Friend Zone
Friend Zone
OVERVIEW
Friend Zone, designed to reshape social connections, introduces a novel approach to discovering similar friends in your local area. Sidestepping the conventional sequence of profile presentations, it employs a simultaneous, curated selection method to maximize genuine connections. The integrated chat feature simplifies engagement, and the event page showcases diverse local activities, encouraging exploration beyond typical interests. Aiming for simplicity and usability, this app provides a comprehensive solution for enriched social experiences and meaningful connections.
It’s the only time you’d want to be in the Friend Zone.
TYPE
Class project (Brand Identity: Basic Graphic Design)
SOFTWARE
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
DURATION
4 weeks (February - March 2023)
RESEARCH
Many people find it challenging to make new friends and expand their social circles due to various reasons, such as busy lifestyles, geographical limitations, and difficulty in finding like-minded individuals. In today's fast-paced and digitally connected world, it has become increasingly important to provide individuals with a platform that helps facilitate the process of making new friends.
INSPIRATION
Inspired by Pinterest's design, my app presents profiles in a visually appealing manner, akin to browsing a curated gallery. It combines elements from Facebook's events page, offering access to local social gatherings aligned with users' interests. Emphasizing communication, the app incorporates top-notch chat functions for seamless engagement and connection-building.
SKETCHES
USER FLOW
The overarching thought process behind the userflow is to create a holistic user experience that seamlessly guides individuals through profile creation, friend discovery, event participation, and meaningful communication. The app aims to be not just a tool for finding friends but a platform that enriches users' social lives by encouraging exploration, diversity, and genuine connections.
DESIGN FEEDBACK
Critique 1
Critique 2
During our class critiques for our first work-in-progress check in, I was given the following suggestions:
CLARIFY SIGN-IN TEXT: Change "Ignite Friendships Today" to serve as the sign-in link, and relocate the "create new account" option where "sign-in" currently resides.
STYLING ENHANCEMENTS: Apply a subtle stroke to the sign-in button to enhance its visibility.
Following the second critique, I implemented various improvements in response to feedback. I centered page titles, added drop shadows for visual appeal, and redesigned the bottom bar for clarity, utilizing a smaller icon size, a pinkish-red color scheme, and incorporating drop shadows and a darker circle outline.
I also experimented with two designs for the Discovery page. One showcased one person at a time, while the other displayed multiple individuals simultaneously. After consideration, I opted for the latter, as it emulates the experience of seeing people in person all at once, contributing to a more dynamic and engaging user interaction. Additionally, I prioritized readability by enlarging text on both the Discovery and Chat screens, and intentionally coloring the Interests tabs, and adjusting opacity and text size on the Events page. To streamline the design further, I used custom icons instead of pictures in the Browse by Categories section, reducing visual complexity.
INCREASE ICON CONTRAST AND ENLARGEN LOGO: Enhance the visual impact of the app by increasing the contrast of the icon and enlarging both the logo and the "Friend Zone" text.
ROTATE THE LOGO: Experiment with rotating the "FZ" in a different direction for a dynamic and engaging effect, adding a touch of creativity to the visual presentation.
IMPROVE VISIBILITY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Clarify the terms and conditions section to ensure users can easily access and understand this crucial information.
REFINE SLOGAN: Switch "Let sparks fly in a platonic way" and embrace the pun.
FINAL DESIGN
Being my second significant project and my first solo endeavor, I take immense pride in the work I have accomplished. Throughout the process, I gained valuable insights about the importance of seeking different perspectives. After spending countless hours staring at my pages, I reached a point where I couldn't discern what else needed to be added. However, receiving critiques from my classmates during class sessions proved invaluable in identifying crucial elements that were missing. Although I wish I had conducted user testing, I am genuinely pleased with the final outcome and how it has come together.