Torv
Timeline
September – November, 2024 (3 months)
School
Parsons School of Design
Program
Masters Communication Design
Course
Major Studio 1
Overview
The goal was to evoke a sense of community through a digital forum. I drew inspiration from the idea of a gathering place, similar to an old village square or community house. The problem arose from the observation that people struggle to meet others within their community or to get involved locally. I wanted to create a digital space for people to discover what was happening around them, and get involved. I explored how we can create a sense of community in a city environment, where our repeated interaction with others is limited.
Solution
For this project, we went through a regimented process to create a product, from problem discovery to high-fidelity prototypes. We interviewed, sketched, tested, and designed apps around the topic of our choosing. My main issue was grappling with the concept of how to create lasting connections with other people. I solved this through attempting to showcase local happenings, giving people the option to attend, meet, and connect in person and on the app.
Problem
People struggle to meet others within their community or to get involved locally.
Research Questions
- How do people interact with their community?
- How do people define community?
- How are people making lasting relationships?
Goals
- Find a people in your area with similar interests and hobbies
- Suggest events for people to attend in their neighborhood
- Make it easy for people to find things happening in their community
User Interviews
Vee Mai
New to the city, Introvert, Creative
“I would find a mutual friend or friend to try new things with me.”
Insight
People need familiarity when meeting new people to feel safe.
How Might We
Make users feel safe and familiar while meeting new people online?
Emma de Suyrot
New to the city, Extrovert, Athletic
“When you first meet someone and it fits, you know.”
Insight
People want to build relationships naturally.
How Might We
Create a natural feeling when people are meeting online?
Rice Gallardo
6 Years in NYC, Introvert, Gamer
“I need to have common beliefs with my friends.”
Insight
Friendships are built on values, not just hobbies or interests.
How Might We
Match people based on values and background instead of interests?
Amely Richter
New to NYC, Extrovert, Artistic
“I don’t know if community and knowing people are the same.”
Insight
Community is not just about knowing people.
How Might We
Build community through a digital platform, connecting people to their environment?
Ideation
Chat Based on Events
Find people based on events, which creates a group chat.
Games
Use games to make bonding fun and refine your match algorithm for people and events.
Quiz to Describe Friendships
Create a quiz that makes you describe one of your best friends.
Low-Fidelity
Flow 1
Sign Up
I began by designing the sign-up flow, since onboarding was the primary objective of this project. Starting here also allowed me to uncover additional features the app needed to support a meaningful user experience. I incorporated insights from my user interviews directly into this flow — those conversations revealed valuable perspectives on what people look for in social and event-based apps, from connection-driven design to seamless discovery.
Flow 2
Discover Events
At this stage, I began building out the event cards, event landing page, filtering system, and map view. My goal was to make it easy for users to explore events happening right in their local area. This section became the core discovery experience — where people could browse nearby happenings and see which of their neighbors were attending.
Flow 3
Chat
Users can access the chat feature directly from the event pages. Once on an event page, they can join a group chat with other attendees to connect before or after the event. The avatars within the chat are interactive, allowing users to engage with one another in a more dynamic and playful way.
Testing
Flow 1
Sign Up
During the testing phase, I conducted usability sessions with five participants to observe how they navigated the app. The Sign-Up Flow generated the most feedback — users suggested simplifying certain steps, creating a clearer introduction, and adjusting the visual hierarchy to highlight what felt most important. These insights helped me refine the flow to feel more intuitive and engaging.
Flow 2
Discover Events
Feedback on the event discovery flow mainly centered around helping users understand how to navigate this feature. My goal was to keep the experience intuitive while still offering something new and engaging. I revisited my research findings to refine the filtering system — ensuring it aligned with how people naturally build and sustain meaningful relationships.
Flow 3
Chat + Profile
This feature became a lower priority toward the end of the project due to the number of other components in development. My goal here was to highlight how users could join chats, interact with others, and express their personalities through their profiles. I wanted to strike a balance — allowing people to share just enough to feel authentic and connected, without requiring too much personal information, while still ensuring a sense of safety within the community.