Social computing changed how we connect. During the pandemic, many applications were developed to facilitate communication and socialization among individuals who were physically distanced. We need better ways to strengthen bonds, improve interactions, and offer emotional support even when we're apart.
Problem
“How might we help individuals feel emotionally connected to their loved ones despite physical distance?”
Background
People deeply value meaningful interactions with their friends and family but feel limited by current social platforms, which often focus on simple text or static images. I wanted to create a way for users to engage more emotionally and personally, beyond just sharing messages or posts. I realized that no app combines emotional support and shared activities seamlessly.
Send a gesture!
Better Bonds encourages meaningful connections through interactive gestures like sending a kiss, pat on the back, or hug, fostering stronger bonds between friends.
Draw together!
Better Bonds fosters creativity and collaboration by allowing friends to swipe up and draw together in real time.
Share Calendar!
Better Bonds enhances connection with features like mood sharing and a shared calendar, making it easier to stay in sync with friends.
Research & Ideation
Like many people, I cherish the small but meaningful ways we connect with others—whether it's a hug, a shared laugh, or simply being on the same page with a friend. However, I often noticed how technology, while bringing us closer, sometimes lacked tools to help deepen those connections in intentional ways. This led me to explore ways to strengthen relationships through digital interactions.
User Interview
To better understand how people nurture their friendships and what gaps exist in current digital tools, I conducted 10 user interviews, both in-person and over the phone, and distributed questionnaires. From this research, I learned that while users highly value their friendships, they often feel disconnected due to their busy schedules and limited communication options beyond basic messaging apps.
Findings
Users expressed a desire for playful, interactive ways to stay connected with friends, especially when physical distance was a barrier.
Nearly all participants expressed interest in features that allow for collaborative activities or simple gestures that convey care and thoughtfulness.
Many users noted that existing apps feel transactional or lack emotional depth.
Market Research
I examined existing applications and technologies designed to address the challenges of long-distance relationships. Notable solutions are mentioned in the diagram beside. However, these tools still lack the essential elements of constant emotional support, real-time understanding of emotions, maintaining strong bonds with friends, and lacks quality time with loved ones.
Friends Matter
During interviews with Better Bonds users, I noticed:
Users value sharing personal moments and gestures with their friends.
Users want meaningful ways to stay in touch, beyond just text messages.
Many users expressed feeling disconnected from friends despite having constant communication.
User Needs
Before designing the solution, I identified a conflict between user needs and the limitations of current apps:
Users want more personal, interactive ways to connect with friends, but existing tools lack depth in emotional engagement.
Current apps focus on surface-level communication but don't address emotional well-being or how to maintain a strong bond through digital spaces.
How can I meet the need for deeper, more meaningful connections, while still being easy to use and engaging?
Finding Balance
From the user research, I realized the balance: creating features that encourage real-time interaction and emotional support while also keeping users engaged with fun and playful elements. This ensures the app fosters genuine connections, making the solution both valuable for users and sustainable for business. By integrating features like collaborative drawing, mood sharing, and simple interactive gestures, Better Bonds achieves the balance of being engaging while also encouraging deeper, more meaningful connections that users value.
Defining the Problem
"How might we enhance emotional connection in the Better Bonds experience?"
Storyboarding
I storyboarded two ideas that align closely with our ideology. For each idea, I created a scenario with unique features to empathize more with the users. These concepts were the result of the brainstorming.
User Flow
To ensure maximum accessibility of the app, I developed a comprehensive user flow. Please check out the detailed user flow here.
Low Fidelity Sketches
Internal Evaluation
I conducted a Cognitive Walkthrough to evaluate the functionality of our paper prototype and identified key recommendations for enhancing the design.
Findings
Users needed confirmation that their mood was added successfully.
Users were confused by the calendar feature.
Confirmation of mood addition was unclear.
Iterations
Add a visual cue or prompt to confirm mood addition.
Enhance the calendar with clear labels and visual cues to indicate whose calendar is being viewed.
Use success messages or animated feedback to confirm mood was successfully added.
Prototype
Product Evaluation
During the product evaluation, multiple participants with different backgrounds and experiences provided feedback on the application.
The participants highlighted both positive aspects and areas for improvement. They found the application's overall experience to be good, intuitive, and easy to use.
The gesture and mood card features, as well as the chat rooms, were particularly praised.
However, some participants mentioned that the application might have too many features, making it overwhelming for the average user.
Feedback from the participants also emphasized the need for improvements in terms of user interface, navigation, and accessibility.
