Friendly
Friendly is an application designed to help individuals with social anxiety find new friends and interact with people.
Role
UX/UI
Duration
2 Months
Tools
Figma
Miro
Adobe PS
Lookback
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Problem
Overview
Social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. are strongly associated with Subjective Well-Being and there is a lot of research that associates them with social anxiety. Thus, I started the project with a clear problem statement (How might we create a digital application that focuses on people with social anxiety and helps them find new friends and overcome anxiety issues?).
Constraints
☹ The main constraint was the probability of the app turning into a traditional dating app and using it in a wrong way.
☹ Additionally, consideration should be given to how to ensure users’ safety while they interact with strangers, and prevent negative energy from spreading.
☹ Finding recruiters with social anxiety symptoms for user interviews and user testing was a big challenge, I had to find people with the required criteria and encourage them to have an interview.
Design Process
Research - Understanding Target Audience
To understand the pain points and needs of the target audience, I conducted a semi-structured interview and a survey study. However, finding people with social anxiety to interview was a challenge. To make them feel more comfortable, I made the interview feel like a friendly chat. I also conducted secondary research by reading scientific papers to build a stronger understanding of the problem.
Research Notes
Analyzing Data
After conducting the primary and secondary research I had a lot of data, so I used the affinity mapping framework to help me organize the data and find common themes, key insights, and pain points that users share.
Then I translated the pain points into “How might we” questions to organize my approach and eventually, I defined some opportunities and a clear direction for my product.
Pain Points & Opportunities
Features List
Looking at the target audience pain points and core needs, I was able to came up with a list of features. The list included:
Scoping & Planning
Coming from a programming background, I learned how to deal with the scope of a problem or feature, I needed to check the ability to make every feature and prioritize the features accordingly.
So, I used the Complexity/Value matrix to prioritize the features and have a clear idea about the complexity of every feature.
Sketching
After getting a clear idea of what direction I should head into, it was time for me to translate all the insights into a visual solution. I started with low-fidelity sketches to be able to iterate faster and try different ideas.
I used different techniques to generate new ideas. techniques like craze-8s and combinatorics helped me brainstorm and generate different designs.
My goal was to make the screens as clear and positive as possible for the target users.
Sketches Iterations
Prototyping & User Testing
At this stage, I had to transform my sketches into mid-fidelity wireframes to conduct user testing and find opportunities to improve the user experience.
After conducting the user testing, I found areas to improve in my design. Then, I had to transform the mid-fidelity prototype into a high-fidelity design with consideration of accessibility principles.
Mid-fi prototype for signing up user flow
Visual Style & Branding
While moving to High fidelity design, I also started with building the product brand including color palette, typography, etc.
I chose blue as the primary color because blue is a communicative and compassionate color. It will help spread positive energy.
I came up with this choice after researching the color theory to build an understanding of how colors affect the mind.
High Fidelity Screens sample
User Testing with Lookback
I needed to test my final design to find opportunities to improve, so I used the lookback testing tool to conduct unmoderated usability sessions to test my design and to get test insights.
After reviewing the usability sessions, I stood on solid ground for how to improve my design to be more user-centered design.
Future Thoughts
If Friendly were to become a real product, my next step would be to get feedback based on the actual use from users to re-iterate the design to suit their needs.
Also tracking KPIs and measuring performance would be most valuable to find areas to improve and iterate on for an improved user experience. My end goal is to create an experience that cares about users with SAD who suffer in making friends in the digital world.
PROBLEM
People who need to upgrade their pc face various problems and easily get lost in the huge market. Also with price increasing, purchasing a new part becomes a huge pain for the user, apart from purchasing a wrong piece or facing compitablity issues.
SOLUTION
A valid digital solution is to design an all-in-one website that people can use as a guide when buying a new pc part or check a specific part, and get recommendation about what should they buy and where
DESIGN PROCESS
UNDERSTANDING TARGET USERS
| Primary Research
My research plan goal was to empathize with my users, and the best method was to get in-depth with the target user through primary qualitative research including unstructured user interviews.
| Recruiting
The users the project target are people that need to upgrade their PC either for business or playing video games and have limited information about the industry. 5 Participants were required to ran the research and I searched for suitable participants in social media groups related to the subject.
USER JOURNEY MAP
USER PERSONA
BRAINSTORMING
| Turning opportunities into How might we questions
After getting to understand the target users' pain points, I had a list of pain points I needed to address. So, I translated those pain points into "How might we" question to brainstorm and generate a wide range of potential solutions.
FEATURES LIST
| Scoping - Prioritizing features
I needed to prioritize design decisions and the features based on the potential impact they may have on the user experience. So, I used the Complexity/Value matrix as a tool to help me ensure that design efforts are focused on the areas that will have the greatest impact.
USER FLOW
WIREFRAMES
It was the time for me to translate all these decisions into a visual solution for the users to use. I started drawing low fidelity sketches to iterate and try different ideas faster, and I came out with the base wireframes for the final UI.
VISUAL STYLE & BRANDING
HIGH-FIDELITY SCREENS
| Home Screen
| System Check
| System Builder
| Recommendation
PROTOTYPE ON FIGMA

Hi there, I’m Ebrahim
A UX Designer

I'm a user experience designer dedicated to solving complex problems through thoughtful design, I believe in creating digital experiences that are not only beautiful, but also intuitive and accessible to all.

Project – PC ARCH
PC Arch is a website that aims to help users with limited hardware knowledge upgrade their computers and make informed purchasing decisions through a simple and intuitive interface.
View Project
Project – FRIENDLY
Friendly is a social network app that aims to help individuals with social anxiety connect with others through a range of features designed to reduce anxiety and foster positive interactions.
View Project
My Story
As a junior UX Designer, my passion for research and discovery began during my time studying archeology in college. It was through this experience that I developed a strong interest in exploring and uncovering new insights. I discovered that the field of UX Design provided the perfect opportunity to combine my love for design with my desire to investigate and discover. I have since dedicated myself to expanding my skills and knowledge in UX Design, with a focus on user research and creating intuitive, user-centered experiences. I am excited to continue my journey in this dynamic and ever-evolving field, and to use my skills to help users achieve their goals and improve their overall experience.
Ebrahim Mohamed