Not Another Social Media App: Design to Assist Community Interaction in the Digital Age

This Master of Design Research project explores the question “How can design assist community interaction in the digital age?” by examining community dynamics in the era of social media and understanding the role of design in this space. The study identifies the widening gap between virtual and physical communities, which leads to the design exploration for an appropriate solution. The design outcome offers a hybrid social experience that leverages digital technology to support and enhance community interaction. Humans are social beings. We live with families, we work in teams, and we bond over shared beliefs. The human brain is hard-wired to connect; it’s an important part of our adaptive skills (Lieberman, 2013). When coming together, we form communities for support and companionship. As the internet becomes an integral part of daily life, face-to-face communication is no longer the only way to build connections. In the online space, human interaction can be designed and mediated through digital means. There are currently numerous community platforms to help fulfill the human need to connect. However, when interviewed many young adults said they feel disconnected from the people around them, despite being socially active online. A comparative analysis of three community platforms– Facebook Groups, Meetup and Mighty Networks – pinpoints the gap between product directions and user needs. Moreover, the study shows a lack of emphasis on building local communities. As a result, it reveals opportunities for a new design intervention. The research is conducted through participatory methods, such as in-depth interviews and focus group activities, to study how young adults interact with community in the digital age. The participants are carefully recruited to fit the research focus and ensure effective collaboration. As they share valuable insights and inspire the solution, they become an important part of the project. The collected qualitative data help build a user mental model and direct the design exploration. The synthesis of primary and secondary research results in the design of a hyperlocal community platform that allows users to interact with the communities around them. This mobile-native experience blends virtual interactions into the physical world which gives young adults an easy way to build new relationships. The design solution aims to narrow the gap between online and in-person connections by introducing a new but familiar way of interacting. This in turn will reinvigorate digital natives’ social lives.