Tools:
Figma, Adobe and post-it
Industry:
Entertaiment | Social Networking | Event planning
Duration:
3 Months
Overview
Hotspot is a mobile app designed to simplify nightlife planning for young adults. Whether it’s a spontaneous night out or a carefully planned event, Hotspot brings clarity and connection to your social scene.
Problem & Research.
How might we help young adults better coordinate nightlife plans to reduce confusion, adapt to last-minute changes, and stay connected with their group?
Many young adults struggle to coordinate nightlife plans, particularly on weekends and in popular nightlife areas. This issue often stems from disorganization, last-minute changes, and a lack of centralized communication tools, leading to confusion, missed connections, and frustration.
Last Minute plan changes
Difficulty tracking friends during the night
Safety concerns when alone or in unfamiliar areas
Feeling excluded in group decisions
Lack of clarity around event details (e.g., dress code, vibe)
"I wish I had more of a say in where we go.”
"It’s hard to find a place that matches the mood.”
"Plans always fall apart last minute.
Using the quantitative and qualitative data from interviews and survey results, we defined two profiles Jake (The Nightlife Enthusiast, 20 years old) and Emily (The Social Explorer, 24 years old) to better empathize with the main user groups and prioritize goals according to their needs.
Key Findings Overview
Planning nights out with friends often involves last-minute changes, unclear attendance, and scattered information. People rely on friends and social media to find events but still want key venue details upfront.
Group decision-making is frustrating, with many feeling they lack influence in the planning process. Users are generally open to sharing their location for safety and coordination, especially when it benefits the group experience.
There’s a clear opportunity for a simple, social planning tool that offers:
Real-time event updates
Friend tracking and invitations
Personalized venue suggestions
Location sharing for safety
Ideation & Product.
User Flow
Next, we mapped out the user flow, breaking down each stage of the app experience. We focused on defining the key actions users would take, and what jobs those actions accomplish within the app. This helped ensure that the user journey was intuitive, goal-oriented, and tailored to real-life scenarios—ultimately leading to a smoother and more satisfying user experience.
Core Tasks and features
Onboarding: Discover the app and create your profile
Event Discovery: Find your spot on the list
Group Planning: Voting, chats and organize the night
Location Sharing: Real time location sharing
Post Event: Post your memories and review it later!
Wireframes
Wire-framing, Prototyping & Usability-Testing (Low-Fidelity Prototype) This testing phase focused on overall usability, clarity of the interface, and effectiveness of key tasks related to planning and coordinating a night out.
During testing, users provided valuable feedback that helped identify areas of improvement for the experience.
Conclusion
This project was a valuable opportunity to apply a user-centered design approach from start to finish. Through research, collaboration, testing, and iteration, we developed a solution that not only addressed user needs but also aligned with business goals. Along the way, I strengthened my skills in UX strategy, communication, and problem-solving. The experience reinforced the importance of empathy, flexibility, and feedback in the design process. Overall, this project was both a learning experience and a step forward in my journey as a UX designer.
