WOOHEE BYUN




Brew Glow



PROBLEM

 Tea is considered a traditional and outdated culture by many generations. As Gen Z is becoming more health-conscious and interested in mindfulness, how can tea drinking be an alternative to alcohol consumption?

OUTCOME

A mobile app that invites Gen Z to the tea drinking culture and educates them about its benefits through fun and engaging design and features. TEAM

Solo Project


TIMELINE

09.2024-10.2024

ROLE

Product Experience, UX/UI






FINAL DESIGN

Discovery Cards


Explore different teas by situation or ingredients with fun design and interactions. Learn more about health benefits, ingredients, and tea pairing.

Tea Timer


Know what you want to enjoy today? Customize the timer by brewing method, cup size, and intensity of your preference.

AI-powered Search & Scan


Haven’t decided which tea to sip? Ask AI-powered search to get a quick recommendation or scan the tea package you have to get started.






Here’s how the work came together!






MARKET RESEARCH

Gen Zs are consuming less alcohol than ever, prioritizing both mental and physical health.

Generation Z is leading a significant shift in drinking habits, which opens up an opportunity for alternative cultures that can complement the self-care they are deeply engaging with.




USER RESEARCH

Interviews and surveys revealed what Gen Z tea drinkers take into consideration when engaging in brewing

Interviews and surveys were conducted with tea drinkers who fall into Gen Z. Keywords I discovered from the user research include: flavor, tea pairing, and inaccurate steeping time.




COMPETITIVE RESEARCH

No apps support just enough customization users want


Competitor apps have two approaches – either give full control and freedom, or only allow the default option where no customization is allowed. These two approaches have pros and cons, but both can create user frustration when users want just enough personalization that’s easy and quick to set up. 



Full control for customization

• Too much control and freedom creates a steep learning curve and slows down decision-making
• Overwhelming for casual users due to need for memorization of temperatures and times


Default setting with no control at all

• No access other than default behavior adds no cognitive load & no flexibility at the same time
• Frustrating for users by lack of choice and inefficient for advanced users


KEY FINDINGS

Find a middle ground where users have a quick way to set a timer to fit their own unique way of brewing


Based on competitive research and user interviews, I found three key points to navigate the strategic direction for the product experience.

01

Need for balanced flexibility
No platforms bridge the gap between full customization and fixed presets.
02

Lack of understanding
Users have lack of understanding in correct brewing time and method, often overbrewing.
03

Various drinking situations
Gen Z drinkers enjoy tea both in self-reflection time and social gathering situations.








OPPORTUNITY –

Research led to clear and actionable directions for positioning

I have gained various perspectives towards the tea drinking culture Gen Z has started considering to engage with. Both that other competitors have failed to satisfy users’ intention and people’s understanding of tea steeping allowed us to set a clear approach on how the experience should be designed.



MID-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES

Sketch out the core functionalities

I have created mid-fidelity wireframes with annotations for possible user actions and interactions to consider consistency and personalization throughout the experience.



1. A sticky bar is used for situational categories. It makes information easily discoverable and browsing efficient.

2. Each card displays the name of the tea, an illustration, and an ingredient category. When a card is tapped, it expands the card to provide more detail. 3. When tapped, it expands to show the monthly streak of brewing.

4. Tea-related custom content based on location and date will be displayed.5. Users can choose the preferred unit for weight, volume, and temperature that is needed for timer setup.



6. Users can search for tea as an alternative to scrolling down the list.

7. The ‘favorite’ tag is attached to the most brewed tea by the user.8. When tapped, each module will be expanded to provide the user with an option.9. Copy will be updated based on the remaining brewing time.



A/B TESTING

Listen to what users think rather than assume their choices

I conducted A/B testing with two different versions of the interface to discover which better supports users' intention and behavior. To quickly reach the timer, users wanted simple settings, which led them to choose quick and simple suggestions over selections that take more time.



Endless scroll to find a tea you’re looking for. Quick suggestions by recency and a search feature for wider discovery




Measuring method that requires users to provide exact values and creates choice overload Option that is relevant to user’s situation of getting ready to brew and drink






SOLUTION

Simple interface to guide users to set brewing time supporting different tea types and methods


Everyone has different ways of enjoying tea – with their favorite mug, a steeping method they’ve been sticking with for a long time, or a specific time of the day. To give freedom yet not overload with too many options, this experience was thoughtfully designed to invite Gen Zs to tea drinking culture.












BRANDING

Building a Brand Identity


I created brand guidelines that documented brand identity, logo, typography, iconography, and more. With documentation, it allows other designers to create a consistent experience using the provided elements.










OUTCOME & IMPACT

Where It Landed

Brew Glow was recognized by UX Design Awards, selected as a New Talent Nomination of 2025.




REFLECTIONS

What did I learn from this project?

Thorough UI Exploration

I delved into color combinations and UI styles that are not only pretty but add value to the experience. After this project, I definitely feel more comfortable creating UI and branding elements to support the entire user experience.
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