus spaces could radically simplify access to everyday services.
The project was grounded in real-world research: observing how students navigate existing systems, benchmarking comparable solutions at other institutions, and mapping the full ecosystem of student needs.
03 — Benchmarking
Learning from
others.
Before designing the interface, the project included a structured analysis of how other universities handle digital student services — both through web portals and physical kiosk systems. The goal was to identify patterns, gaps, and best practices that could inform design decisions.
Pattern observed
Icon-driven navigation
The most effective systems use consistent icon sets paired with short labels. This reduces reading load and allows faster scanning in high-traffic shared spaces.
Pattern observed
Personalised entry point
Leading platforms greet users by name after login, creating an immediate sense of context. This also enables personalised content — relevant courses, upcoming deadlines, pending requests.
Pattern observed
Minimal cognitive load
The most usable systems limit each screen to one primary task. Complex processes are broken into clear sequential steps, never presenting all options at once.
Gap identified
Integrated document handling
Most university portals require students to visit separate systems for document requests. Integrating this workflow into a single interface was a clear opportunity for this design.
Gap identified
Physical presence
Digital-only solutions leave students without a fallback when they lack device access or internet connectivity. A campus-located physical kiosk addresses this equity gap.
Design principle
Consistency across modules
The interaction layer was reinterpreted to reflect contemporary digital service design. The interface focuses on clarity, consistency, minimal cognitive load, and accessible navigation for diverse users.
04 — Interface Design
Five modules,
one logic.
The interface was designed around five core service modules, each following the same navigational logic: a persistent left-side icon navigation, a hierarchical content area, and clear action states. This consistency reduces the learning curve significantly — users who understand one module can immediately navigate the others.
Module 01
Students — Outstanding Works
Showcases selected student work across disciplines. Includes article previews, student profiles, and paginated news organised by category (Conferences, Awards, Other News).
Module 02
Education Information
Provides access to news, published articles, and academic updates relevant to the Faculty of Art and Architecture. Filterable by type and browseable with pagination.
Module 03
Course Registration
Personalised course selection interface. Students log in to see available courses with professor, schedule, exam date, credit count, and prerequisites — then confirm or edit their selection.
Module 04
Document Request
A searchable list of official university documents. Students select the document type (e.g. Official University Introduction Letter), review the auto-generated content, then submit directly from the kiosk.
Students module — best works · art and design news · published articles · filterable by category
Education Information module — awards view · Red Dot Design Award article with category filter
Course Registration — personalised welcome · course table with schedule, exam dates, prerequisites · confirm or edit
Document Request — search bar · select from list · auto-generated letter preview · send action
05 — Screen System
Consistent
across states.
All modules share a unified screen system: a fixed left-side navigation panel with university logo, icon-labelled sections, and active state highlighting; a main content area divided into a clear hierarchy of heading, subheading, and content; and a persistent timestamp in the top-right corner.
The gradient background — shifting from a cool blue-grey to a warm sand tone — was chosen to be visually calm and distinct from typical office interfaces, while remaining legible under varying lighting conditions in shared spaces.
Screen system overview — Students module (left) · Document Request module (right) · consistent navigation panel across both
Physical kiosk unit rendered with UI screens — front view (left) · angled view (right)
06 — Product Design
Physical form
for public space.
The kiosk was designed as a standalone physical unit for placement in shared campus spaces — corridors, entrance halls, and faculty lobbies. The form integrates a tilted touchscreen at an ergonomic reading angle, a document output slot, and a robust enclosure built for high-traffic public use.
Two distinct form variants were developed during the design process, exploring different approaches to the screen-to-body relationship and the balance between approachability and institutional authority.
Physical kiosk — Variant A upright form (left) · system overview with UI context (right)
The physical design was shaped by the same principles as the interface: clarity, minimal cognitive load, and accessibility for a diverse user population including students, faculty, and visitors.
Technical
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form factor | Freestanding floor kiosk — two variants (upright vertical · angled lectern) |
| Screen position | Tilted touchscreen at ergonomic reading angle (approx. 15–20° from vertical) |
| Output slot | Horizontal document/card dispenser slot on front face |
| Navigation controls | Physical button array on both sides of the screen (accessibility) |
| Enclosure material | Brushed stainless steel body · dark grey (anthracite) structural frame |
| Internal access | Lockable maintenance door with ventilation grille panel (dot-perforated steel) |
| Base | Weighted dark pedestal for stability in high-traffic areas |
| Interior | Shelved hardware compartment — UPS, processing unit, card dispenser module |
| Connectivity | Networked to university student management system |
| Interaction method | Touchscreen primary · physical button array secondary |
07 — Design Considerations
Built for
public life.
Designing for a public university environment introduces a specific set of constraints that go beyond typical UX work. The physical and digital system had to function reliably across a wide range of users, lighting conditions, and interaction contexts — from a rushed student checking a deadline to an administrator looking up a document template.
Hardware enclosure — front view with ventilation grille (left) · internal maintenance compartment (right)
08 — Outcome & Reflection
First public
system.
This project was my first deep exploration of public-facing digital systems — where the constraints of physical space, diverse user populations, and institutional trust all intersect with interface design. It shaped my understanding of what it means to design not just for an ideal user, but for the full range of people who pass through a shared space.
The experience of designing both the UI and the physical product in parallel also made clear how much the two disciplines inform each other: the tilt angle of the screen affects readability; the placement of the output slot affects the interaction flow; the choice of materials signals institutional credibility or approachability.
This project was my first exploration of public-facing digital systems and shaped my focus on socially responsive interaction design — a thread that runs through everything I've done since.