Thesis: Gratuity Guide

This intuitive guide was developed and exhibited at OCAD University's Annual Gradex 103 in year 2018. All photos taken by Danny Tran.

Gratuity Guide explores methods to help consumers understand gratuity culture objectively. Regarding the social stigma around tipping, the use of a didactic tone will set an authoritative point of reference. Utilizing the digital platform, an all-encompassing website that provides an open resource of history and current practices by the use of visuals and navigation tools will make the practice clearer.

Industry:

Education

Tone:

Informative and authoritative through an unbiased lens.

Target Audience:

Individuals who strive to enforce personal philosophy, in this case, tipping culture.

Scope of Work:

Karin Von Ompteda: Thesis Professor

Objective

This online Gratuity Guide prototype organizes a variety of sources to provide users with updated information, therefore eliminating the need to search through different platforms. The objective is to supply consumers with the knowledge to make informed decisions without any form of possible discriminatory opinions.

Why?

This exploration started when I began to question what tipping is. How did it start? What is tipping? Who has the jurisdiction? From there, I threw myself into a rabbit hole of research and surveys. Everybody seems to have very different opinions. Some would only base their knowledge on looking at the suggested tip percentage set on the credit card machine. It comes with lots of challenges especially because there are two extremes, those who strictly tip a flat percentage and those who are against tipping. Due to the strong opinions, the solution is to be positioned in a authoritative figure and provide digestible knowledge.

Online Guide

The Gratuity Guide exists online to provide more detailed information regarding tipping within the different parts of the world for travelers, foreigners seeking a new home and any new customers. Along with the provided "socially accepted" amount, the website includes detail regarding specific service situations including a clear declaimer that the extra gratuity amount is up to the guest. The main section of the website is to inform the consumer's practice within the tipping culture.

Timeline

The Online Gratuity Guide provides a timeline where people can scroll down and explore to learn how the concept of gratuity developed through out the years of its existence. In respect to the social stigma around tipping, it is important to understand its history and current practices through an authoritative source.