Kefi is focused on creating a platform to help people connect and build community. As social isolation becomes increasingly prevalent, it has become harder for people to connect and form meaningful relationships. The goal of this project is to create a platform that allows people to host get-togethers and public events to connect with others in their local communities.
By providing a way for people to come together and engage in shared interests and activities, the platform will help foster a sense of belonging and promote social connection. This project is not only focused on creating a valuable tool for users, but also on allowing me to grow as a designer through practical experience and problem-solving.
To address the issue of social isolation, this project aims to create an app platform that facilitates local events and activities for users to meet new people and build a sense of community. The design challenge involves creating an intuitive user interface that encourages engagement, discovery, and participation in a variety of events. Additionally, the project aims to provide a valuable opportunity to learn and develop design skills through tackling real-world problems and overcoming design challenges.
The outcome of this project is a platform that enables people to host and attend events to meet new friends and build a community. The platform will provide an easy-to-use interface for creating and discovering events, along with tools for messaging, RSVPs, and event management. The goal is to create a safe and inclusive space where people can connect with others who share similar interests and values. Through this project, I aim to improve the social lives of people who are struggling to find meaningful connections, and to develop my skills as a designer by tackling a complex and multifaceted problem.
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To ensure Kefi meets the needs of its target market, market research was conducted to gather insights into their preferences and expectations for an event-based social app. A comprehensive study plan was developed, and surveys were launched to collect data.
Through this research, it was discovered that loneliness and social isolation are increasingly common issues, with approximately 46% of adults in the U.S. reporting feeling lonely and left out in 2019. These findings highlighted the need for an app like Kefi, which provides a platform for individuals to connect with others and build a sense of community through shared activities and events.
The results showed that although 87% of participants placed high value on making new friends, only a small fraction, 12%, utilized social apps to do so. Additionally, my research revealed that the primary age group for the app would be individuals between the ages of 18 and 27.
Based on these findings, I tailored the design and features of Kefi to specifically target young adults who are looking to expand their social circle and combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.
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For the Kefi, I identified two key user personas based on my research and analysis. The first persona is the social butterfly, a 24-year-old photographer and recent college graduate who is always looking for ways to meet new people and try new things. They are active on social media and love to attend events and parties.
The second persona is the introverted adventurer, a 26-year-old who is more reserved but still wants to connect with others and explore their city. They prefer small, intimate gatherings with like-minded individuals and value authenticity and genuine connections. These personas helped guide my design decisions and ensure that the Kefi app would be appealing and useful to a diverse range of users.
I used bright and bold colors to convey the energetic and vibrant atmosphere of the events and groups, while still being approachable and easy to navigate. Through the creation of a cohesive mood board, I was able to establish a visual language that would help guide the overall direction of the UI design and ensure that it aligned with the values of the brand.
The branding of the app was a critical aspect of the project. After extensive exploration and experimentation, I decided on a simple wordmark with a retro gradient for the logo. The wordmark not only serves as a memorable symbol for the app but also reflects the app's friendly, warm, and fun personality. The retro gradient adds a touch of nostalgia and evokes a sense of excitement, inviting users to join the community and experience new adventures. This branding approach ensures that the app stands out in the crowded marketplace and conveys its mission of connecting people through shared experiences.
I created a comprehensive brand guideline for the app that includes a logo lockup, primary and secondary colors, recommended typefaces, and app icon. The logo lockup consists of the wordmark and icon, and it's designed to be recognizable and friendly. The primary color palette includes warm, inviting colors, while the secondary palette features bolder, more playful hues. The recommended typefaces are a mix of sans-serif and decorative fonts to convey a modern yet approachable feel. Finally, the app icon incorporates the wordmark and icon in a square format, ensuring it stands out on users' home screens.
Creating a clear and streamlined user flow was a crucial step in ensuring the app's intuitiveness and usability. By mapping out the user journey from start to finish, I was able to identify any redundancies and streamline the process for a seamless user experience.
The visual flow also helped me to identify any potential areas where the user might feel a sense of incompleteness or confusion, allowing me to make necessary adjustments and create a smooth flow throughout the app.
In this project, I created wireframes using a greyscale format, with white representing the least important information, and black representing the most important. This helped to ensure that the user's focus was on the most important elements of the app. Additionally, I used darker shades of grey to represent actions that the user could take, which made it easier for users to navigate the app and understand what actions they could take at any given point.
Overall, I feel this approach helped to create wireframes that were intuitive and easy to use, ensuring that the app would be user-friendly and enjoyable to use.
Early user testing and heat mapping were crucial in understanding users' pain points and improving the app's usability. I conducted several rounds of user testing with low-fidelity wireframes to gather feedback on the app's navigation and flow. Through this process, I was able to identify and address pain points that were not immediately apparent in the design stage. I also used heat mapping to understand how users interacted with the app and where they encountered issues. This helped to optimize the user flow and reduce friction points. Overall, user testing and heat mapping were essential in creating a user-friendly app that meets the needs of its users.
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For the UI design of the app, I focused on making it simple, intuitive, and visually appealing. I used a color palette that was consistent with the branding and ensured that the text was legible and easy to read. I also made sure to include clear and easy-to-understand icons to guide users through the app.
In addition, I used visual hierarchy to ensure that the most important information was easily accessible and that the user flow felt natural. For example, I used larger font sizes and bold text for important headings and buttons, while using lighter text for secondary information.
To finalize the UI design, I conducted user testing to get feedback on the visual design and ensure that it was meeting the needs of the target audience. Based on the feedback, I made some adjustments to improve the user experience and create a visually pleasing design that met the user's needs.
Throughout this project, I had the opportunity to learn and grow as a designer. One of the most significant lessons I learned was the importance of user research and testing. By involving users in the design process and gathering their feedback, I was able to identify pain points and make design decisions that better addressed their needs. Additionally, I learned the importance of creating a strong brand and adhering to a cohesive design system, as it helps to establish trust and recognition with users. Finally, I gained a better understanding of the role of accessibility in design, and how it is crucial to consider the needs of all users to create an inclusive and equitable product. Overall, this project allowed me to develop my skills as a designer and taught me valuable lessons that I can apply to future projects.
