SocialClub
Expand your network and explore your community
SocialClub
Expand your network and explore your community
Introduction: Redefining Social Networking with SocialClub
Introduction: Redefining Social Networking with SocialClub
I helped to design and build SocialClub, an interactive platform aimed at redefining social networking by making event discovery and community engagement more intuitive. This prototype focuses on solving key challenges students face—finding events, making new connections, and fostering group interactions. By integrating features like personalized recommendations, friend RSVPs, and a 3D map, the prototype demonstrates an engaging user experience tailored to modern social needs.
I helped to design and build SocialClub, an interactive platform aimed at redefining social networking by making event discovery and community engagement more intuitive. This prototype focuses on solving key challenges students face—finding events, making new connections, and fostering group interactions. By integrating features like personalized recommendations, friend RSVPs, and a 3D map, the prototype demonstrates an engaging user experience tailored to modern social needs.
GithubOvercoming Challenges
Overcoming Challenges
As we developed SocialClub, we quickly recognized several key obstacles that needed to be addressed. While social networking apps exist, many fail to encourage real-world connections in a natural and engaging way. Users often struggled with finding relevant events, meeting new people, and breaking social barriers, making in-person engagement feel disconnected.
To tackle these hurdles, we conducted user interviews and usability tests with college students, gathering feedback on their event discovery and networking experiences. Our goal was to identify pain points and refine features, focusing on personalized recommendations, intuitive interactions, and building group connections.
Here’s what we discovered and how we addressed it:
As we developed SocialClub, we quickly recognized several key obstacles that needed to be addressed. While social networking apps exist, many fail to encourage real-world connections in a natural and engaging way. Users often struggled with finding relevant events, meeting new people, and breaking social barriers, making in-person engagement feel disconnected.
To tackle these hurdles, we conducted user interviews and usability tests with college students, gathering feedback on their event discovery and networking experiences. Our goal was to identify pain points and refine features, focusing on personalized recommendations, intuitive interactions, and building group connections.
Here’s what we discovered and how we addressed it:
Difficulty Finding Events
Difficulty Finding Events
Many students struggle to discover engaging events around campus. Without a centralized hub for social activities, they often miss out on exciting opportunities happening nearby.
Many students struggle to discover engaging events around campus. Without a centralized hub for social activities, they often miss out on exciting opportunities happening nearby.
Making New Friends is Hard
Making New Friends is Hard
Meeting new people outside of class can feel intimidating. Students wanted a casual, low-pressure way to connect with others who share their interests.
Meeting new people outside of class can feel intimidating. Students wanted a casual, low-pressure way to connect with others who share their interests.
Lack of Strong Community
Lack of Strong Community
Students expressed a desire to feel more connected to their campus and local scene. They needed a way to easily find and join groups that align with their hobbies and social goals.
Students expressed a desire to feel more connected to their campus and local scene. They needed a way to easily find and join groups that align with their hobbies and social goals.
📢
Some events sound fun, but there’s no easy way to see who’s going or if they fit my vibe
🚀
I want a way to discover both big events and smaller, niche ones that match my interests
📅
I wish I could see what my friends are interested in attending before I commit
🔍
There are so many hidden gems on campus, but they’re hard to find
📍
Campus flyers are overwhelming, and I don’t know which events are worth going to
💭
I always hear about events after they’ve already happened
⏳
The system doesn’t load fast enough.
📋
The admin settings are a nightmare.
📄
Creating quotes are a nightmare
❌
Data in one tab never matches another.
🛞
There never seems to be the right amount of inventory
😮💨
🖥️
I have three tabs open just to check stock.
🏋️
Even basic tasks are harder than they should be.
It takes forever to load anything.
⏱️
❄️
Pages keep crashing or freezing.
📲
It’s impossible to use on my phone.
📼
It looks like something from 2006.
🤕
📚
The menus and layout are overwhelming.
📢
Some events sound fun, but there’s no easy way to see who’s going or if they fit my vibe
🚀
I want a way to discover both big events and smaller, niche ones that match my interests
📅
I wish I could see what my friends are interested in attending before I commit
🔍
There are so many hidden gems on campus, but they’re hard to find
📍
Campus flyers are overwhelming, and I don’t know which events are worth going to
💭
I always hear about events after they’ve already happened
⏳
The system doesn’t load fast enough.
📋
The admin settings are a nightmare.
📄
Creating quotes are a nightmare
❌
Data in one tab never matches another.
🛞
There never seems to be the right amount of inventory
😮💨
🖥️
I have three tabs open just to check stock.
🏋️
Even basic tasks are harder than they should be.
It takes forever to load anything.
⏱️
❄️
Pages keep crashing or freezing.
📲
It’s impossible to use on my phone.
📼
It looks like something from 2006.
🤕
📚
The menus and layout are overwhelming.
📢
Some events sound fun, but there’s no easy way to see who’s going or if they fit my vibe
🚀
I want a way to discover both big events and smaller, niche ones that match my interests
📅
I wish I could see what my friends are interested in attending before I commit
🔍
There are so many hidden gems on campus, but they’re hard to find
📍
Campus flyers are overwhelming, and I don’t know which events are worth going to
💭
I always hear about events after they’ve already happened
⏳
The system doesn’t load fast enough.
📋
The admin settings are a nightmare.
📄
Creating quotes are a nightmare
❌
Data in one tab never matches another.
🛞
There never seems to be the right amount of inventory
😮💨
🖥️
I have three tabs open just to check stock.
🏋️
Even basic tasks are harder than they should be.
It takes forever to load anything.
⏱️
❄️
Pages keep crashing or freezing.
📲
It’s impossible to use on my phone.
📼
It looks like something from 2006.
🤕
📚
The menus and layout are overwhelming.
Designing With College Students in Mind
SocialClub was designed to cater to two core student groups: those actively seeking events and those looking to expand their social circles. Through user research and testing, we identified the key needs of both groups—from discovering local events to meeting new friends in their area.
By keeping these user personas at the heart of our design, we crafted an experience that balances event discovery, social interactions, and community-building, making it effortless for students to connect and engage with their campus and beyond.
SocialClub was designed to cater to two core student groups: those actively seeking events and those looking to expand their social circles. Through user research and testing, we identified the key needs of both groups—from discovering local events to meeting new friends in their area.
By keeping these user personas at the heart of our design, we crafted an experience that balances event discovery, social interactions, and community-building, making it effortless for students to connect and engage with their campus and beyond.
Event Seekers
These students are actively looking for things to do but struggle to discover events that match their interests. They need personalized recommendations and an easy way to see what’s trending on campus.
Event Seekers
These students are actively looking for things to do but struggle to discover events that match their interests. They need personalized recommendations and an easy way to see what’s trending on campus.
Friend Finders
These users want to expand their social circles but often find it difficult to approach new people. They seek a low-pressure way to connect with like-minded students through shared activities.
Friend Finders
These users want to expand their social circles but often find it difficult to approach new people. They seek a low-pressure way to connect with like-minded students through shared activities.
Defining the Challenge
Defining the Challenge
College life is full of opportunities, but many students struggle to find events, meet new people, and build a sense of community. Our biggest challenge was designing a platform that makes socializing effortless, engaging, and natural.
Through user research and brainstorming, we identified two key questions to guide our approach:
College life is full of opportunities, but many students struggle to find events, meet new people, and build a sense of community. Our biggest challenge was designing a platform that makes socializing effortless, engaging, and natural.
Through user research and brainstorming, we identified two key questions to guide our approach:
1.
How might we make discovering social events more intuitive and exciting?
2.
How might we help students build real friendships in a low-pressure way?
With these insights, we crafted SocialClub to bridge the gap between digital connections and real-world experiences.
With these insights, we crafted SocialClub to bridge the gap between digital connections and real-world experiences.
Design Sprint
Highlights
Turning Ideas Into Innovation
We designed Social Club to bring people together through seamless, interactive, and engaging experiences. By integrating real-time connections, dynamic group interactions, and personalized discovery, users can effortlessly find, join, and create meaningful communities. From intuitive navigation to gamified engagement tools, every feature is crafted to foster authentic connections and enhance social interactions.
Discover Your World in Real Time
From interviews, we introduced a 3D map pinned to your real-time location. As students walk, events, groups, and social opportunities appear around them, encouraging exploration and engagement.
From interviews, we introduced a 3D map pinned to your real-time location. As students walk, events, groups, and social opportunities appear around them, encouraging exploration and engagement.
Step 2:
Find things to do and people to meet.
Step 1:
Explore your area.
Step 1:
Explore your area.
Step 2:
Find things to do and people to meet.
Personalized Exploration
During the onboarding process, SocialClub gets to know each user by asking questions about their interests, hobbies, and social preferences. This allows the app to curate a unique experience, ensuring the 3D map displays the most relevant sights, events, and groups in their area.
During the onboarding process, SocialClub gets to know each user by asking questions about their interests, hobbies, and social preferences. This allows the app to curate a unique experience, ensuring the 3D map displays the most relevant sights, events, and groups in their area.
Sights:
Users can pin images and videos to locations, creating a dynamic community-driven feed.
Hot Spots:
Explore trending locations and real-time events near you, keeping you engaged with your surroundings.
Communities:
Join organized groups in your area, connecting you with like-minded people and fostering real-world friendships.
Communities:
Join organized groups in your area, connecting you with like-minded people and fostering real-world friendships.
Sights:
Users can pin images and videos to locations, creating a dynamic community-driven feed.
Building Brand Identity
SocialClub’s identity is built on bold colors, clean typography, and a logo that represents two people waving. The design is simple yet engaging, making it easy to explore and meet new people. The tone is approachable and direct, encouraging users to step out and connect with their community.
100+ Icons
SocialClub
Design System (SDS)
Find Your Community
PRESENTING
A COMMUNITY
DESIGNED FOR YOU
A COMMUNITY
DESIGNED FOR YOU
PRESENTING
A COMMUNITY
DESIGNED FOR YOU
A COMMUNITY
DESIGNED FOR YOU
Personalized Interests
During onboarding, users select their interests, allowing SocialClub to curate events and groups tailored to them.
Event Discovery
Quickly explore local events. Users can pin images, videos, and recommendations, making it easier to discover new places and experiences nearby.
Immersive 3D Map
Navigate your surroundings with a real-time 3D map, designed to make event discovery and social exploration effortless.
Event Discovery
Quickly explore local events. Users can pin images, videos, and recommendations, making it easier to discover new places and experiences nearby.
Personalized Interests
During onboarding, users select their interests, allowing SocialClub to curate events and groups tailored to them.
Immersive 3D Map
Navigate your surroundings with a real-time 3D map, designed to make event discovery and social exploration effortless.
What We Learned
What We Learned
Building SocialClub was a multidisciplinary challenge that deepened my skills in Xcode, native app development, and user research. Prototyping the 3D map experience required working with real-time location API's and designing intuitive interactions that encourage exploration.
I also explored social dynamics—understanding how users organically connect and what barriers prevent engagement. Through this process, I achieved a deeper understanding of user-centered design principles and the importance of iterative feedback.
Building SocialClub was a multidisciplinary challenge that deepened my skills in Xcode, native app development, and user research. Prototyping the 3D map experience required working with real-time location API's and designing intuitive interactions that encourage exploration.
I also explored social dynamics—understanding how users organically connect and what barriers prevent engagement. Through this process, I achieved a deeper understanding of user-centered design principles and the importance of iterative feedback.
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Read Case Study
1.
How might we make discovering social events more intuitive and exciting?
2.
How might we help students build real friendships in a low-pressure way?
Design Sprint Highlights
Building Brand Identity
Building Brand Identity
SocialClub’s identity is built on bold colors, clean typography, and a logo that represents two people waving. The design is simple yet engaging, making it easy to explore and meet new people. The tone is approachable and direct, encouraging users to step out and connect with their community.
100+ Icons
SocialClub
Design System (SDS)
Find Your Community
100+ Icons
100+ Icons
SocialClub
Design System (SDS)
Find Your Community