Intro
Startup re-imagining loneliness crisis on campuses by matching people based on similar interests.
Contributions
Discovery & Research
Strategy
Experience Design
Visual Design
Afious is a mobile app that connects college students through shared interests, addressing the growing loneliness problem on campuses exacerbated by COVID-19. Our goal was to build an intuitive platform where students could easily find peers, join clubs, and engage in campus life.
Challenge
The main challenge was to create a solution that felt authentic and engaging without overwhelming users. Early versions faced issues with a complex onboarding process and a generic interface that didn’t resonate with Gen Z users. The primary task was to refine the experience to enable quick and meaningful connections based on student interests.
Solution
We began with extensive interviews to validate the concept and understand student needs. Using this data, we reworked the onboarding and interest pages multiple times to ensure a seamless experience. Our efforts included designing a vibrant, modern interface that matched Gen Z aesthetics and integrating a recommendation engine to suggest relevant connections. Key features like group chats, event listings, and curated content were added to encourage interaction.
Outcome
The redesigned app now offers a smooth user experience that helps students find connections and join groups easily. Enhanced interest pages, real-time chat, and event planning features allow for a lively community experience. The onboarding process is simple and intuitive, ensuring students can set up and start engaging within minutes.
Results
Results: Afious has secured 20+ partner colleges eager to pilot the app, validating its potential for campus adoption. Initial testing showed positive feedback on ease of use and relevance of suggested connections, distinguishing Afious from other social platforms.
Other Work
