Gatherup Case Study
The Gather Up app is a social platform designed to help individuals forge meaningful connections and feel a sense of belonging in a new city. Prioritizing reliability and trust, the app features a unique star point system that incentivizes users to attend events and establish a reputation for dependability within the community. Users earn points for following through on their commitments, reinforcing accountability and fostering genuine social engagement.
My Role
Solo UX/UI Designer
Conducting end to end design project
Tools
Figma
Miro
The Problem
The startup has created a product designed to help individuals overcome social anxiety and build new friendships by promoting in-person social activities. However, the company faces two main challenges:
Social Anxiety Impeding Friend-Making: Moving to a new city or town can be overwhelming, especially for individuals struggling with fear and social anxiety, which can make it difficult to form new friendships and participate in social events.
Mismatch Between Event RSVPs and Actual Attendance: The company has noticed a significant gap between the number of people who RSVP to events and the actual turnout. On average, only 20% of those who commit to attending end up showing up.
Pain Points
Social Anxiety and Fear of Rejection: Many users experience social anxiety or fear of rejection, particularly when trying to make new friends in unfamiliar settings. This anxiety can prevent them from attending events or initiating conversations with others.
Lack of Confidence: Some users may feel insecure about their social skills or worry about not fitting in at events. This lack of confidence can discourage them from participating in activities or engaging with potential new friends.
Difficulty Making Meaningful Connections: Even if users attend events, they might struggle to form meaningful connections due to differences in interests, communication styles, or personal compatibility.
Uncertainty About Event Attendance: Users may express interest in attending events but hesitate or fail to show up due to last-minute anxiety, schedule conflicts, or unforeseen circumstances.
Overcoming Inertia: While users may intend to attend events, they may face difficulty overcoming inertia, particularly if they’re used to isolation or limited social interactions.
Trust and Reliability Concerns: Users may worry about the trustworthiness and reliability of other attendees, especially if they’ve had negative experiences in the past, such as no-shows or disappointing interactions.
Personas
Lo fi Wireframes
Hi Fi Mockups
Prototype
Usability testing
Certain buttons have to be reworked and resized
Spacing needs work overall
Better description in upgrading package with what comes with and privileges
Point system to motivate users to attend in person events?
Some screens need to be reworked to fit the flow better
Next Steps
Increasing User Engagement: We will implement strategies to boost user engagement and participation on the platform. This includes introducing new features, optimizing existing ones like the star points system, and launching targeted marketing campaigns to attract and retain users.
Building Community: Strengthening the sense of community among platform users will be a key focus. We’ll explore initiatives such as community events, discussion forums, and user meetups to encourage connections and enhance interaction between users.
Partnerships and Collaborations: We aim to collaborate with organizations, communities, and local businesses to expand the platform’s reach and impact. This could involve partnerships with event organizers, community groups, and social clubs to provide a wider variety of activities and opportunities for users to connect.
Prioritizing Accessibility and Inclusivity: We are committed to ensuring that the platform is accessible and inclusive for all users. Ongoing efforts will focus on accessibility features, usability enhancements, and inclusive design practices to meet the diverse needs of our user base.
Data-Driven Improvements: We will utilize data analytics to guide our decision-making process. By analyzing user data, feedback, and performance metrics, we will gain valuable insights into user behavior, preferences, and trends, which will drive informed decisions and continuous improvement.