Lonely Bubble
Foster emotional connections and offer a safe and supportive environment for people who feel lonely
Introduction
New York is often known as a bustling city that can feel isolating and lonely for many. Our team has developed an app that can help build emotional connections and provide a safe and supportive environment for those struggling with feelings of isolation. Our app offers a platform where individuals can come together, express their feelings, and receive support from others who may be experiencing similar emotions.
Define
Loneliness
"Loneliness, as defined by mental health professionals, is a gap between the level of connectedness that you want and what you have. It is not the same as social isolation, which is codified in the social sciences as a measure of a person’s contacts. Loneliness is a subjective feeling. People can have a lot of contact and still be lonely, or be perfectly content by themselves.
For many New Yorkers, the pandemic brought too much contact with others — in crowded apartments, workplaces or subways. But the contacts were not necessarily fulfilling or desired and maybe seemed dangerous. This, too, is a condition for loneliness."
-----New York Time
During our research, we find 53% of Americans said they had felt lonely or isolated sometime in 2020. And in a recent citywide survey by New York’s health department, 57 percent of people said they felt lonely some or most of the time, and two-thirds said they felt socially isolated in the prior month.
Insight
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Many people in NYC are solely focused on their own goals and aspirations, leaving little time or energy for social interaction.
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The fast-paced lifestyle of the city makes it difficult to build and maintain meaningful connections with others.
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The sheer size of the city can make it challenging to find a sense of community and belonging. People may feel lost in the crowd, invisible to those around them. The city can be overwhelming and intimidating, which can make it difficult for newcomers to establish a social circle.
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With so many options, it can be challenging to decide where to go or what to do, leading to decision fatigue and ultimately, isolation.
Pain points
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Difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions
Past negative experiences of sharing emotions, such as being dismissed, invalidated, or rejected -
Trust is crucial in any relationship, including when it comes to sharing emotions.
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If an individual lacks trust in others, either due to past betrayals or a general lack of confidence in others' ability to handle their emotions with care and empathy, they may hesitate to share their emotions openly.
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Some people may worry about burdening others with their emotions. They may not want to impose their emotional struggles on others or feel like they are being a bother to those around them.
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Some individuals may have a personal preference for keeping their emotions private and may not feel comfortable sharing them with others, even if they have close relationships.
Problem Statement
User Persona/ Journey
Design
Wireframing
Initial Screens
Our initial goal was to record the stories by voice, divided personal and public pages to let users to view their own postings and to view public stories separately. However, we found four problems from the user testing.
UX Flow Diagram
Final Screen
Team members
Becky Hwang
Sunwoo Park
Yiran Chi
Year
2023