LinkUp
LinkUp is a concept social app that helps people turn good intentions into real plans, connecting nearby friends around shared values and spontaneous, low-pressure meetups. The problem: existing apps like Meetup and Bumble BFF felt too rigid, built around structured events rather than the casual, last-minute hangouts people actually wanted.
As the sole UX designer, I owned the research, the user flow, the wireframes, and the final high-fidelity prototype.
Client
Independent Concept
Type
Social Meetup App
Year
2024
Role
Lead UX/UI Designer
Process
Understanding the problem
I interviewed users and studied platforms like Meetup, Bumble BFF, and LEX to understand why staying socially connected felt so hard. A clear pattern emerged: people wanted spontaneous, low-maintenance ways to meet others nearby who shared their values, but existing apps forced them into rigid, pre-planned events. I mapped these insights with affinity mapping, and the core need became obvious: proximity, shared values, and as little planning friction as possible.
Designing the experience
I translated those findings into a flow built around three ideas: proximity-based friend suggestions, value-driven matching, and effortless spontaneous planning. I designed a map-based discovery experience so people could see nearby activities and like-minded users at a glance, plus a lightweight way to create or join a meetup without the usual coordination overhead.
Refining the flow
I tested the prototype with my primary user and refined the friction points. The message center felt cluttered, so I added collapsible sections to keep it calm. The friends page lacked clarity, so I added profile cues showing distance and shared interests. And the moments section was overwhelming, so I limited it to the most recent activity with a "show more" option, keeping the experience focused.
Key design decisions
People wanted to connect spontaneously, but every existing app made them plan ahead. So the most important decision was to design around a live, map-based view of nearby people and activities, surfacing who and what was close right now. That single choice turned LinkUp from "another events app" into something built for the way people actually decide to hang out.
Outcome
The final design made spontaneous, value-based connection feel simple. People could discover nearby friends and activities, understand at a glance who shared their interests, and join a meetup without wading through planning steps.
By combining proximity, shared values, and a low-friction flow, LinkUp turned the vague "we should hang out" into something easy to act on.
