Building a Funnel Between Two Worlds

Anime and manga fans have always lived between two worlds: the imaginative 2D universe of stories and characters, and the 3D reality where those passions come alive through conventions and community.

But the funnel between worlds isn’t easy to access. Outside of large conventions or organized fan clubs, individual fans often struggle to connect with the creators or cosplayers who bring their favorite characters to life. Finding like-minded collaborators, or even the right team, to reimagine a beloved story can feel nearly impossible.

Unspoken Pains in a Subculture Community

During my field research, I spent weeks immersed in the subculture’s world, attending conventions, shadowing events, and interviewing participants. I discovered challenges that are less visible on the surface but deeply felt by everyone involved.

Limited resources: Subculture groups are small and highly niche. Fans look for collaborators who share the same understanding of character backstories and visual details, but finding them is rare.

Reliance on old connections: Participation in cosplay events is often team-based, yet teams are usually formed through personal networks or closed circles. Without insider access, newcomers find it hard to join.

Fragmented organization: Planning and executing cosplay projects—from photoshoots to event appearances—remains disjointed. Coordination still relies heavily on messaging apps and word of mouth.

Behind the colorful costumes and dynamic performances is a quiet frustration: Passionate fans have few places to channel their creativity together.

Shaping an Accessible Experience

I wanted to design something that bridged this divide: a platform that connects fans through shared interests, real collaboration, and creative production.

That idea became the foundation for my project: an n-dimensional resource integration system, that is, a digital service that connects enthusiasts, creators, and organizers to make real-world anime experiences easier and more joyful.

1. Resource integration:

The platform connects professional and semi-professional users across roles, including cosplayers, photographers, stylists, and post-production editors. Each uploaded video or photo is tagged with costume, prop, and location details, enabling discovery through authentic creative work.

• Video content recognition:

A recognition feature identifies costumes and props within uploaded videos. Clicking a tag reveals details such as the designer’s name or rental shop, transforming passive viewing into active exploration.

• Community and credibility:

Every creator profile displays verified contributions. Instead of simple likes, users can send collaboration requests, form new teams, and plan projects directly through the platform.

Together, these functions make collaboration transparent, searchable, and grounded in mutual respect.

Bridging Technical and Creative Worlds

Bringing technical and creative cultures together wasn’t easy. Developers sought measurable logic, but users cared about emotional resonance. I often found myself translating between empathy and efficiency, aligning everyone around the why behind each design choice.

For example, when our early prototype struggled to distinguish between visually similar costumes, we balanced automation with human input. By allowing creators to verify tags manually, we improved both accuracy and trust, proving that technology can support, rather than replace, human creativity.

Impact and What I Learned

When I tested the prototype with early adopters—small cosplay teams and event organizers—the response was immediate. Participants valued having a one-stop platform to manage their creative process.

Beyond the metrics, the real success was emotional. Cosplayers who once struggled to find reliable teammates now felt seen, empowered, and recognized. One photographer told us, “It finally feels like our efforts are visible.”

Lessons for UX Practitioners

Designing for passionate subcultures taught me far-reaching lessons beyond anime fandom:

1. Start with empathy, not assumptions. Subcultures operate on shared values that aren’t always visible from the outside.
2. Translate passion into structure. Creativity needs frameworks that enable collaboration without diluting individuality.
3. Design for co-creation, not consumption. Empower users to build and contribute, not just scroll and like.
4. Let culture shape interactions. Visual tone, language, and affordances should honor the community’s identity.

Looking Forward

We are living in an increasingly multicultural world. As product designers, we have a responsibility to build experiences that include, rather than exclude. Our craft enables us to help people express who they are and also discover where they belong.