Instafriends
UX/UI Design, Product Design
Make new friends with the help of Instagram!
Overview
In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was taking a UX/UI class, our prompt was to make an app or website that helps college students when they are stuck at home or shy in a classroom. I was thinking immediately about an app that can help you make friends; as a friend version of a dating app. Since it is hard for us to go out and go to class to network or simply make new friends, this new extension added on Instagram can hopefully help. This app not only helps during the times when we are all forced to stay home but also when we get the chance to go back to campus!
Instafriends is an app extension in the well-known Instagram app in hopes of helping you find new friends within your college community! Instafriends is easy to use and very useful for shy college students!
Problem
College students need a way to meet new people around campus because they are either too busy or is too shy to approach new people.
Hypothesis
We believe that by creating a platform that allows students to meet other students on campus for college students, we will create a more comfortable environment around the school campus among students. We know this will be true when we receive positive ratings and reviews from the users.
Quantitative/Qualitative Data
To get a better understanding of the problem with the college community, I got in touch with 50 Los Angelenos and collect data from them using Google Form. Here are the results:
64%
of college students almost never talk when in a group discussion
80%
of college students have a hard time making friends in class
70%
of college students think they don’t fit in with their school.
72%
of college students don’t like being in groups during class.
After receiving the quantitative data above, I got the chance to interview a few friends to see how they socialize with people from a classroom or school background. Some things to take into consideration were:
“I am the type of person to wait for someone to approach her, she is insecure and is unsure of people are annoyed being approached.”
“I don’t like having to approach someone because I don’t know if I have similar interests with them.”
“I think I am an introvert because I get really nervous talking to someone I don’t know.”
“I find being in groups not helpful in making friends since they are really forced to be acquaintances more than friends.”
“I think I am an extrovert but a shy one, meaning I am not tired of being around people but I am shy if it is a new group of people.”
User Personas
Rethink the Feel
When thinking about how the app will look, I was thinking of creating an infographic to make it easier to visualize how the app would look.
Had a hard time giving this app extension the Instagram feel.
Follow the Flow
I then created a flow chart to visualize how the app would look through navigation. Knowing exactly how many frames needed when making the extension. How will each frame be created and what is connected to what.
Instafriends Overview
Set of videos of how the app works!
Instafriends Sign Up
Instafriends Finding Friends
Instafriends Safe Feature
Instafriends View Instagram
Instafriends Wireframes
User Testing
After having a few people go through the app here was what they had to say:
“It is really easy to use.”
“I can see myself using this.”
“The layout looks very clean and matches with Instagram.”
“I want to see on Instagram, that would be cool.”
Next Steps
We discussed with one another and had an overview of what to do next if we’re to make this app happen:
“Add some safety features.”
“Find a way to make sure you post images of yourself.”
“Make a text translator for international students.”