That hollow feeling in a crowded hallway where everyone seems to belong except you. The RSVP to an event you never attended because walking in alone felt worse than staying home.
You’re not imagining it! Loneliness is the silent epidemic of our campuses
PROBLEM
According to our survey on student loneliness:
49%
of respondents frequently feel lonely in university
72%
felt most lonely when surrounded by people but not engaged
53%
perceived cliques or social groups that are hard to join
INSIGHT
“Just Go Meet New People”
Through interviews and focus groups, we investigated the reason behind this epidemic and identified 4 key findings:
MARKET ANALYSIS
Our team conducted market research on potential competitors of SparkMate (university initiatives, event apps, etc.) to better understand how current solutions miss the mark.
#1 Key Finding
The Activity-Social Divide
Either activity-based, which reduces conversational pressure, or social-based, allowing for deeper conversation, but rarely combine both.
#2 Key Finding
Issue with Following up
Lacks long-term support for sustained engagement, providing initial opportunities to meet but not to maintain connections.
#3 Key Finding
Shallow Connections
Digital platforms, though highly accessible, often result in shallow or low-effort connections, whereas in-person programs provide more meaningful engagement but lack accessibility for all students.
How to address this?
This is where SparkMate comes into play!
IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM AREA
PROBLEM STATEMENT
FINDING AN OPPORTUNITY
OUR DESIGN GOAL IS…
HOW THE SOLUTION ADDRESSES THE GAP
Sparkmate combines a mobile app with wearable technology to address the three critical gaps in student socialization: shallow digital interactions, lack of follow-through, and the activity-social divide. Here's how:
Onboarding Journey
Discover Communities
Quick sign-up with university email verification. Pick your interests to get personalized event recommendations. Customize your profile icon—it syncs to your bracelet for easy recognition at events.
Achievements
Celebrate Every Social Milestone
Earn badges for milestones (e.g., first event, 5+ connections). Highlights showcase meaningful meetups.
Explore Page
Find Your People Before You Even Arrive
Browse events on a map or list view. Filter by interests, time, and "newbie-friendly" tags. See who’s going, join groups before arriving, and get a unique bracelet color for each event.
My Events
Nurture Connections Over Time
Manage upcoming events, check past meetups, and create your own hangouts. Set connection goals to stay motivated.
HOW IT WORKS
Sparkmate turns introductions into a fun, natural experience through interactive bracelet features.
Icebreakers
💬 A Conversation Starter, Just for You
Breaking the ice can be tough. A simple, personalized question removes awkwardness and encourages natural interaction
Achievements
🤝 A Connection You Can Feel
Tapping bracelets instantly displays each user’s unique icon, confirming the new connection. This small interaction makes introductions fun and interactive.
IDEATION
App Interface
Onboarding
User Profile
Achievements
Explore
Group Request
Event dashboard
IDEATION
Why pair with bracelet?
Adding a connection
Group Identification
Achievement Tracking
Displaying Event Color
Early Bracelet Design
WIREFRAMES
Mid-Fidelity Mobile Prototype
The mid-fidelity prototype aimed to test the structural flow and core functionalities of the platform, particularly how users interact with events and the hybrid app-bracelet system.
Customize Your Icon & Explore Events
Request to join groups before the event
A new group preview feature allowed users to see potential participants before joining an event → Helps address fear of attending alone
Explore Events on Campus
I designed these icons which are to be assigned to users at events. These were meant to be displayed on the bracelet at the event for people to identify their group members.
Request to join groups before the event
WIREFRAMES
The bracelet’s feedback was now more synchronized with the app interface, ensuring that physical cues like icons and achievements aligned with on-screen actions for a seamless experience.
FINAL DESIGN
Teamwork is essential: Working in a team of diverse designers taught me the importance of clear communication and collaboration to align on goals and overcome challenges.
User testing is critical: Limited testing in early iterations showed how crucial it is to involve users throughout the design process to ensure solutions meet their needs.
Expanded Testing Across Campuses: Conduct additional testing across diverse universities campuses to gather feedback and optimize features for varying student needs.
Integration with Campus Services: Collaborate with university support services to integrate Sparkmate with existing wellness and event platforms, streamlining access for students.