Nest Application

Prototype Here

The Problem

Social platforms marketed toward connection often replicate dating-app mechanics such as swiping, infinite scrolling, and reward loops. For students, especially those navigating college life for the first time, these patterns can increase emotional strain, surface-level interactions, and loneliness rather than reduce it.

Within the American University context, students face:

  • Large workloads and shifting schedules

  • Difficulty forming connections outside their major

  • Unclear social intentions on existing platforms

  • Emotional fatigue from ghosting and abrupt conversations

The core challenge was designing a social platform that fosters intentional, healthy connections without replicating harmful engagement-driven patterns.

Project Overview

Nest is a calm, multi-intentional social connection app designed specifically for American University students. Unlike dating-app-style platforms that prioritize engagement metrics and fast judgment, Nest centers intentional connection, emotional well-being, and trust. The platform supports friendship, collaboration, dating, and skill-sharing through curated discovery rather than infinite scrolling.

Research & Insights

Research Methods

  • User interviews with 5 American University students

  • Competitive analysis of existing social platforms

  • Review of academic literature on social well-being, belonging, and calm technology

Key Findings

Students expressed a strong need for:

  • Clear intention-setting (friendship, collaboration, dating, skill-sharing)

  • Curated discovery without infinite scrolling or swiping

  • Compatibility indicators beyond photos (MBTI, zodiac, questionnaires)

  • Profile customization that reflects identity and personality

  • Trust and safety grounded in AU community values

  • Healthier communication tools, including respectful conversation closure

Competitive Landscape

Dating Apps (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge)

  • Fast-paced judgment and infinite scrolling

  • Monetized access to meaningful features

  • Shallow interaction patterns

Friendship Apps (Bumble BFF, YikYak, MeetMe)

  • Repurposed dating-app interfaces

  • Lack of true structural differentiation

Networking Platforms (LinkedIn, Discord, Geneva)

  • Functionally effective but emotionally impersonal

  • Professional norms limit personal connection

These platforms fail to support the nuanced social needs of university communities.

User Personas

Maya Thompson

Age: 20 | Undergraduate | International Relations
Goals: Build meaningful friendships outside her major, collaborate on projects
Pain Points: Overwhelmed by dating apps, unclear social intentions

Alex Rivera

Age: 22 | Graduate | Computer Science
Goals: Skill-sharing, study partnerships, occasional dating
Pain Points: Impersonal professional platforms, ghosting experiences

User Scenarios

  • Maya sets her intention to Friendship and browses curated weekly match drops.

  • Alex selects Collaboration, completes a compatibility questionnaire, and connects using anti-ghosting tools.

  • Maya browses skill-sharing opportunities to plan a campus event and schedules an in-person meeting with a verified AU student.

Goals & Success Criteria

  • Reduce cognitive and emotional overload during discovery

  • Make social intentions explicit and respected

  • Encourage deeper, more intentional connections

  • Build trust through verification and safety features

  • Support multiple connection types within one platform

Success Indicators:

  • Onboarding completed in under 10 minutes

  • Clear understanding of user intentions

  • Calm, low-pressure discovery experience

  • Increased user comfort and confidence

Creative Direction & Design Principles

Core Principles

  • Calm technology over compulsive engagement

  • Intentional discovery instead of endless choice

  • Emotional safety and clarity

  • Community trust and inclusion

Visual Direction

  • Soft, calming color palette

  • Minimal typography and interface clutter

  • Clear intention labels and visual hierarchy

UX Strategy & Information Architecture

Key Features

  • Intention-based onboarding (Friendship, Collaboration, Dating, Skill Sharing)

  • Curated weekly match drops (no infinite scroll)

  • Personality-driven profiles

  • AU email verification

  • Anti-ghosting conversation closure templates

Usability Requirements

  • Intuitive navigation with minimal cognitive load

  • Clear distinction between user intentions

  • Profiles designed for expression beyond photos

Design & Prototyping

Low-Fidelity Wireframes

  • Pinterest-style discovery grids

  • Minimal text and visual noise

  • Emphasis on intention clarity

High-Fidelity Prototype

  • Functional navigation and onboarding

  • Messaging system with anti-ghosting tools

  • Verified AU student indicators

  • Calm interaction patterns applied throughout

Prototype Here

Usability Testing & Iteration

Testing Plan

  • Participants: 3 AU students (ages 20–22)

  • Tasks: Onboarding, discovery boards, messaging features

  • Metrics: Emotional comfort, clarity, ease of use

Key Issues Identified

  • Confusion between Collaboration and Skill Sharing intentions

  • Difficulty locating goodbye templates

  • Misunderstanding curated match updates

  • Unclear reporting mechanism

Iterations Implemented

  • Allowed multiple intentions to be selected

  • Simplified profile sections

  • Added clearer reporting and exit options

Outcome & Impact

The Nest prototype demonstrates that a university-tailored, multi-intentional social platform is both feasible and ethically responsible. By limiting choice, emphasizing calm design, and prioritizing trust, Nest reduces decision fatigue and improves emotional comfort during social discovery.