Gatherup Case Study
The Gather Up app is a social platform designed to facilitate meetups and meaningful connections and foster a sense of belonging between individuals in a new city. With a focus on reliability and trustworthiness, the app incorporates a unique star point system to incentivize users to attend events and build a reputation for reliability within the community. Users earn points for attending events as promised, demonstrating their commitment to participation
My Role
Solo UX/UI Designer
Conducting end to end design project
Tools
Figma
Miro
The Problem
The startup company has developed a product aimed at helping individuals overcome social anxiety and make new friends by facilitating in-person social activities. However, they have identified two key challenges:
Social Anxiety Hindering Friend-Making: Moving to a new city or town can be a daunting experience, often compounded by fear and social anxiety, which can hinder individuals from making new friends and engaging in social activities.
Discrepancy in Event Attendance Commitments: The company has observed a significant disparity between the number of individuals who express interest in attending events and the actual number of attendees. On average, only 20% of individuals who RSVP for an event end up attending.
Pain Points
Social Anxiety and Fear of Rejection: Many users may experience social anxiety or fear of rejection, especially when trying to make new friends in unfamiliar social settings. This fear can hinder their willingness to attend events or initiate interactions with others.
Lack of Confidence: Some users may lack confidence in their social skills or worry about not fitting in with others at events. This lack of confidence can deter them from participating in social activities and engaging with potential friends.
Difficulty Making Meaningful Connections: Despite attending events, users may struggle to make meaningful connections with others due to differences in interests, communication styles, or personal compatibility.
Uncertainty About Event Attendance: Users may express interest in attending events but ultimately hesitate or fail to show up due to last-minute anxiety, scheduling conflicts, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Overcoming Inertia: Even with the intention to attend events, users may struggle to overcome inertia or the inertia of habit, particularly if they are accustomed to isolation or limited social interactions.
Trust and Reliability Concerns: Users may express concerns about the reliability and trustworthiness of other attendees, especially if they have experienced no-shows or negative interactions in the past.
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
-Enhanced User Engagement: We will focus on strategies to further increase user engagement and participation on the platform. This may include introducing new features, optimizing existing functionalities such as the star points system, and implementing targeted marketing campaigns to attract and retain users.
-Community Building: Building a strong sense of community among platform users will be a priority moving forward. We will explore initiatives such as community events, discussion forums, and user meetups to foster connections and promote interaction among users.
-Partnerships and Collaborations: We will seek opportunities to collaborate with other organizations, communities, and local businesses to expand the reach and impact of the platform. This may involve forming partnerships with event organizers, community groups, and social clubs to offer a diverse range of activities and opportunities for users to connect.
-Accessibility and Inclusivity: We remain committed to ensuring that the platform is accessible and inclusive for all users. We will continue to prioritize accessibility features, usability improvements, and inclusive design practices to accommodate the diverse needs of our user base.
-Data-Driven Decision Making: Data analytics will play a crucial role in informing our decision-making process. We will leverage user data, feedback, and performance metrics to gain insights into user behavior, preferences, and trends, enabling us to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement.