TLC Tamondai is a language exchange started by a local café owner and ALT in Japan.
Every Thursday, locals and ALTs meet to practice languages and build friendships.
I redesigned their site to make joining events and engaging with the community simple and clear.
Original Website
Problem & Research
When I arrived in Japan, the café owner welcomed me warmly—TLC became my home.
But without a website, many missed the chance to join.
Info was hard to find, and sign-ups relied on word-of-mouth.
TLC had the heart of a strong community—it just needed a proper platform to grow.
What Wasn’t Working
NO CLEAR EVENT HUB
People had to rely on LINE group messages to get information.
CONFUSING SIGN-UP PROCESS
Newcomers had to message the organizer directly, leading to miscommunication.
LIMITED LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY
The existing site lacked proper English and Japanese support.
LACK OF BRANDING
The original website didn’t visually reflect the warm and welcoming vibe of TLC.
Goal
To create a user-friendly website that:
Supports English and Japanese
Users can easily switch between languages at the top right corner, ensuring that both ALTs and local Japanese speakers feel included.
Makes Joining events & cohorts simple.
A clear, structured sign-up flow replaces the need for direct messaging, making participation effortless.
Reflects the cozy atmosphere of the café where events happen.
The warm color palette and organic design elements capture the inviting, community-driven spirit of TLC.
TLC’s identity is rooted in the warm, inviting atmosphere of the café where it all began. To reflect this, I designed the brand with natural tones and a friendly, welcoming aesthetic.
Design Decisions
Visual Identity
Capturing the Café’s Atmosphere
I drew visual inspiration from the café’s cozy, wood-toned interior and a watercolor painting of the space. A moodboard, shaped by both the environment and chats with Eri (the founder), helped guide the design direction.
Color Palette Selection
Two palettes were developed using warm, natural tones:
Greens and browns for a grounded, organic feel.
Soft gold to highlight key areas and evoke warmth.
Typeface Choices
Amulya - Header Font
Used for headings to add personality while keeping a professional yet warm tone.
Synonym - Paragraph Font
A clean, readable typeface for paragraphs, ensuring smooth readability for longer textblocks.
Logo Concept & Variations
The TLC logo merges a speech bubble (for communication) and a leaf (for growth & community). The letters are in a rounded, friendly typeface.
Five variations were created, including full-color and monochrome versions for flexible use.
Discover other events
Landing Page
UX Improvements
The website streamlines the process of:
Language toggle in the top right corner for accessibility.
Wireframes
Real Community Voices – Testimonials highlight TLC’s impact, making new visitors feel at ease.
Storytelling with Purpose – Short, engaging text about TLC’s mission and how it fosters cross-cultural exchange.
Testimonials & About Us
Simplifying the landing page for a smooth and intuitive user flow.
No More Manual Messaging – Users can sign up directly instead of relying on LINE messages.
Clear Monthly Cohort Structure – Outlines start dates and what participants can expect.
Event Details at a Glance – Time, location, and descriptions are now easy to find.
No need to rely only on personal messages.
Answers Common Questions – Reduces the need for back-and-forth messaging.
Easy Contact Form – Provides a direct way to reach the organizers.
Integrated Map for Café Location – Helps first-time visitors find their way effortlessly.
English & Japanese support
Signing up for cohorts
Join Cohort & Event Page
F.A.Q & Contact Us
Able to see other events such as community gardening and dinner events.
Simplified Navigation – Users can immediately find key info (events, cohorts, contact).
Clear CTA (Call to Action) – “Join the Cohort” button makes signing up seamless.
Cozy & Natural Aesthetic – Earthy colors and warm visuals reflect the café’s welcoming atmosphere.
For Figma Prototype click here:
Simplified Landing Page
Website Home Page
For Figma Prototype click here:
Before
After
Clean & Intuitive Layout
A structured design that makes it easy to find events, cohorts, and community activities.
Streamlined Sign-Ups
Users can now register for events and cohorts directly from the website, removing unnecessary friction.
Bilingual Support
Visitors can easily switch between languages in the top-right corner.
Warm, Community-Focused Design
A clear, structured sign-up flow replaces the need for direct messaging, making participation effortless.
Cluttered & Hard to Navigate
Information was scattered, making it difficult to understand what TLC offers.
No Clear Sign-Up Process
People had to rely on word-of-mouth and personal messages to join events.
Limited Language Support
The website was mainly in one language, making it less accessible for non-native speakers.
Lacked Visual Appeal
The site didn’t reflect the warm, inviting atmosphere of the café and community.
Before and After Comparison
50% improvement in returning attendees
More first-time visitors returned for multiple sessions, indicating stronger retention. (Observed through manual tracking by TLC organizers.)
Simplified event coordination
Organizers spent less time manually messaging participants via LINE, as the website streamlined information delivery. (Reported via organizer feedback.)
Key Takeaways & Impact
35% increase in new sign-ups
More users registered for the monthly language cohorts after the website provided a clear onboarding process. (Tracked via sign-up forms and event attendance logs.)
Higher engagement in social channels
TLC’s social media presence grew, with increased shares, comments, and inquiries after launching the prototype. (Compared through social activity before and after the redesign.)
Final Thoughts
This project was about making TLC more accessible. The community was already welcoming, but without a proper website, many people missed out. Now, with a clear, bilingual platform and an easy sign-up process, more people can join, connect, and grow together.
This redesign lays the foundation for TLC to keep expanding and bringing people closer—just like it did for me.
