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Friends for Life
Collaborated Project with Apple / UX & UI Design
This app redesign helps Academy of Art University students connect, engage, and build lifelong friendships.
Objective
This app redesign will emphasize Group and Event functions to motivate users to better engage in campus life experiences.
Type Apple Collaboration Project
Time 2023
Role UX/UI Designer
Team UX/UI Designer, Project Manager, Marketer
Project Overview
Academy of Art University lacks a traditional campus, making it difficult for students to connect outside the classroom and leading to feelings of isolation. This app redesign enhances Group and Event functions to foster student engagement, helping them meet people, build connections, and create lifelong friendships in a diverse and inclusive community.
What People Are Saying
“I want to connect with my classmates, but I can not find effective ways to contact them.”
— Freshman in AAU
“I want to set up some activities with schoolmates. How do I do ?”
— Advertising Student
“I can not find some interest groups easily; where do I join in?”
— Graphic Design Student
“I only saw a few clubs in our school. Where can I get more?”
— Master Student in AAU
Market Opportunity
The global student engagement platform market is projected to grow from $987.6 million in 2025 to $2.5 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 11.8%.
Research and Insights
Student Needs
A survey by Inside Higher Ed found that 34% of students believe an online events calendar would increase their awareness of campus activities, and 27% prefer such features within a campus app.
App Retention Challenges
Data indicates that 23% of users abandon an app after one use, and 62% engage less than 11 times.
Q: How do you engage with campus life and discover events, and what features would help you connect better in a dispersed campus environment?
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Sarina
Sophomore Graphic Design Student, 20 yrs
Enjoys working with others but finds it hard to meet classmates because the campus is spread out. Prefers face-to-face interactions and wants a platform to help arrange quick meetups and group projects.
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Zhuang
Junior Game Design Student, 22 yrs
Likes networking but feels lonely due to the lack of a central campus. Uses social media to find events but wishes for a more personalized experience. Interested in an app that suggests events based on personal interests and connects with current social media accounts.
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Tivisha
Senior Interior Architecture Student, 24 yrs
Finds it tough to juggle schoolwork and social activities, leading to less involvement on campus. Prefers attending workshops and talks related to their field. Would like a single platform that showcases professional events and allows easy sign-ups.
Pain Points and Solutions
Pain Points
AAU’s lack of a central campus makes it hard for students to meet, engage in events, and build connections, especially for online students. Existing platforms don’t support student networking effectively.
Solutions
Our app redesign enhances Groups and Events, helping students connect, join activities, and stay informed. Features like an interactive calendar and an Art Gallery foster engagement, networking, and lasting friendships.
Mission Statement
To foster meaningful connections and enhance student engagement by creating a digital campus experience. Our app empowers AAU students to build friendships, discover events, and join communities through intuitive Group and Event features, personalized calendars, and creative showcases—making campus life more connected, inclusive, and accessible.
Alex, 22 years old
Graphic Design Student
San Francisco (On-campus)
Target Audience &
User Perona
"I want to connect, create, and belong – find my community on campus."
Goals
Make new friends and join events
Stay organized with class schedules
Showcase his artwork and connect with others
Challenges
Hard to find opportunities to socialize
Misses out on events and activities
Needs a way to connect with peers and build relationships
Needs
A way to discover events and meet new people
A platform to join groups and showcase his art
Easy access to event schedules and group chats
User Map
User Flow
Low Fidelity Design
We made the lo-fi based on the user map and user flow.
Lo-fi User Testing Feedback Summary
Users found the navigation unclear, making it difficult to locate key features. Some buttons lacked clear labels or expected functionality. The layout needed better spacing and alignment to improve readability and usability.
Final Design
Group
The Groups feature fosters community by connecting students with shared interests, providing a space to engage in activities, share ideas, and build relationships. Functioning as a virtual campus hub, it offers a sense of belonging, especially for online students. Key elements include joined groups, upcoming club events, a photo gallery of event highlights, and a Discover More section for exploring new communities.
Main Page
I designed the main page layout for clarity and consistency, incorporating AAU’s brand colors (red and dark gray) to enhance visual identity and user experience.
Event
By selecting the “loudspeaker” icon in the top-right corner, students can seamlessly create events by entering key details such as location, date, time, title, and description. Users can categorize events by type and customize privacy settings to control visibility, ensuring a tailored and inclusive event experience.
In Group feature, students can find a friend and chat. They can also get into others’ art gallery.
After publishing an event, users can easily revisit the event details, including time and location. Additionally, they have the flexibility to update the event description as needed, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information.
Takeaway
This project improves student engagement at the Academy of Art University by solving the challenge of a scattered campus. With a user-focused redesign, the app makes it easier for students to connect through group interactions, event discovery, and direct communication. By focusing on accessibility, simple navigation, and community-building features, the platform helps students build strong connections and feel a sense of belonging. This case study shows how UX/UI design can solve real-world problems, proving that well-designed digital experiences can improve campus life and create lifelong friendships.