Travel Experience Marketplace App
Developed as part of the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT, SoloSocial is an iOS app designed for solo travellers seeking a balance between adventure and connection. It functions as a live marketplace where users can:
Discover and join activities: Find activities planned by other solo travellers and join in for a shared experience.
Create and share activities: Propose your activities and invite others to participate.
UX/UI Designer
April - May 2024
Platform
iOS App
Figma, XCode, Miro
Maya Zerman, Lane Collier, Fahmid Soumya, Nearra Nget
Problem space
SoloSocial identified two main challenges faced by solo travellers: the lack of social interaction opportunities and concerns regarding safety and trust. Many solo travellers often find themselves without meaningful opportunities for social engagement, feeling isolated or hesitant to participate in activities with strangers. Additionally, safety and trust are paramount concerns, as solo travellers seek assurance when interacting with new individuals in unfamiliar settings.
Resolution
In the final design, SoloSocial emerges as a mobile app that successfully creates a safe and engaging space for solo travellers to connect. With a live marketplace for browsing activities, streamlined joining processes, and secure in-app chat, the app prioritises trust through user verification and post-activity feedback prompts. This results in a user-centric experience that ensures safety and connection for solo explorers.
Verified User Profiles
In-App Chat
Post-Activity Feedback
Reflections
Constraints: As the only designer for SoloSocial, I had to prioritize my tasks efficiently and collaborate with others due to time constraints. Clear communication was needed to ensure the design process was understood by team members with diverse backgrounds, including those without design experience.
What I would have done differently: Implementing a cheerful colour palette to make our users feel welcome and encourage them to interact positively with our product. Simplifying the process of adding an activity to make it more intuitive.
Next Steps: Moving forward, refining features based on user feedback. Incorporating more user testing sessions and gathering insights from diverse perspectives to further enhance the app's usability and appeal.
Key takeaways
SoloSocial caters to solo travelers seeking a balance between independent exploration and social connection.
The app offers a live marketplace to discover and join activities with other solo travellers.
User safety and trust are prioritized through verification processes and post-activity feedback.