The Sweet Exchange
The Sweet Exchange
A research-based concept for Sweet Talk Café that turns quiet visits into social moments through The Sweet Exchange, a set of themed conversation cards that spark dialogue and strengthen the café’s atmosphere.
TEAM
Melika Rezazadeh - Mahla Aghapour
TEAM
Melika Rezazadeh - Mahla Aghapour
TEAM
Melika Rezazadeh - Mahla Aghapour
Role
UX Researcher & Concept Designer
Role
UX Researcher & Concept Designer
Role
UX Researcher & Concept Designer
DURATION
Spring 2025, 12 weeks (Academic Project)
DURATION
Spring 2025, 12 weeks (Academic Project)
DURATION
Spring 2025, 12 weeks (Academic Project)
Project Overview
Project Overview
Project Overview
Sweet Talk is a local café in Port Moody, BC known for its cozy atmosphere and evening transition into a cocktail bar. In this 12-week project, our team designed The Sweet Exchange, an in-café conversation card experience that enhances customer interaction and makes visits more memorable.
Sweet Talk is a local café in Port Moody, BC known for its cozy atmosphere and evening transition into a cocktail bar. In this 12-week project, our team designed The Sweet Exchange, an in-café conversation card experience that enhances customer interaction and makes visits more memorable.
Sweet Talk is a local café in Port Moody, BC known for its cozy atmosphere and evening transition into a cocktail bar. In this 12-week project, our team designed The Sweet Exchange, an in-café conversation card experience that enhances customer interaction and makes visits more memorable.
Problem
Problem
Problem
Modern cafés often aim to create a relaxed environment, but this can unintentionally limit meaningful interaction. Through our early research, we noticed that customers at Sweet Talk tended to stay in their own circles or on their phones, leading to quiet, disconnected visits.
Despite the café’s inviting design, there was no built-in reason for guests to engage beyond ordering and eating. The challenge was to introduce a form of interaction that felt organic and effortless, without disrupting the calm, intimate atmosphere that defines the space.
Modern cafés often aim to create a relaxed environment, but this can unintentionally limit meaningful interaction. Through our early research, we noticed that customers at Sweet Talk tended to stay in their own circles or on their phones, leading to quiet, disconnected visits.
Despite the café’s inviting design, there was no built-in reason for guests to engage beyond ordering and eating. The challenge was to introduce a form of interaction that felt organic and effortless, without disrupting the calm, intimate atmosphere that defines the space.
Modern cafés often aim to create a relaxed environment, but this can unintentionally limit meaningful interaction. Through our early research, we noticed that customers at Sweet Talk tended to stay in their own circles or on their phones, leading to quiet, disconnected visits.
Despite the café’s inviting design, there was no built-in reason for guests to engage beyond ordering and eating. The challenge was to introduce a form of interaction that felt organic and effortless, without disrupting the calm, intimate atmosphere that defines the space.
Objective
Objective
Objective
How might we design a simple, self-guided experience that encourages guests to start conversations and feel more connected, while keeping the relaxed and cozy atmosphere of Sweet Talk intact?
How might we design a simple, self-guided experience that encourages guests to start conversations and feel more connected, while keeping the relaxed and cozy atmosphere of Sweet Talk intact?
How might we design a simple, self-guided experience that encourages guests to start conversations and feel more connected, while keeping the relaxed and cozy atmosphere of Sweet Talk intact?
Discovery Phase
Discovery Phase
Discovery Phase
I led interviews, observations, and secondary research to understand how people interact in cafés. Most guests visited in groups but stayed quiet after ordering, revealing a lack of shared activity. I analyzed these patterns alongside business goals discussed with the owners, who emphasized low-effort solutions that wouldn’t disrupt operations. After exploring both digital and physical options, the team went toward a tactile, self-directed interaction that aligned with Sweet Talk’s calm, welcoming atmosphere.
I led interviews, observations, and secondary research to understand how people interact in cafés. Most guests visited in groups but stayed quiet after ordering, revealing a lack of shared activity. I analyzed these patterns alongside business goals discussed with the owners, who emphasized low-effort solutions that wouldn’t disrupt operations. After exploring both digital and physical options, the team went toward a tactile, self-directed interaction that aligned with Sweet Talk’s calm, welcoming atmosphere.
I led interviews, observations, and secondary research to understand how people interact in cafés. Most guests visited in groups but stayed quiet after ordering, revealing a lack of shared activity. I analyzed these patterns alongside business goals discussed with the owners, who emphasized low-effort solutions that wouldn’t disrupt operations. After exploring both digital and physical options, the team went toward a tactile, self-directed interaction that aligned with Sweet Talk’s calm, welcoming atmosphere.
Concept Development
Concept Development
Concept Development
The concept took shape through multiple rounds of ideation and validation. Early brainstorming explored ways to make Sweet Talk’s environment more interactive without adding digital elements or disrupting the café’s calm atmosphere. Ideas ranged from physical installations to small take-home items, which were evaluated against feasibility and brand fit.
Through discussion, sketching, and rapid feedback, the direction narrowed toward a lightweight, table-centered experience that could naturally prompt interaction within the existing space.
The concept took shape through multiple rounds of ideation and validation. Early brainstorming explored ways to make Sweet Talk’s environment more interactive without adding digital elements or disrupting the café’s calm atmosphere. Ideas ranged from physical installations to small take-home items, which were evaluated against feasibility and brand fit.
Through discussion, sketching, and rapid feedback, the direction narrowed toward a lightweight, table-centered experience that could naturally prompt interaction within the existing space.
The concept took shape through multiple rounds of ideation and validation. Early brainstorming explored ways to make Sweet Talk’s environment more interactive without adding digital elements or disrupting the café’s calm atmosphere. Ideas ranged from physical installations to small take-home items, which were evaluated against feasibility and brand fit.
Through discussion, sketching, and rapid feedback, the direction narrowed toward a lightweight, table-centered experience that could naturally prompt interaction within the existing space.
User Flow & Experience
User Flow & Experience
User Flow & Experience
The interaction was designed to feel self-guided and effortless. Guests notice the deck, choose a comfort level, and begin playing without needing instructions or staff assistance. The flow supports both quick coffee stops and longer visits, allowing groups or individuals to engage at their own pace.
The interaction was designed to feel self-guided and effortless. Guests notice the deck, choose a comfort level, and begin playing without needing instructions or staff assistance. The flow supports both quick coffee stops and longer visits, allowing groups or individuals to engage at their own pace.
The interaction was designed to feel self-guided and effortless. Guests notice the deck, choose a comfort level, and begin playing without needing instructions or staff assistance. The flow supports both quick coffee stops and longer visits, allowing groups or individuals to engage at their own pace.
Content Strategy
Content Strategy
Content Strategy
Research showed that most guests valued routine and comfort but avoided interactions that felt forced or demanding. The design needed to invite conversation naturally while respecting the café’s quiet, familiar atmosphere.
The card system was structured to support different comfort levels, giving visitors control over how much they wanted to share. This ensured the experience stayed approachable for first-time guests yet meaningful for returning ones.
Research showed that most guests valued routine and comfort but avoided interactions that felt forced or demanding. The design needed to invite conversation naturally while respecting the café’s quiet, familiar atmosphere.
The card system was structured to support different comfort levels, giving visitors control over how much they wanted to share. This ensured the experience stayed approachable for first-time guests yet meaningful for returning ones.
Research showed that most guests valued routine and comfort but avoided interactions that felt forced or demanding. The design needed to invite conversation naturally while respecting the café’s quiet, familiar atmosphere.
The card system was structured to support different comfort levels, giving visitors control over how much they wanted to share. This ensured the experience stayed approachable for first-time guests yet meaningful for returning ones.
Design Decisions
Design Decisions
Design Decisions
The Sweet Exchange was built as a quiet extension of Sweet Talk’s identity, approachable, low-effort, and naturally social. The tone of each card stays friendly and familiar, inviting play without feeling forced.
The setup is simple: a small open box on the table, an intuitive instruction card, and three decks ready to explore. Materials, language, and placement were chosen to feel effortless and blend into the café’s calm rhythm.
The Sweet Exchange was built as a quiet extension of Sweet Talk’s identity, approachable, low-effort, and naturally social. The tone of each card stays friendly and familiar, inviting play without feeling forced.
The setup is simple: a small open box on the table, an intuitive instruction card, and three decks ready to explore. Materials, language, and placement were chosen to feel effortless and blend into the café’s calm rhythm.
The Sweet Exchange was built as a quiet extension of Sweet Talk’s identity, approachable, low-effort, and naturally social. The tone of each card stays friendly and familiar, inviting play without feeling forced.
The setup is simple: a small open box on the table, an intuitive instruction card, and three decks ready to explore. Materials, language, and placement were chosen to feel effortless and blend into the café’s calm rhythm.
What I Learned
What I Learned
What I Learned
This project helped me understand how research can directly inform design decisions. Analyzing user behavior and business needs guided how the interaction was shaped: simple, self-directed, and easy to maintain. It reinforced the value of grounding design choices in real context and making sure each decision supports both the user experience and the client’s goals.
This project helped me understand how research can directly inform design decisions. Analyzing user behavior and business needs guided how the interaction was shaped: simple, self-directed, and easy to maintain. It reinforced the value of grounding design choices in real context and making sure each decision supports both the user experience and the client’s goals.
This project helped me understand how research can directly inform design decisions. Analyzing user behavior and business needs guided how the interaction was shaped: simple, self-directed, and easy to maintain. It reinforced the value of grounding design choices in real context and making sure each decision supports both the user experience and the client’s goals.