Marcus / limited play time
Problem: coordinating people consumes his short play window.
Need: see who is ready and judge session length quickly.
Industrial Designer · Innovation Strategist
Designing ideas into real-world impact.
I combine industrial design, human behavior, manufacturing experience and innovation strategy to create better products, experiences and systems.
Design × Psychology × Innovation
Human-centered thinking with hands-on experience from concept to production.
20+Years of experience
2Design disciplines
01 — About
More than a designer.
A multidisciplinary perspective built across design, psychology, manufacturing, leadership and innovation.
I design with both the product and the person in mind.
I'm Jason Young, an Industrial Designer and Innovation Strategist with more than 20 years of experience spanning product design, human-centered innovation, manufacturing and safety-critical environments.
My approach combines an Advanced Diploma in Industrial Design with an Honours B.A. in Psychology. That combination helps me translate human needs and behavioral insights into tangible product features, practical systems and strategic opportunities.
I've worked across production, engineering, safety, design and business environments—leading continuous improvement initiatives, developing concepts, coordinating cross-functional teams and turning ideas into action.
Human-Centered DesignProduct DesignInnovation StrategyKaizenCAD & PrototypingUser ResearchBilingual English/Japanese
02 — Portfolio
Selected work
Ten featured case studies demonstrate industrial design, innovation strategy, service systems and human-centered design, supported by research, systems thinking and visual concept development.
Project 01 · Industrial Design · AR/UX
GOKON™
An augmented-reality assisted social matchmaking concept combining wearable interaction, compatibility intelligence and human-centered event design.
PROJECT 02 · INNOVATION STRATEGY
CaptionVue™
An inclusive cinema-accessibility concept using discreet AR eyewear, personalized captions and audio support to create a more accessible shared movie experience.
PROJECT 03 · HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
Designing for People
Project Re-Mind™ — an AI-powered AR cognitive-support ecosystem exploring how human-centered technology can support memory, independence, safety and meaningful connection.
Updated Boards
PROJECT 04 · INDUSTRIAL DESIGN · PRODUCT SYSTEM
PinPoint™
A seamless golf-ball tracking ecosystem designed to help golfers locate their ball with pinpoint accuracy while preserving premium performance, feel and a regulation-conscious design path.
PROJECT 05 · SYSTEM DESIGN · FUTURE MOBILITY
Axon Aegis™
A speculative vehicle-integrated aerial-response concept exploring how autonomous sensing, officer-facing intelligence and evidence systems could reduce uncertainty before officers enter higher-risk scenes.
PROJECT 06 · AR/UX · MANUFACTURING INNOVATION
E.A.G.L.E.
An augmented-reality inspection ecosystem designed to help manufacturing quality teams see, verify and document complex assembly information with greater clarity.
PROJECT 07 · INDUSTRIAL DESIGN · CHILD SAFETY
HALO™ — Child Safety Ecosystem
A discreet connected eyewear, wristband and parent-app concept supporting children’s growing independence through graded alerts, trusted contacts and privacy-conscious safety awareness.
PROJECT 08 · AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN · HMI INNOVATION
Lincoln — Full Digital Ring
A redesigned Lincoln steering-wheel interface featuring a continuous digital control ring around a rectangular wheel form, explored from research through production-oriented design and safety considerations.
PROJECT 09 · UX DESIGN · SOCIAL GAMING
LINKUP
A PlayStation-oriented app concept helping players find the right game and group, evaluate session fit, and move confidently from joining to playing.
PROJECT 10 · SYSTEMS DESIGN · SERVICE LOGISTICS
SERVICEFLOW
A research-led redesign of quick-service ordering, customer circulation, food and beverage fulfillment, and verified pickup.
Case Study 01
GOKON™
Augmented Reality Assisted Social Matchmaking System
A more immersive visual story for GoKon.
How can wearable guidance and augmented-reality cues help real people form better in-person connections?
GoKon reimagines social matchmaking as a guided, human-centered event experience. This rebuilt portfolio section highlights the system architecture, wearable devices, service journey, event environment and AR interface concepts using the latest visual boards.
Portfolio note: Project 01 has been rebuilt with updated concept visuals, and the cover image is now used as the main project thumbnail.
The Opportunity
From digital matching to physical chemistry.
The challenge was not simply to create another dating application, but to bridge algorithmic compatibility with the uncertainty and nuance of meeting in person.
01 · Discover
Compatibility Intelligence
A pre-event profile captures values, interests, communication preferences, relationship goals and other compatibility factors.
02 · Navigate
Koi-Vision™
AR eyewear provides discreet compatibility cues and contextual information while keeping attention on the people in the room.
03 · Feel
Doki-Doki Band™
A wrist-worn haptic interface creates directional tactile cues toward stronger matches, reducing dependence on a phone screen.
04 · Connect
Nakama™
Conversation assistance surfaces shared interests and potential topics, then reduces support as the interaction develops.
05 · Experience
Structured Social Event
The service preserves the lower-pressure group dynamic of a traditional gokon while adding guided rotations and free socializing.
06 · Protect
Privacy & Consent
The concept includes temporary identities, consent-based information exchange and local event processing as privacy-oriented design principles.
Ideation
Exploring the interaction.
Visual studies explore wearable form, augmented information, social proximity and how technology can remain secondary to face-to-face interaction.
Updated Project 01 Visual System
A clearer story across concept, product, service and interface.
The latest GoKon boards are organized below to show the experience theme, the wearable ecosystem, the event journey and the conversation-assistance interface.
System + Wearable Design
Architecture, product breakdown and tactile guidance.
These boards communicate how the cloud service, edge device, AR glasses and haptic wristband work together as a coordinated experience system.
Journey + Service Flow
From arrival and guidance to real-world connection.
The journey boards show how GoKon moves from anticipation and location reveal into directional haptic guidance, subtle correction and meaningful in-person connection without overpowering the moment.
Nakama™ · Conversation Scaffold
Context at the moment it matters.
Nakama™ is conceived as a discreet AR scaffolding system that supports face-to-face conversation with contextual prompts while keeping the user's attention on the person in front of them.
Contextual Guidance
Shared interests, surfaced naturally
Relevant prompts can appear without requiring the user to break eye contact and consult a phone.
Progressive Scaffolding
Assistance that adapts
The system is designed to move from accessible conversation starters toward deeper shared topics as interaction develops.
Human First
Technology in the background
The interface supports the conversation rather than becoming the conversation, allowing the social connection to remain central.
System Thinking
One connected experience.
Profile intelligence informs event matching, wearables guide discovery, and the physical encounter remains the center of the experience.
Compatibility Profile
Event Matching System
AR + Haptic Guidance
Face-to-Face Interaction
Mutual Connection
Innovation Highlights
Product, interface and service as one system.
GoKon explores how physical products, digital intelligence and human behavior can work together as a coordinated experience.
Sensory Filtering
Reduce cognitive overload
Compatibility cues selectively direct attention instead of presenting every person and every data point with equal emphasis.
Conversation Scaffold
Support, then step away
Prompts act as temporary social scaffolding—enough assistance to begin an interaction without replacing authentic conversation.
Haptic Compass
Information without a screen
Directional tactile feedback explores a less visually demanding way to navigate social information in a physical environment.
Case Study 02
CaptionVue™
Innovation Strategy · Inclusive Cinema Accessibility
More than captions. A more inclusive cinema experience.
How might theaters make captions, dialogue support and language access feel personal, discreet and integrated into the moviegoing experience?
CaptionVue is a cinema-accessibility concept built around three coordinated elements: a theater transmitter, lightweight prescription-compatible AR eyewear, and a mobile app for language and caption preferences. The strategy expands accessibility beyond a single use case by considering Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons, seniors with age-related hearing challenges, and multilingual audiences.
Portfolio note: CaptionVue is presented as an independent innovation concept. Hardware specifications shown in the design work are design targets; no hardware manufacturer or technology partner is represented or implied.
01 · PROBLEM
A fragmented accessibility experience
Existing theater captioning approaches can obstruct sightlines, feel stigmatizing, limit seating flexibility or solve only one accessibility need. CaptionVue reframes the challenge around dignity, choice and shared experience.
02 · AUDIENCES
One platform, multiple needs
The concept explores a common system for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons, older moviegoers who struggle with dialogue clarity, and multilingual families who want to enjoy theatrical releases together.
03 · STRATEGY
Accessibility as audience growth
Rather than treating accessibility only as compliance equipment, the project investigates how inclusive design can become a better customer experience, a differentiated theater service and a platform for broader audience participation.
Research & Framing
From broken system to opportunity
Human pain points were translated into an innovation opportunity and a clear market position.
Experience Strategy
Design the whole journey
The experience connects arrival, preference setup, secure pairing, shared viewing and return.
System Thinking
Connect cinema infrastructure to a personal experience
A technology-neutral architecture links cinema content, a theater transmitter, the user app and CaptionVue eyewear.
Business Opportunity
Innovation beyond the device
The concept considers managed theater deployment and user-owned experiences, creating a service model around the product ecosystem.
User Experience Storyboards
How the user interacts with the software
Three storyboard boards walk through the CaptionVue software journey from the initial accessibility problem, to app-based setup, to in-theater personalization and the resulting inclusive movie experience.
Together, these boards show the complete user flow: first discovering CaptionVue and setting preferences in the app, then connecting the glasses and adjusting captions in the theater, and finally experiencing the benefits through clearer dialogue, language choice, shared viewing, and saved preferences for future visits.
Project 03 · Human-Centered Design
Designing for People — Project Re-Mind™
An AI-powered AR cognitive prosthesis concept designed as a discreet, proactive assistant for older adults experiencing memory challenges, with a connected caregiver experience.
Challenge
Support memory while preserving independence.
Re-Mind places useful contextual information in the user's field of view through a familiar wearable form.
System
One connected support ecosystem.
Smart glasses, contextual AI, a personal memory database and caregiver tools work together across daily life.
Experience
Help at the moment it matters.
Recognition, task guidance, navigation, conversation recall, object awareness and safety support are designed around context.
Experience Vision
A day supported by Re-Mind.
Architecture & Strategy
From moments to a memory system.
Industrial Design
Wearable hardware for everyday use.
Connected Experience
Caregiver tools + in-view AR.
Interaction Flows
Proactive support across everyday life.
System Integration
One system, multiple forms of assistance.
Project 04 · Industrial Design · Product System
PinPoint™ — Find Your Game.
A premium golf-ball tracking concept built around a simple promise: play the same game, spend less time searching, and lose fewer balls.
Design challenge: Create a seamless, tour-quality golf ball system that allows golfers to locate their ball with pinpoint accuracy without compromising aerodynamic performance, feel, durability, or a pathway toward regulatory conformity.
P
Invisibility
Technology disappears during play and appears only when needed.
Integration
The tracking element feels engineered into the ball, not added afterward.
Durability
Designed around high-speed impacts, water, sand and UV exposure.
Simplicity
Apply → Play → Locate → Recover.
Conformity
A design target shaped around USGA/R&A equipment requirements.
Project Boards
Updated PinPoint case-study visuals
The new Project 04 boards are now integrated into the case study. The cover board leads the section, followed by the ideation board and the full design-brief / system-architecture board.
Project 05 · System Design · Future Mobility
Axon Aegis™ — Vehicle-Deployed Aerial Response System
A speculative industrial-design and systems concept focused on pre-exit situational awareness, rapid deployment and coordinated evidence capture.
Information before exposure.
How might a patrol vehicle extend an officer's awareness before the officer steps into an uncertain scene?
Axon Aegis explores a vehicle-integrated drone concept that launches from the cruiser, surveys stopped vehicles and higher-risk scenes, and relays live situational information back to the officer. The project is framed as an aspirational ecosystem concept rather than a production-ready product.
Portfolio note: This is an independent speculative design concept. Product names, performance figures and ecosystem integrations are conceptual design targets and do not imply endorsement, partnership, or validated product capability.
Project Storyboards
From concept origin to future vision.
The boards below are presented in the order they were developed, showing the evolution from user need and vehicle integration through product design, sensing, scenarios, ecosystem integration, technical definition and the closing vision.
Concept validation note: The visual boards contain speculative integrations, performance targets and illustrative research figures. They are presented as design exploration and should be independently validated before external product, engineering, regulatory or operational use.
Concept Origin & DemographicsProblem framing, user groups, design principles and the project’s safety-oriented origin story.
Industrial Design — The Aegis DockDock ideation, selected trunk-floor architecture, component packaging and in-vehicle integration.
Industrial Design — Aegis One DroneForm evolution, final aircraft design, key proportions, materials, finishes and public-facing product language.
Aegis Eye — Sensor SuiteSensor architecture, field-of-view studies, multi-modal scene sensing and technical capability concepts.
Aegis Taser — Less-Lethal ModuleA speculative command-gated module concept emphasizing human authorization, clear status signaling and auditability.
Scenario — Traffic StopA step-by-step traffic-stop workflow showing launch, pre-exit intelligence, approach support and evidence capture.
Scenario — Active ShooterA scenario storyboard exploring rapid aerial sensing, shared situational information and coordinated response.
Scenario — High-Risk WarrantPre-positioning, overwatch, communication, de-escalation and scene documentation in a warrant-service scenario.
Ecosystem IntegrationHow the concept connects vehicle, officer, command, evidence and broader Axon-platform touchpoints into one information flow.
Technical Specifications SummaryA consolidated technical-data board covering aircraft, sensing, communications, docking and integration targets.
Design Language & BrandingBrand identity, color and material strategy, product form language, lighting signature and public-perception studies.
Conclusion & VisionThe closing vision board linking the concept to future prototyping, pilot testing and evidence-based validation.
System Architecture
A coordinated vehicle, drone and information ecosystem.
The concept combines a low-profile vehicle dock, a rapidly deployable aerial platform, multi-modal sensing and a secure data path back to the officer and evidence workflow.
01 · Dock
Aegis Dock
A trunk-integrated housing concept keeps the aerial platform protected, charged and ready while preserving a low-profile vehicle installation.
02 · Aircraft
Aegis One
A purpose-built quadcopter concept provides an elevated view of traffic stops and dynamic scenes before ground personnel commit to an approach.
03 · Sensing
Aegis Eye
A conceptual sensor package combines visible, thermal and spatial scene information to give officers a clearer picture of people, vehicles and surroundings.
04 · Officer UX
Pre-exit intelligence
Relevant scene information is surfaced through the existing vehicle terminal so the workflow adds awareness without introducing another standalone device.
05 · Evidence
Automatic capture
Video, telemetry and scene data are designed to flow into the broader evidence record, reducing manual transfer and preserving a documented chain of events.
06 · Governance
Human authorization
Higher-consequence functions are framed around explicit human approval, event logging, operational constraints and reviewable accountability.
Officer Journey
From activation to evidence without breaking the workflow.
The core experience is designed around the moments before, during and after an officer approaches a scene.
01Activate from the patrol vehicle
02Deploy and establish an elevated view
03Assess scene information before approach
04Support the officer as conditions change
05Return, recharge and preserve the record
Design Intent
Reduce uncertainty, not human judgment.
The strongest value proposition is not autonomy for its own sake; it is giving officers better context earlier while keeping consequential decisions accountable to people.
Pre-exit awareness
The system concept focuses on delivering useful scene context before the officer leaves the relative protection of the vehicle.
Integrated readiness
Vehicle-based charging, storage and diagnostics are intended to make the system available without creating a separate equipment-management burden.
Shared situational picture
Live information can conceptually support the officer, responding units and command personnel with a common view of the scene.
Accountable automation
Automation supports sensing, navigation and information delivery while human authorization and auditable records remain central to higher-consequence actions.
Next Development
From speculative system to testable design questions.
Future work would prioritize dock packaging, officer interaction design, prototype deployment studies, engineering feasibility, regulatory analysis, ethics review and user validation with public-safety stakeholders.
Project 06 · AR/UX · Manufacturing Innovation
E.A.G.L.E. — Enhanced Augmented Guidance & Layout Examiner
A human-centered quality-inspection ecosystem pairing augmented-reality glasses with a rugged handheld interface for clear, contextual guidance on the production floor.
See. Verify. Document.
Human insight. Digital precision. A higher standard—together.
How might augmented guidance help quality inspectors manage complex information, verify component placement and document results without replacing their judgment?
E.A.G.L.E. explores a coordinated wearable-and-handheld system for automotive quality inspection. Spatial overlays identify components and alignment, while the handheld interface provides task control, reference images, exception handling and a resilient fallback workflow.
Portfolio note: This is an independent speculative design concept created for portfolio purposes. Toyota is used as the contextual manufacturing setting; no endorsement, partnership or official product relationship is implied. Performance figures and integrations shown in the boards are conceptual design targets.
Design Principles
Technology that supports the inspector.
The system is designed around quick comprehension, hands-free guidance, reliable task control and accountable documentation.
01 · See
Context in place
Spatial overlays connect instructions and component status directly to the vehicle and inspection area.
02 · Verify
Clear decisions
Color-coded guidance distinguishes correct, misaligned and missing components at a glance.
03 · Control
Dual-interface workflow
AR eyewear supports hands-free work while the rugged handheld device manages tasks, inputs and fallback operation.
04 · Record
Traceable results
Inspection progress, exceptions and inspector decisions are organized into a documented quality record.
Storyboard Overview
A complete journey from insight to impact.
The overview frames the full design story—from the opportunity and user need through system design, prototyping, validation and projected outcomes.
Project Storyboard OverviewA visual roadmap connecting the opportunity, user insights, solution, system architecture, user experience, industrial design, mockups, prototypes, final product and impact.
Project Boards
From human need to a complete inspection system.
The boards are presented in narrative order. Portrait boards remain upright and the approved eyewear render keeps its original orientation and proportions.
Persona — Meet Kenji SatoRole, goals, frustrations, context, daily workflow and the opportunity to reduce cognitive load for quality inspectors.
Exploratory SketchesForm studies for the eyewear, camera and display modules, handheld device, controls, ergonomics and production-floor use.
Design IdeationRefined eyewear architecture, modular components, handheld concepts and coordinated industrial-design language.
Design ArchitectureA four-layer model—perception, understanding, guidance and action—connecting sensing, spatial analysis, decision support and documentation.
WireframesTask selection, VIN and part scanning, guided inspection, exception handling, reporting and AR/PDA interaction flows.
User TestingA staged validation plan moving from lab and simulation to a live pilot, with usability, accuracy, cycle-time and acceptance measures.
MockupsHigh-fidelity views of the eyewear, handheld interface, color-coded AR guidance and operator experience.
PrototypesAn iterative path from paper and Wizard-of-Oz testing through spatial prototypes, a custom device and an integrated system.
Final Polished DesignThe approved eyewear orientation, balanced frame, monocular waveguide, sensing module, bone-conduction audio and rugged companion device shown as one production-focused concept.
Results & OutcomesProjected quality and cycle-time impact, inspector feedback themes, lessons learned and a structured path toward a formal pilot.
Final Product RenderA complete-system presentation uniting product specifications, interface behavior, safety principles and the in-context manufacturing experience.
Design Outcome
A practical vision for augmented quality work.
The concept uses spatial computing as a support layer: surfacing relevant information while preserving inspector authority, operational fallback and a clear audit trail.
Human-Centered Augmentation
Guidance without displacement
E.A.G.L.E. is framed as a second set of eyes—not a replacement for expertise. The inspector remains responsible for interpreting conditions and making the final decision.
Next Development
Move from concept to evidence
Future work would validate fit and comfort, optical placement, glove-friendly controls, real-world accuracy, system latency, data governance and measurable impact through a controlled manufacturing pilot.
CASE STUDY 07 · INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / CONNECTED SAFETY
HALO™ — Child Safety Ecosystem
A quiet, privacy-conscious wearable safety anchor for growing independence.
Safety that stays in the background.
HALO explores a familiar-looking pair of children’s glasses, a companion pulse wristband and a caregiver app. Its purpose is to provide time and context for appropriate adult response through graduated awareness, not to promise prevention of every dangerous situation.
The design prioritizes on-device interpretation, low-friction wearability, a transparent recording indicator, clear escalation states and an editable Trust Circle.
Wearable Industrial DesignCompanion App UXPrivacy by DesignGraded Alerts
Concept status: Independent speculative design. Detection reliability, privacy, parental permissions, hardware feasibility and safeguarding processes require validation before any real-world use.
Physical Product
Familiar forms. Purposeful interaction.
Visual studies follow the idea from the full ecosystem through architecture, materials and everyday use.
Parent App + Experience Flow
From reassurance to meaningful escalation.
Five core app states and a two-tier experience storyboard explain how a caregiver configures trusted relationships and responds to context-sensitive alerts.
UX principle
Communicate what the system knows, what it does not know and why a notification was raised. An alert should support judgment, not replace it.
Next validation
Test child comfort, false-positive rates, parental understanding, consent, recording safeguards, battery life and accessible interaction before any implementation claim.
CASE STUDY 08 · AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / HMI
Lincoln — Full Digital Ring
An immersive steering-wheel concept inspired by the contemporary Lincoln Nautilus.
One continuous, driver-centred interface.
This study explores extending the rectilinear wheel language into a near-continuous digital ring. The chosen direction makes the illuminated interface a dominant part of the wheel instead of adding another isolated screen.
The visual design asks how information, touchpoints and lighting can remain legible while keeping the wheel pleasant to grip and consistent with Lincoln’s interior design language.
Automotive HMIForm ExplorationDigital RingErgonomicsAirbag Packaging
Engineering consideration: A production design would require crashworthiness and steering-wheel airbag deployment validation, a protected deployment path and safe electronics placement. The renders are exploratory and do not establish feasibility or regulatory compliance.
Research + Early Directions
From split concepts to a full ring.
Initial exploration of shape, interface density and the relationship between the steering wheel and instrument display.
Concept Development · Boards 01–06
The selected design, developed in sequence.
Research, persona, sketches, interaction behaviour, model development and a final production-oriented concept, with the most extensive ring configuration selected for the closing board.
Design intent
A visual centrepiece that joins the steering wheel and dashboard through one coherent lighting and interaction language, while preserving practical driving tasks.
Prototype questions
Test display readability, distraction, touch and grip, electronics durability, driver-control regulations, thermal management and airbag deployment before claiming a production-ready system.
CASE STUDY 09 · UX / PRODUCT DESIGN · SOCIAL GAMING
LINKUP
An independent PlayStation-oriented concept, from player needs to a complete high-fidelity prototype.
INDEPENDENT CONCEPT / SIE
A clearer path from wanting to play to playing together.
LINKUP asks how players can find the right game and people for their available time, mood, and social preferences. The design connects discovery, session fit, reservation, party invitations, console handoff, and recovery.
Design scope: problem framing, behavioral personas, simulated research, synthesis, wireframes, visual foundations, interaction design, responsive layouts, and evaluation.
Concept and evidence: Personas, interview records, and usability outcomes are synthetic design explorations. No real participant research or validated usability improvement is claimed. LINKUP is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Try the prototypes
Player problems + needs
Three situations behind the task.
Illustrative composite personas; the scenarios and images do not represent real research participants.
Danielle / friends offline
Problem: unfamiliar groups feel uncertain when expectations are unclear.
Need: understand the play style and group before joining.
Chris / quiet co-op
Problem: voice expectations make joining uncomfortable.
Need: know voice is optional and quiet play is welcome.
The complete case study
From the task to the final product.
All 27 approved boards appear in sequence. Open a board at full size or expand its text below.
Player needs → task and assumptions → personas and research → journey and sketches → wireframes and iterations → UI foundations → mobile, tablet, and desktop prototypes → simulated evaluation and next steps.
Read board text
INDEPENDENT PRODUCT DESIGN CONCEPT
LINKUP
A clearer path from wanting to play to playing together.
Play with purpose.
Find the right game and people for the
time, mood, and social experience you
have right now.
RESEARCH / INTERACTION / VISUAL DESIGN
An end-to-end UX case study tailored to Sony
Interactive Entertainment and the PlayStation
ecosystem.
01
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
THE PLAYERS / PROBLEM AND NEED
Three situations. One need to start playing.
Illustrative composite personas show why choosing a game and a group can take more effort than playing.
FICTIONAL PERSONAS / AI-generated scenario illustrations. These are not research participants.
Marcus Danielle Chris
A short window to play Friends are offline tonight Co-op without a microphone
PROBLEM PROBLEM PROBLEM
Coordination is consuming his available A new group feels uncertain when its Voice expectations make joining feel
play time. expectations are unclear. uncomfortable.
NEED NEED NEED
See who is ready and judge session length Understand play style and the group before Know voice is optional and that quiet play is
quickly. joining. welcome.
02
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
01 / THE TASK
Make starting a session feel easy.
The problem is the effort between “I want to play” and a session that actually fits.
How might we help players quickly find the
Project scope
right game and the right people for the
Independent app concept.
amount of time, mood, and social
Covers discovery, fit, joining, party
experience they want right now? invitations, console handoff, and
recovery.
Final output: a clickable high-fidelity
prototype, with tablet and desktop
Contribution shown explorations.
Problem framing, persona development, simulated research synthesis,
wireframes, UI foundations, interaction design, and evaluation planning.
03
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
02 / THE DESIGN PROCESS
A traceable path from question to product.
Each stage connects a player need to a design decision and a visible artifact.
01 02 03
Frame Explore Structure
Task, constraints, assumptions Synthetic interviews and themes Journey, flow, sketches
PAGES 05-07 PAGES 08-09 PAGES 10-11
04 05 06
Iterate Design Evaluate
Wireframes and simulated studies UI system and final interactions High-fidelity simulation and next
steps
PAGES 12-14 PAGES 15-21 PAGES 22-26
04
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
03 / RESEARCH PLAN
Start with coordination, not feature demand.
Research question: what prevents players from starting the session they actually want?
Working assumptions Exploration plan What could disprove it?
Coordination consumes short play Compare current behavior across Existing friends, Discord, and
windows. friends, solo play, and new groups. in-game matchmaking may already
solve the problem well.
Mood changes the experience Probe game choice, time available,
people want. voice expectations, and A new tool must reduce effort rather
workarounds. than duplicate those habits.
Availability does not guarantee
compatibility. Use synthetic interviews to develop The concept does not establish
hypotheses for later real research. unmet demand.
Trust and safety can limit
openness to new people.
05
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
04 / INITIAL PROTO-PERSONAS
Three starting hypotheses.
Behavioral profiles guide questions; they are not demographic segments validated by research.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
Time-Boxed Player Social Regular Open Explorer
Goal: play within a 20-60 minute Goal: play with a known group. Goal: join a compatible new group.
window.
Friction: scheduling, game Friction: toxicity, skill mismatch, and
Friction: too many choices, consensus, and fragmented tools. unclear voice norms.
unavailable friends, and setup time.
Design need: know who is ready Design need: understand the room
Design need: quick entry and clear and agree on a game. before joining.
session expectations.
Risk: assuming interest in strangers. Risk: prioritizing discovery over
Risk: overestimating coordination safety.
friction.
06
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
05 / PERSONA REFINEMENT
Time is a context, not a fixed identity.
The synthetic synthesis changed the model before the interface was finalized.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
CONTEXT OVERLAY
Time available + mood + friends available + voice preference
Social Regular Open Explorer
Familiar people first. A player may wait for friends New people when expectations fit. Clear play style
on a weekend, then choose a quick solo or open and optional voice support a situational choice,
session on a weeknight. rather than a permanent player label.
Ask for intent now; avoid locking people into a persona.
DESIGN CONSEQUENCE
07
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
06 / SYNTHETIC INTERVIEW DATA
Eight scenarios made the assumptions concrete.
The records below are invented interview summaries used to explore possible patterns.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
ID / hypothesis Imagined behavior or friction Design implication
I01 / time-limited Library + group chat, then solo fallback Reduce coordination overhead
I02 / time-limited Invites then matchmaking; microphone off Show who is ready; clarify voice
I03 / social regular Group exists; game agreement is difficult Separate people from game choice
I04 / social regular Would rather play solo than meet strangers Preserve friends-first control
I05 / open explorer LFG groups have unclear tone Show social expectations
I06 / open explorer Competition and voice can mismatch Expose play style before joining
I07 / social regular Weekend waiting differs from weeknights Treat available time as context
I08 / open explorer Weak reasons for recommendations Explain why a session fits
08
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
07 / SYNTHESIS
Make compatibility visible before commitment.
Themes are hypotheses derived from the synthetic records, not observed customer findings.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
Coordination costs time Social comfort changes the choice
I01, I02, I03, I07 I04, I05, I06
Intent first; familiar hosts; clear start and capacity. Friends-only paths; voice optional; casual play labels.
Players need reasons to trust fit The next step needs to be explicit
I05, I06, I08 Later usability simulations
Game, duration, play style, and expectations together. Separate joining, reservation, invitation, and console
play.
09
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
08 / JOURNEY AND INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Design the whole path, including uncertainty.
The flow distinguishes a reserved spot, a party invitation, and the action needed on console.
Player step Question to answer Interface responsibility
Choose intent Friends, new players, or both? Simple intent choices
Discover and evaluate Does this game and group fit? Game, capacity, host, duration, voice
Join a session Is my spot confirmed? Reservation status + clear feedback
Wait and accept What is the host doing next? Waiting, received, expired, accepted states
Continue on console Am I already in the game? Explicit PlayStation handoff instruction
Recover or leave What changed, and can I exit? Status-aware retry; confirmed leave
10
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read board text
09 / EARLY EXPLORATION
Sketch the decisions before polishing the UI.
The annotation pass identifies the decisions; the pencil sketch presents the flow with fewer annotations.
01 Annotation pass: clarify hierarchy and movement. 02 Pencil sketch: a cleaner view of the four-screen flow.
11
LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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10 / DIGITAL WIREFRAMES
Turn the rough flow into a testable sequence.
Low-fidelity iterations focused on navigation, session fit, and the point of commitment.
WHAT WAS TESTED
Intent labels.
Friends versus new
players.
Session fit.
The joining action.
Editable screens made these
decisions reviewable before
final styling.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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11 / EARLIER USABILITY SIMULATION
The first round exposed clarity problems.
Five fictional profiles completed five assigned tasks. All results and timings were invented.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
Task Unaided Assisted Assigned median
Find a friend 4 / 5 1 / 5 36 seconds
Explore new players 3 / 5 2 / 5 42 seconds
Evaluate session fit 2 / 5 3 / 5 76 seconds
Return to sessions 4 / 5 1 / 5 15 seconds
Join a session 3 / 5 2 / 5 28 seconds
16 of 25 attempts were assigned unaided completion. Session fit was the main design hypothesis to address;
these numbers do not measure product usability.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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12 / ITERATION DECISIONS
Replace ambiguity with visible expectations.
Changes connect the earlier simulation to the later wireframes and high-fidelity design.
Earlier ambiguity Design response Reason
“Try New” / “Open Both” Find new players / Friends + new players Explain the social choice
Unclear fit before joining Duration, voice, capacity, host context Support a decision before commitment
Game and session titles overlap Separate game identity and session naming Reduce interpretation effort
Viewing could imply joining View session, then Join session Make commitment explicit
Joined means “already playing” Reserved, invited, accepted, console next Clarify each status
Failure could duplicate a request Check status before retrying Handle an unconfirmed join honestly
A later low-fidelity simulation assigned 22/25 unaided attempts. This was a revised scenario assumption, not validated improvement.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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13 / VISUAL AND BRAND DIRECTION
A PlayStation-oriented presentation of LINKUP.
Sony and PlayStation identity frames the case study; LINKUP remains an independent product concept.
LINKUP
Cool neutrals, clear blue actions, and
Deep navy Action blue Soft surface Quiet boundary
restrained surfaces keep game imagery and
session information in focus.
Interaction foundations
Inter in the source design. Main controls: 48 px. Back,
close, and navigation targets: 44 x 44 px. Focus stroke: 2
Brand marks retain their original proportions. The
px. Corners: 8 px controls / 12 px cards. Shared light and
prototype uses game artwork to support
dark foundations.
recognition; it does not imply a Sony partnership or
licensed product.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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14 / FINAL MOBILE EXPERIENCE
Intent first. Session fit next.
The core mobile journey moves from social preference to a concrete session decision.
01 Choose who to play with 02 See familiar players 03 Compare available sessions 04 Review before joining
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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15 / SESSION EVALUATION
Give players a reason to say yes.
The session details surface information that helps players judge compatibility before joining.
Recognize the game
Game identity and artwork anchor the session, alongside the host and
current player count.
Set realistic expectations
“Host estimate 60 min” and “Duration may vary” avoid presenting an
estimate as a guarantee.
Keep social comfort visible
“Voice optional” and “Casual play” help players judge the group before the
Join session action.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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16 / INVITATIONS AND HANDOFF
Joining the session is one step toward playing.
The prototype separates reservation, party invitation, acceptance, and opening the game on PlayStation.
The accepted
state explicitly
asks the player to
open the game on
PlayStation.
No automatic console
launch or live Sony
account integration is
implemented in this
concept.
Spot reserved / waiting for Party invitation received Invitation accepted
host
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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17 / RESPONSIVE DESIGN
Keep the same decision hierarchy across sizes.
Mobile is the primary journey. Tablet and desktop explore wider information layouts.
Tablet 768 x 1024 Desktop 1440 x 900
80 px rail; two card columns. 1280 px workspace; 216 px sidebar; three card columns.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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18 / RECOVERY AND EXIT
Keep the status truthful when things go wrong.
Failures need to explain what is known, what is uncertain, and what the player can do next.
Exit is a real action
Stay preserves the
spot. A confirmed leave
releases it and returns
to Sessions.
Dismissing pending UI
is not treated as proof
that a request was
cancelled.
Unconfirmed join: retry Expired invitation: explain Lost connection: reconnect
checks the request and why acceptance is and refresh the current
session status. unavailable. status.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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19 / ACCESSIBILITY INTENT
Make interaction states understandable and operable.
These are design requirements and stress scenarios, not verified accessibility conformance.
Perception Operation Verification still needed
Essential text targets 4.5:1 contrast; 44 x 44 px targets for icon Keyboard and screen-reader
meaningful icons and focus navigation; 48 px primary controls. behavior in an implemented app.
boundaries target 3:1.
Visible 2 px focus indicator. Real text scaling and device testing.
Use words as well as color for
Modal focus trap, restored trigger Reduced motion and announcement
status.
focus, and Escape for unsubmitted timing.
Check 320 px width, 200% text, actions.
Contrast measurements on final
long names, and image fallbacks.
assets.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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20 / HIGH-FIDELITY EVALUATION
Six fictional profiles. Seven complete tasks.
The latest simulation covers comprehension from discovery through recovery and confirmed exit.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
Profiles Tasks
P1 Experienced co-op player / mobile T1 Choose intent and evaluate a session
T2 Join and understand the reserved spot
P2 Time-limited casual player / mobile
T3 Handle a delayed party invitation
P3 Competitive console regular / desktop
T4 Accept and continue on PlayStation
P4 Multiplayer newcomer / mobile
T5 Recover an unconfirmed join
P5 Player without a microphone / mobile
T6 Recover a lost connection
P6 Larger-text preference / tablet
T7 Cancel or confirm leaving
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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21 / SIMULATION DATA
The waiting and handoff states need the most attention.
Assigned outcomes: U = unaided, no hesitation; H = unaided, hesitation; P = hypothetical prompt.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
Task P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6
22 U / 17 H / 3 P
U U U H U H
T1 U U U H U H
42 fictional task attempts.
Counts are assigned for critique;
U H H H U H
T2 U H H H U H
they are not measured success
rates.
H P H P H H
T3 H P H P H H
U H U P H H
T4 U H U P H H
Separate engineering QA
U U U H U H
T5 U U U H U H
The handoff reports 84/84
saved-route checks. This indicates
U H U U U H
T6 U H U U U H
route checking, not user
U U U U U U comprehension; the original log
T7 U U U U U U
was not reviewed.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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22 / WHAT TO IMPROVE NEXT
Make “what happens next” unmistakable.
Recommendations from the latest simulation remain proposals; they are not shown as completed fixes.
SIMULATED RESEARCH / Fictional participants and assigned outcomes. No real study data.
Priority / signal Proposed revision Validation question
P1 / T2-T3 hesitation Elevate spot reserved + host next action Can players explain the wait unaided?
P1 / T4 handoff prompt Party invite accepted, then console next step Do players know they must open the
game?
P2 / T1 scan hesitation Keep game first; test larger text hierarchy Can players identify fit while scanning?
P2 / T5-T6 recovery hesitation Preserve status-check wording and leave path Can players distinguish uncertain vs
reserved?
Explore automatic invite updates with a manual fallback. Avoid invented wait times or an “Open PlayStation” button without
a supported integration.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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23 / FINAL PRODUCT AND REFLECTION
A coherent prototype with an honest next step.
The delivered design demonstrates product reasoning and interaction craft; market and usability validation remain open.
What the portfolio demonstrates Why it is relevant to SIE
A behavioral persona model. The concept focuses on starting play, social choice,
Research-to-design traceability. recognizable games, and continuity with console use.
Explicit commitment and handoff states.
It demonstrates attention to player trust and
Responsive layouts and recovery paths.
accessibility expectations without claiming an official
A shared visual and interaction system.
integration.
Next: real player evidence
Recruit actual PlayStation players across the behavioral modes. Test fit, reservation, handoff, recovery, and
leaving without prompts. Then confirm demand, implementation feasibility, and accessibility on real devices.
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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24 / EXPLORE THE WORK
Open the prototype and inspect the evidence.
Source artifacts keep the design journey reviewable beyond this portfolio.
Open Mobile prototype Open Tablet prototype Open Desktop prototype
390 x 844 / primary journey 768 x 1024 / wider layout 1440 x 900 / workspace
Design foundations FigJam: consolidated study
UI foundations in the current file Scenario synthesis and task coverage
FigJam: portfolio assembly FigJam: latest simulation
Case-study narrative and supporting research Six profiles, seven tasks, and next revisions
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
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25 / PROVENANCE AND SCOPE
Independent concept. Transparent evidence.
The case study uses Sony and PlayStation identity as its intended audience and ecosystem context.
All personas, interview summaries, usability profiles, quotations, timings, and task outcomes are
synthetic. They support design exploration and do not establish real user behavior, product demand,
or validated improvement.
Current screens are captured from the LINKUP Figma prototype. The latest simulation recommendations are kept
separate from the current prototype states. The 84/84 route-check statement comes from the project handoff, without
its original log.
REFERENCE LINKS
PlayStation App / ecosystem context Sony and PlayStation names and marks belong to their respective
owners. Game imagery appears in the concept prototype for
PlayStation hiring process / portfolio context
identification. This portfolio is not endorsed by or affiliated with
PlayStation accessibility
Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Sony Interactive Entertainment trademarks
Sony / PlayStation original logo files
Sony wordmark source
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LINKUP / Independent concept for Sony Interactive Entertainment
Explore the final interactions
The next step is real player testing of session fit, waiting, console handoff, recovery, and leaving, followed by implementation and accessibility validation.
↑ Back to selected workCASE STUDY 10 · SYSTEMS DESIGN & OPERATIONAL LOGISTICS
SERVICEFLOW
Independent conceptual redesign of a multi-channel quick-service ordering and pickup experience.
Research-led service redesign · October 2026
Three ways to order.
One coordinated handoff.
At a downtown Kitchener restaurant, counter, kiosk, and mobile customers converged into one crowded pickup environment. Identical purchases were called aloud, while only digital orders had a consistently visible identifier.
SERVICEFLOW proposes one four-digit order identity, synchronized preparation, readable status cues, clearer circulation, verified handoff, and assisted recovery within the compact existing footprint.
Explore the complete case study ↗View presentation board
Queues intersect, some orders lack unique pickup identification, and verbal descriptions create potential confusion.
Counter, kiosk, and mobile share a unique four-digit ID, preparation status, visual pickup display, and staff-assisted verification.
Six validation scenarios are defined; no deployment, participant testing, or measured throughput improvement is claimed.
Independent study. Based on a public customer observation. Not commissioned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Tim Hortons. Read the research-to-solution story →
↑ Back to selected work03 — Approach
How I innovate
A practical framework that connects human needs to measurable outcomes.
01
Understand
Explore people, behaviors, constraints, environments and the real problem behind the request.
02
Define
Translate research and observations into clear needs, requirements and opportunities.
03
Create
Generate concepts, prototype quickly and collaborate across design, engineering and business.
04
Improve
Test, learn, iterate and implement—using continuous improvement to move ideas forward.
04 — Experience
Experience that spans disciplines.
Selected career highlights based on my professional experience.
2025 — 2026
Provincial Constable
Brantford Police Service · Brantford, Ontario
- Managed dynamic, high-pressure incidents and coordinated resources to support public safety.
- Conducted investigations, gathered evidence, interviewed witnesses and prepared precise documentation.
- Developed strong problem-solving, interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.
2012 — 2025
Lexus Production Team Member · Kaizen & Safety Lead
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada · Cambridge, Ontario
- Led continuous improvement and innovation initiatives affecting safety and operational efficiency.
- Used benchmarking, TPM inspections and quality checks to identify abnormalities and implement countermeasures.
- Coordinated production, engineering and safety stakeholders around product and process changes.
- Founded and chaired the MOSAIC Business Partnering Group and developed strategic annual plans with an Executive Sponsor.
- Provided English/Japanese translation and training, bridging technical and cultural gaps in global teams.
2005 — 2011
Project / Event Manager
Eggworm · Tokyo, Japan
- Designed and launched real-world experiences for audiences of up to 2,000 attendees.
- Led teams of artists, designers, experts and vendors while negotiating contracts and managing profitability.
- Oversaw brand identity, marketing campaigns and program design.
2002 — 2005
Industrial Design Assistant · Language & Design Roles
Teknon · Forum Japan · Sunwave Home Comfort
- Created technical drawings and CAD mock-ups while supporting ISO, ergonomic and structural testing.
- Supported product validation and prototype testing for modular furniture systems.
- Designed corporate learning programs and provided technical English/Japanese translation.
05 — Capabilities
What I bring.
A broad toolkit for solving product, people and organizational challenges.
Industrial Design
Product design · CAD modeling · Prototyping · Mock-ups · Materials · Ergonomics · ISO specifications · Technical drawings
Innovation Strategy
Design strategy · Innovation roadmapping · Kaizen · Lean methodologies · Benchmarking · Competitive analysis · Emerging technology
User & Psychology
User research · Behavioral insights · Human-centered design · Accessibility · Inclusive design · Usability · Human factors
Product & Projects
Product strategy · Roadmaps · Requirements · Cross-functional leadership · Budget management · Vendor negotiation · Risk assessment
Leadership
Stakeholder management · Presentations · Training · Coaching · Mentorship · Cross-cultural communication
Systems Design & Service Logistics
Service blueprints · Workflow architecture · Queue management · Spatial analysis · Order tracking · Exception handling · Human factors validation
Technical
CAD · Microsoft Word · Excel · PowerPoint · Outlook · English/Japanese communication
Want the complete professional story?
Download Resume06 — Contact
Let's build what's next.
For employers, recruiters and collaborators interested in design, innovation and human-centered problem solving.
I'm open to opportunities where industrial design, innovation strategy, human insight and practical execution can create meaningful results.
Emailyjason32@yahoo.com
Phone(226) 338-5620
LocationKitchener, Ontario, Canada
LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jasonwyoung1