Victoria Neeser
Niche, Please
You will define a new interactive tool that serves a specific niche that you're interested in.
Our goal is that you get to geek out with something you care about, while having more autonomy over your project.
Project Information
Your Client
Your client is your niche! You will choose a subject area or interest group that you're interested in serving, and you'll dive into learning about them. The more specific you can be, the more successful your project will be.
Project Information
Deliverables
- Prototype. The final deliverable will be an interactive prototype in figma.
- Design System. You'll document and present your design system your project uses. You can build your own from scratch, or apply and adapt an open source system.
- User testing. Along the way you must do at least two rounds of task-based user testing, documented on your site.
- And...? You can include other deliverables as well if they make sense for your project.
April 21st
Brainstorming & planning
Choose your niche, draft work plan.
April 23rd
Pitch, Early Concept, & Design System
Show idea, concept, user & research.
Pitch
Audience: College students in their first few weeks abroad who just landed and don't know anyone yet.
Where to find them: Study abroad Facebook/Reddit communities, KU’s study abroad office, and friends who’ve gone.
The problem: The hardest part of studying abroad isn't logistics, housing, or school, it's loneliness. Those first few weeks feel isolating even when you're surrounded by people.
How they’re better off: An app that connects students at the same university or city who are in the exact same situation, new, nearby, and looking to meet people. Students start building real friendships in days, not weeks.
The Idea
Study abroad is a chapter of your life.
But it can be lonely at the start.
April 30th
Mid-Fi Prototype & R2 User Testing
Refine based on findings, test refined prototype with users.
May 5th
Refinements
Further refinements to polish app.
May 7th
Final Presentation
Present prototype & design system!
Secondary Research
The experience of loneliness among international students participating in the BBC Loneliness Experiment
- It is common for international students to feel very stigmatized by their loneliness, reinforcing social withdrawal.
- Many international students feel entrapped by their loneliness and cannot see a way out of their situation.
- Loneliness is perceived to be linked closely to the mental health and wellbeing of international students, hampering their educational and social functioning.
Quote
“In one UK sample, loneliness was reported by 72% of international students, among whom loneliness scores indicated a moderate level of loneliness.” (Wawera and McCamley, 2019).
Secondary Research
Competitor Analysis
Facebook Groups
Bumble BFF
Community forums, event posts, social sharing
Mobile group chats for communities
Swipe-based friend finder (profile with photos, interests)
No algorithmic matching; users self-select into groups (e.g. “Erasmus Paris 2026”)
No built-in matching; users join via invitation/link (e.g. “Incoming Students Sydney”
Location/proximity and mutual interest via swipes
Group privacy varies (public/closed); uses FB real-name profiles
Group members see phone numbers; private texting
Profile visible to matches; optional photo verification
Features
Competitor
Matching Logic
Privacy
WhatsApp Groups
Secondary Research
“An app that helped connect students nearby for casual meetups or study hangs would’ve been a lifesaver those first few weeks.”
“The hardest part for most students isn’t paperwork or housing, it’s just finding real friends once they land.”
“Those first few weeks can feel super lonely.”
April 28
Testing R 1
When?
Saturday
Where?
House
Who?
Roommates who have been abroad
What did you learn?
- Wanted more emphasis on the “Hangout” feature
- More photos
- Should there be a search button on discover page? Maybe a different screen layout? Can tap into the swiping feature, but isn’t the main feature
Isabella
Even though it is a wireframe, she wanted photos and more engaging design.
Ashlyn
Loved the hangout feature to see what people around you are doing. Wanted more of an emphasis on it.
Hanna
Really liked how you can filter by your uni, state, country, on the discover page. Should there be a search button? Maybe a different screen layout?
Asees
Nav bar is overwhelming, so maybe condense it?
April 28
Testing R 2
When?
Wednesday
Where?
House
Who?
Same people as R1
What did you learn?
- Refine the match feature
- Add a calendar feature on the hangouts page so you can plan out the hangouts easier
- Refine branding
Isabella
The app itself felt a little boring, but the use of photos really helped from the last round. Some of the images seem “too stock”
Ashlyn
Wanted more of an emphasis on hangouts in R1 - Really liked how it was its own feature now! Maybe add a calendar feature so you can plan events out in the future
Hanna
Got a little confused on the match feature.
April 28th
Lo-Fi Prototype & R1 User Testing
Test Lo-Fi prototype with users. Create or find design system to use.
