01 Signal
Familiarity & chains
Finding
Predictability can save time and reduce risk—but it can also hide what is local.
Project 01 · Research Collection
Trust Signals
How college students choose restaurants while traveling—and which details make an unfamiliar option feel credible.
Padlet · Platform examples · Archive materialRole in the portfolio
The evidence base for everything that follows.
The Padlet organizes examples of restaurant trust signals before they become a single claim or a polished design. It holds platform pages, restaurant examples, personal observations, and archival material in one visible research space.
Grouping the evidence made a pattern clear: no single signal is enough. The strongest decisions come from comparing different kinds of information—and noticing what each format encourages a traveler to see.
Research board preview
6 signal groups 02 Signal
Food photos
Finding
Customer uploads, multiple angles, and recent images reveal more than one polished hero shot.
03 Signal
Ratings & reviews
Finding
The number, recency, comments, and repeated complaints matter alongside the score.
04 Signal
Prestige & guides
Finding
Awards and guide recognition create authority—and raise expectations before the meal.
05 Signal
Local tips
Finding
A better question to a local can reveal what to order, when to go, and what is overhyped.
06 Signal
Platforms & archives
Finding
Yelp, Tabelog, CATCHTABLE, Dianping, and a 2005 guide show how format shapes judgment.
Open the live board to view the complete source collection.
Open the original PadletPurpose
Collect and compare the signals students use before choosing an unfamiliar restaurant.
Audience
Student travelers interested in making a fast choice without relying on one score or image.
Structure
Evidence is grouped by familiarity, photos, ratings, prestige, local knowledge, and platforms.
Tools
Padlet, current restaurant and platform pages, personal observations, and 2005 Dianping material.
Reflection