Design and Development of a 'Mutelu' Location Recommendation Application for Worshipping at Wat Thung Setthi in Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This research aims to (1) study information related to Wat Thung Setthi in Khon Kaen Province, (2) analyze design approaches for User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI), and (3) design and develop a “Mutelu” location recommendation application for worshipping and making merit at Wat Thung Setthi. The purpose is to respond to the consumption behaviors of “New-Generation Mutelu Believers” and to support the efficient development of services that effectively meet the needs of the target users. A mixed-methods approach with a qualitative emphasis was employed. The purposive sample consisted of 60 individuals who visited Wat Thung Setthi for worship and blessings. Research tools included on-site surveys, behavioral observation, structured interviews, and prototype application testing. The application design and development were based on the principles of Web Design Theory and implemented using MIT App Inventor and Adobe Illustrator. The findings revealed that most application users were male (63.3%) and worked in the private sector (61.7%). Their primary need was an application that provided comprehensive, accurate, and reliable information about “Mutelu” practices at Wat Thung Setthi. The overall user satisfaction level was rated as “high” ( = 4.51), particularly in the aspects of “accuracy” (= 4.55) and “alignment with objectives” ( = 4.57), which received the highest mean scores. This study successfully designed and developed an application that aligns with the behaviors of digital “Mutelu” believers by applying Web Design Theory. The resulting application demonstrated a strong User Experience (UX)—being easy to use and meeting user expectations—and an appealing User Interface (UI). The results confirm that applying systematic design principles can directly enhance user satisfaction and promote sustainable application use in the future.