In a world cluttered with limitless connections, we bring you back to what matters - authentic, meaningful relationships. Limited to 50 friends, our platform is designed to deepen your bonds with those who truly matter. Here, everyone on your list is a friend in both directions, ensuring mutual, genuine engagement. No followers, no celebrities, just real people being their true selves. Reconnect with the essence of social media - real friendship.

Design Process

In developing Social Circle, a social media platform centered around authentic and intimate connections, I took the lead in the design development. My vision was to create an app where users could curate a close circle of up to 50 friends, fostering depth and genuine interactions in their social experiences. The core objective was to provide a space where users could be their authentic selves, away from the noise of follower counts and public personas.

My approach began with comprehensive market research to understand the current social media landscape, identify gaps in user needs, and analyze trends and competitors. This research was instrumental in shaping the direction of Social Circle. I also conducted detailed user research to delve into the specific challenges and desires of individuals seeking more meaningful social connections online.

The insights gathered revealed a significant desire for more personal, authentic social interactions, a need that was largely unmet by existing, broader social media platforms. This understanding became the cornerstone of my design philosophy for Social Circle. I focused on creating a user interface that was simple, intuitive, and accessible to a wide range of users, regardless of their technological expertise.

The design process was iterative, involving continuous testing and refinement to ensure the user experience resonated with our core values of authenticity and mutual connection. The end product is an app that not only enables but nurtures genuine interactions, allowing users to maintain a closely-knit circle of friends in the digital space. This approach has distinguished Social Circle as a unique platform where real, meaningful social engagement is the norm, setting it apart in a digital world often dominated by superficial connections.

User Research

For Social Circle, the user research involved in-depth interviews with potential users to understand their preferences and concerns with current social media platforms. The findings can be summarized into several key insights:

1. Authenticity and Real Connections: Users are seeking a platform that promotes genuine interactions, away from the curated and superficial nature of existing social media. They desire an environment where they can be their true selves without the pressures of maintaining a public image.

2. Limited and Meaningful Networks: There is a clear preference for smaller, more intimate social networks. Users find large networks overwhelming and less meaningful. The concept of a 50-friend limit was positively received as it encourages deeper connections.

3. Mutual Friendships: The idea of mutual and reciprocal connections resonated strongly. Users appreciate the concept of having a friend list where both parties have to agree to connect, fostering a sense of trust and mutual interest.

4. Simplicity in Design: A user-friendly and straightforward interface is crucial. Participants emphasized the importance of easy navigation and a clean design, making the platform accessible to a wide range of users.

5. Privacy and Security: Strong concerns were voiced about privacy and data security. Users seek assurance that their personal information and interactions are protected, highlighting the need for robust security measures and transparent privacy policies.

6. Quality Over Quantity in Content: Users prefer meaningful and relevant content over a constant stream of trivial updates. They value quality interactions that are engaging and significant to their lives.

Conclusion: The research indicates a demand for a social media platform like Social Circle that prioritizes genuine connections, user privacy, and simplicity. By focusing on intimate, reciprocal networks, facilitating real-life interactions, and ensuring a user-friendly and secure experience, Social Circle can successfully meet the evolving needs of social media users.

Market Research

In developing Social Circle, thorough market research was conducted to understand the current social media landscape, analyze the competition, and identify the preferences of our target audience. This research was critical to ensure that Social Circle addresses a genuine need in the market and is positioned to offer a unique value proposition.

Competitive Landscape: The market is saturated with social media platforms, but most are geared towards expanding user networks and public sharing. Our research showed that these platforms often lead to social media fatigue and a sense of disconnection. Social Circle stands out by offering a more focused and private experience, countering the trend of endless feeds and friend counts.

Market Gap Identification: A key finding was the absence of a platform that effectively balances the need for social interaction with the desire for privacy and authenticity. While many apps provide communication tools, few focus on maintaining a small, close-knit circle of friends. This gap presents an ideal opportunity for Social Circle to offer a distinct, user-focused social experience.

Potential for Innovation: The market research underscored the potential for a platform like Social Circle, which deviates from the norm of expansive social networks. There is a growing demand for a service that prioritizes user well-being, meaningful relationships, and a more balanced approach to social media usage.

Persona: Recent University Graduate

The ideal user for Social Circle is a recent university graduate, now in their early professional years. Balancing a demanding work schedule and social life, they value efficiency in maintaining their personal connections. They understand the importance of nurturing relationships, but find less time to engage on broad social media platforms.

This young professional is tech-savvy and prefers a streamlined, intuitive app. They seek a platform that enables them to maintain meaningful connections with close friends effortlessly, without the clutter and superficiality of traditional social media. Social Circle's focus on a limited, authentic social network resonates with their desire for quality interactions amidst their busy lifestyle.

Moodboard

Crafting the inspiration board was key to designing Social Circle. It guided the app's visual tone, ensuring a user interface that embodies ease and authenticity. This board, a mix of imagery and color, captured the spirit of close, personal social interactions. It was central to defining Social Circle's look and feel, sparking the creative framework for our design.

Onboarding Wireframes

The onboarding wireframes for Social Circle were meticulously crafted to ensure a welcoming and intuitive simple to the app. My aim was to make the user's first interaction with Social Circle not just informative but also engaging, setting the tone for the meaningful connections to come.

Onboarding Visual Design

In this phase for, the wireframes were transformed into a cohesive and visually appealing experience. The goal was to simplify the user journey even further while infusing it with a warm and inviting aesthetic that reflects the app's ethos.

Main Wireframes

This section of the design process focuses on creating a blueprint for the app's core features, including the timeline, profile, and other significant user interfaces. This stage is crucial for mapping out the functionality and layout before adding visual elements.

Main Visual Design

This is where the foundational wireframes evolve into a polished, visually-engaging user interface. This phase is about breathing life into the skeletal structure of the app's main components by applying aesthetic elements that align with the brand's values and user expectations.

Prototyping

Developing a high-fidelity interactive prototype was key in confirming the effectiveness of my designs. With a background as an App Developer, I understand the importance of establishing clear and detailed designs prior to initiating the development of the app.

To view and engage with the prototype, please click [HERE].

Feedback and Testing

In developing Social Circle, I placed great emphasis on continuous feedback and testing to refine the app's design and functionality. I focused on gathering user feedback specifically on the app's interface and interactions, with a keen interest in understanding how users felt about the ease of navigation and the robustness of the privacy settings.

Based on this feedback, I created two design variations, each tailored to enhance these well-received features. I conducted a series of A/B tests and usability testing sessions to closely observe user interactions and gather further feedback. This iterative process of constantly seeking and integrating user feedback is central to my approach in evolving Social Circle, ensuring that the app remains aligned with user needs and preferences.

Outcomes

The development stages of Social Circle, particularly the wireframing and feedback processes, were instrumental in shaping the app. Wireframing provided an essential blueprint for the app's structure and flow, allowing me to pinpoint and resolve usability issues early on. The feedback and testing phase was equally crucial, as it offered direct insights from users, ensuring the app’s design and features truly resonated with their needs.

About Me

I am a unique fusion of a designer and app developer, currently pursuing a master's degree in Management of Artificial Intelligence. With six apps to my name on the App Store, my journey reflects a blend of creativity and technical skill. Based in Toronto, Canada, my background includes experiences as a startup founder and a freelancer. At my core, I am driven by the challenge of harmonizing design with functionality in the evolving tech landscape.