Hobbes Chen

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Singapore

Hobbes Chen

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7:29:49 PM

Singapore

Project Type

Self-Initiated Concept Study

Team

Figma

Core Pillars

Service Design

Information Architecture

Wayfinding and Commuting Experience

A UX Case Study on the Singapore Transit Map Redesign

Redesigning the end-to-end commuter journey for Singapore's metro system by synchronising transit Information Architecture with physical station navigation.
Foreword

As a daily commuter, I’ve always been intrigued by the sheer complexity and efficiency of Singapore’s transit network. This project began not as a critique, but as a deep dive into the "gold standard" of urban mobility set by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT/SBS Transit.

The seeds for this study were planted during the COVID-19 reopening. In a time when international borders were closed and our world felt smaller, I found myself playing tourist and rediscovering my own backyard. Armed with a mask and a sense of curiosity, I spent those months taking our trains to every corner of the island — observing the hushed stations, studying the changing signage across different lines, and documenting the subtle friction points of a network in transition. It was during these quiet commutes that I began to wonder: How can we evolve this world-class infrastructure to be as warm and inviting as the tropical city it serves, while making the navigation experience more intuitive and consistent for every commuter?

This concept study, "The Tropical Metro," seeks to build upon that foundation. It is an exploration of a unified visual vernacular: one that marries the structural clarity of our current network with the warm, "City in Nature" identity that makes Singapore unique. By introducing a nature-centric palette and a friendly wayfinding companion, Otto, I wanted to see if we could turn the "Mass Rapid Transit" experience into a "Tropical City Discovery" for everyone — from the born-and-bred local to the first-time visitor.

This project is not merely an aesthetic brand overhaul, but a contribution to the ongoing dialogue — pioneered by designers like Samuel L. and enthusiasts by Faiz B. — on how to navigate and explore the city through Singapore's transit system.

As a daily commuter, I’ve always been intrigued by the sheer complexity and efficiency of Singapore’s transit network. This project began not as a critique, but as a deep dive into the "gold standard" of urban mobility set by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT/SBS Transit.

The seeds for this study were planted during the COVID-19 reopening. In a time when international borders were closed and our world felt smaller, I found myself playing tourist and rediscovering my own backyard. Armed with a mask and a sense of curiosity, I spent those months taking our trains to every corner of the island — observing the hushed stations, studying the changing signage across different lines, and documenting the subtle friction points of a network in transition. It was during these quiet commutes that I began to wonder: How can we evolve this world-class infrastructure to be as warm and inviting as the tropical city it serves, while making the navigation experience more intuitive and consistent for every commuter?

This concept study, "The Tropical Metro," seeks to build upon that foundation. It is an exploration of a unified visual vernacular: one that marries the structural clarity of our current network with the warm, "City in Nature" identity that makes Singapore unique. By introducing a nature-centric palette and a friendly wayfinding companion, Otto, I wanted to see if we could turn the "Mass Rapid Transit" experience into a "Tropical City Discovery" for everyone — from the born-and-bred local to the first-time visitor.

This project is not merely an aesthetic brand overhaul, but a contribution to the ongoing dialogue — pioneered by designers like Samuel L. and enthusiasts by Faiz B. — on how to navigate and explore the city through Singapore's transit system.

As a daily commuter, I’ve always been intrigued by the sheer complexity and efficiency of Singapore’s transit network. This project began not as a critique, but as a deep dive into the "gold standard" of urban mobility set by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT/SBS Transit.

The seeds for this study were planted during the COVID-19 reopening. In a time when international borders were closed and our world felt smaller, I found myself playing tourist and rediscovering my own backyard. Armed with a mask and a sense of curiosity, I spent those months taking our trains to every corner of the island — observing the hushed stations, studying the changing signage across different lines, and documenting the subtle friction points of a network in transition. It was during these quiet commutes that I began to wonder: How can we evolve this world-class infrastructure to be as warm and inviting as the tropical city it serves, while making the navigation experience more intuitive and consistent for every commuter?

This concept study, "The Tropical Metro," seeks to build upon that foundation. It is an exploration of a unified visual vernacular: one that marries the structural clarity of our current network with the warm, "City in Nature" identity that makes Singapore unique. By introducing a nature-centric palette and a friendly wayfinding companion, Otto, I wanted to see if we could turn the "Mass Rapid Transit" experience into a "Tropical City Discovery" for everyone — from the born-and-bred local to the first-time visitor.

This project is not merely an aesthetic brand overhaul, but a contribution to the ongoing dialogue — pioneered by designers like Samuel L. and enthusiasts by Faiz B. — on how to navigate and explore the city through Singapore's transit system.

Context

The rapid expansion presents a significant design challenge of information density. As the Land Transport Authority of Singapore continues to add complex lines while exploring future ones, the traditional map would grow and be pushed beyond cognitive limits.

This project seeks to address these gaps by redesigning the transit map and wayfinding experience to be more:
[1] intuitive,
[2] inclusive, and
[3] grounded in the unique "Nature in a Tropical City" identity

A transit map is more than a diagram; it is a user’s primary mental model of the city. However, through field research, I identified that this model often breaks down upon entering the physical station environment. As a self-initiated project, I am deeply interested in the redesign of the Singapore's transit map and developed a matching modular wayfinding framework to ensure a seamless, omni-channel commuter experience.

Problem
Discovery

  • The "Guerilla Signage" Red Flag: During station visits, I observed "guerrilla signage" — handwritten or laminated A4 sheets taped to walls by staff. This is a clear indicator that the official wayfinding system has failed to provide critical information at high-stress decision points, resulting in these makeshift workarounds.

  • Accessibility and Inclusivity Barriers: My audit identified that existing system map headers/leaders as well as some of the wayfinding signages often lack multi-language representation, failing to address the diverse user personas (e.g. non-English speaking silver generation or international tourists) that make up Singapore’s daily ridership. Granted, there are station staff on the ground at the interchange stations especially during peak hours to help guide commuters in the right direction. However, in stations that are quieter, addressing this language representation issue could help ensure a more autonomous and inclusive commuter experience.

  • Orientation Gap and Complexity of Spatial Mental Mapping: My observations at the Orchard MRT (TEL) platform highlighted a significant orientation gap. Upon exiting the train, commuters are often met with a lack of immediate directional cues, forcing them to rely on memory or trial-and-error to locate major exits like ION Orchard. This absence of 'point-of-exit' wayfinding could well lead to commuter disorientation and hesitant foot traffic, which can cause congestion at the platform level.

    Similarly, at complex interchanges like Outram Park, the in-train electronic displays often present a high cognitive load. While comprehensive, the layout requires significant mental effort to map a 2D schematic onto a complex, multi-level 3D environment. Perhaps by simplifying the experience to eliminate the need for spatial mental mapping, we can facilitate quicker decision-making, encouraging faster exiting from the train as well as smoother boarding for those waiting on the platform.

  • The "Guerilla Signage" Red Flag: During station visits, I observed "guerrilla signage" — handwritten or laminated A4 sheets taped to walls by staff. This is a clear indicator that the official wayfinding system has failed to provide critical information at high-stress decision points, resulting in these makeshift workarounds.

  • Accessibility and Inclusivity Barriers: My audit identified that existing system map headers often lack multi-language representation, failing to address the diverse user personas (e.g. non-English speaking silver generation or international tourists) that make up Singapore’s daily ridership.

  • Orientation Gap and Complexity of Spatial Mental Mapping: The current visual language relies heavily on sterile, industrial tones (greys and harsh whites). While functional, this aesthetic lacks the "warmth" of Singapore’s identity, making the commute feel like a clinical process rather than an inviting journey through a "City in Nature".

    This is confirmed by a scan of online discourse (e.g. Reddit) where commuters — myself including — struggle with spatial mental mapping, where three-dimensional floor plans of interchanges are displayed on the

  • The "Guerilla Signage" Red Flag: During station visits, I observed "guerrilla signage" — handwritten or laminated A4 sheets taped to walls by staff. This is a clear indicator that the official wayfinding system has failed to provide critical information at high-stress decision points, resulting in these makeshift workarounds.

  • Accessibility and Inclusivity Barriers: My audit identified that existing system map headers often lack multi-language representation, failing to address the diverse user personas (e.g. non-English speaking silver generation or international tourists) that make up Singapore’s daily ridership.

  • Orientation Gap and Complexity of Spatial Mental Mapping: The current visual language relies heavily on sterile, industrial tones (greys and harsh whites). While functional, this aesthetic lacks the "warmth" of Singapore’s identity, making the commute feel like a clinical process rather than an inviting journey through a "City in Nature".

    This is confirmed by a scan of online discourse (e.g. Reddit) where commuters — myself including — struggle with spatial mental mapping, where three-dimensional floor plans of interchanges are displayed on the

Methodology & Strategic Approach

  • Environmental Audit: I travelled to multiple interchange stations (e.g. Dhoby Ghaut, Jurong East, etc.) to document inconsistent signage and observe where commuters often looked confused.

  • Heuristic Evaluation: Evaluated the legacy map against universal wayfinding standards to identify friction points in scannability and visual hierarchy.

  • Community Validation: I released the redesigned map to a community of daily commuters on a social media platform to gather feedback on usability, intuitiveness and scannability.

Design Proposals & Rationale
01 | The Macro Experience: System Map Scannability

  • Original: Diagonal labels requiring head-tilting and increased mental effort.

  • Proposed: Transitioned to horizontal text and a strict 45-degree grid. This follows Fitts's Law principles, allowing the human eye to "scan" station names significantly faster in high-density areas.

A screenshot showing a heated exchange in the comment thread section with AI moderation,
02
Reimagining the Feed: The 24-Hour Timeline

The Problem: Algorithmic feeds create a sense of "infinite scroll" that leads to social comparison and anxiety.

The Solution: A digital journal format that complements traditional social media habits by offering a 24-hour chronological grid. This serves as a functional sanctuary that breaks the momentum of doom-scrolling while encouraging users to celebrate everyday, "unpolished" moments rather than curated highlights.

03
Digital Presence: Real-time Activity Updates

The Problem: Passive scrolling (consuming without interacting) is a primary driver of social isolation on platforms. Users feel like they are watching a broadcast rather than participating in a community.

The Solution: Synchronous Connectivity Insights Instead of static profiles, Glimpse surfaces real-time activity "glimpses" — showing what friends are currently listening to, reading, or exploring. This creates "digital serendipity," providing a natural bridge for users to start active conversations based on shared current experiences.

A screenshot of the Inbox section that displays current friend activities.
04
Reclaiming Identity: Expressive Profile Customisation

The Problem: Modern social platforms have "standardised" the user. Profiles are generic grids that force diverse personalities into a single, corporate template, leading to a "sameness" in how people present themselves.

The Solution: Modular Identity Skins Beyond standard photos, Glimpse offers extensive profile customisation through themes, modular layouts, and "skins." This allows users to treat their digital space like a personal room, showcasing different facets of their personality (e.g. a minimalist aesthetic for a designer vs. a vibrant, more organic layout for a gardener).

05
Information as Utility: The "Guides" Feature

The Problem: The "Influencer" model often prioritises aesthetic over value, burying useful information under promotional clutter and biased sponsored content.

The Solution: Collaborative Recommendation Engines Glimpse introduces "Guides" — themed, detailed recommendations created by users for their community. By moving from a "post" (temporary) to a "guide" (permanent utility), the platform rewards domain expertise and community value over viral vanity.

Three screenshots of Guides feature: Bangkok guides, location map, and detailed store write-up.
Product Strategy & Risk Mitigation (Self-Critique)

  • The Monetisation Paradox: Traditional social media relies on ad revenue (which requires high screen time). Glimpse would likely require an alternative revenue model (e.g. a marketplace for creators or premium "Guide" tiers) to avoid the engagement trap.

  • The Adoption Barrier: Users are habituated to instant gratification. Transitioning to a mindful, "slow" social app requires a significant shift in user mental models — a challenge that UX alone cannot solve without a cultural shift.

  • Free Speech vs. Moderation: There is a fine line between a "gentle nudge" and "censorship." The AI to be implemented must be transparent, allowing users to override nudges while maintaining awareness of the platform's community standards.

Reflections

Glimpse began as an exploration of toxic social patterns, but it evolved into a personal framework for Responsible Product Design.

Through this project, I’ve refined three core beliefs that I carry into my professional work:

  • Friction is a Tool, Not a Failure: In the race for "seamless" experiences, we often remove the moments of reflection that make us human. I’ve learnt how to use intentional friction (like the AI Nudge) to protect user wellbeing without sacrificing utility.

  • The Ethical Responsibility of AI: AI shouldn't just be an "assistant"; it should be a mediator. Glimpse taught me to look at AI through the lens of Sentiment Ethics, ensuring that automation serves to de-escalate conflict rather than amplify it.

  • Designing for Longevity over Engagement: True product success ought not to be measured by how many hours a user spends on a platform, but by the quality of the value they walk away with. This mindset is critical for building sustainable, trust-based products in today's digital age.

    The evolution of our system map — from its early linear roots to the iconic circular geometry we see today — is a testament to the vibrant discourse within Singapore’s design community. This project stands on the shoulders of passionate individuals like Cliff Tan, Samuel Lim, and Faiz Basha, whose independent studies and formal contributions have pushed the boundaries of how we visualise our city. Their collective work turned a complex engineering feat into a readable, navigable masterpiece, and 'The Tropical Metro' is my humble attempt to join that ongoing dialogue — layering a new, nature-centric perspective onto the world-class foundation they’ve helped build.

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