PROBLEM SPACE
How might we redesign local event discovery for young adults so that finding something to do and someone to do it with happens in the same place?
Going out as a young adult isn't just about finding something to do — it's about finding the right thing, with the right people, at the right time. Our research showed that social circles are the single biggest driver of whether someone actually shows up to an event.
SOLUTION
An social and group-planning based events discovery application
The social layer is an essential part in finding and attending events for many, along with ease of planning, local and cultural relevance and well as the level of detail one can find on the event.
INTRODUCTION
Showing users the core functions of the app
LOG-IN
Letting users create/log in to an account
PERSONALIZATION
Questions to help tailor the experience
Discovery hub
Providing users with an overview of everything that is going on, highlighting events that fits their personal interests as well as events that friends are attending.
Individual events page
Helping users know exactly who is attending an event so they can coordinate, while having tags that would aid in the decision process by including information on logistics, topics, and accessibility.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Introducing users to place-based discovery
HIGHLIGHT EXPERIENCES
Showing activities and fun fact tidbits
SEASONAL EVENTS
A curated list of events for every season
Search & Filter
Giving users the option to search for specific events based on what they feel like doing, and ranking results based on relevance & attendance by friends.
FILTERING TIME
Choose the time they want to attend events
FILTERING TAGS
Filter based on categories and accessibility
FILTERING PRICE
Seeing results from different price ranges
Coordinate with friends: poll, plan, and decide in one place
Interviewees consistently wanted to find events that work for everyone in their friend group — but coordinating availability and interest takes time and effort.
→ The friends page centralizes polling and messaging, keeping communication & decision-making in 1 place.
CREATE A POLL
Create polls for 3 different planning needs
VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on results, plan or view recommendations
BROWSING POLLS
Browse, vote and view comments on polls
Centralizing time management & social engagement
A dedicated space to plan and track upcoming events, while seeing what friends are attending, so you can reach out, join in, or plan ahead.
FRIENDS VIEW
See what events your friends are attending
TIMELINE VIEW
See what is happening on specific days
Your profile: Casual summaries of your activities and memories
Many interviewees view events less as something they attend and more like a context where they spend time with people and make new memories in.
→ The profile emphasize looking at your own journey & a casual way to anchor your memories with friends
ACHIEVEMENTS
Celebrating the events you have gone to
JOURNALING
Record & share memories at events
RECORDING YOUR MOOD
Customizing how the event felt to you
RESEARCH
Surveys + interviews with 20+ young adults to uncover what drives event discovery and attendance
We started broad: surveying Pittsburgh-area young adults to map how they discover, plan, and attend events. Then we went deep with 3 interviews to uncover the friction and different touch points during the process.
Mapping out different issues and needs encountered
To find patterns, we cross-referenced survey responses with interview findings, sorting points by clusters, then grouping into broader themes.
Insights
Discovery and planning are where social influence is strongest
Most users find out about events through word of mouth or posts shared directly by friends, and motivation to attend can be to be with familiar faces or support a friend who is involved.
2.Many users can't decide if an event is worth attending without information that most listings don't provide, such as details on what it's like to be there
Information like what activities are available or whether the venue is accessible, or who is attending seems small but actually contributes to users' decision whether or not to commit to an event.
3.A big problem many encounter when deciding to attend events is coordinating with friend groups in terms of interests and timing.
Deciding to attend an event, in many cases, are group decisions, and it hinges on whether friends are free, interested, and willing to commit. This coordination layer adds significant friction.
PROCESS
Information Architechture
Based on the key insights, the structure of the application is made to incorporate social information into both discovery and tracking and reflection in a natural, none-intrusive way.
DESIGN SYSTEM
Building for consistency and playfulness
Working on this means developing a design system that is flexible and cosistent to help users achieve their goals, yet still having room for small delightful moments in the experience of using the app.
Developing in-app assets to communicate energy
We wanted the brand to feel as social as the product itself. Custom stickers, badges, and tactile details give users a visual language to discover, express themselves, and celebrate shared moments.
IMPACT
Showcasing the project at one of CMU's biggest expo
Our team was able to present our work at ScottySpark - one of Carnegie Mellon's primary innovation and technology expo for students of different levels to showcase their projects to the school.
While I did not continue to work on this project after spring 2025, I am still very excited for where this project will head to in the future :)
MY TAKEAWAYS
This project was my first experience working on user experience design with a team of developers and a product manager to create a real product. I have learnt so much about the workflow as well as conventions within the field, and really got to dive deep into the toolkit of a UX designer. Thank you so much to everyone who worked on comm(YOU)nity, especially Kyla - the best senior designer and mentor ever - for making this such a rich experience!