1
Project Overview
Project
Project type
Role
Tools
Troov
2025
Case Study
Research
Product Design
UX/UI Design
Brand identity
Illustration
Motion Design
FIGMA
Photoshop
Illustrator
After Effects
Connecting people through
shared experiences
The problem - Traditional social apps have created a paradox: more connections but less meaningful interaction. Users face endless swiping, superficial matches, and the anxiety of awkward first meetings with strangers. The digital connection economy prioritizes quantity over quality, leaving people feeling isolated despite being "connected."
The goal - To design an activity-first platform that facilitates authentic human connections. Troov uses AI to match people through shared interests and real-world experiences, transforming how people meet by focusing on what they love to do rather than who they appear to be. Our mission: make social connection feel human again.
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2
Quick links
3
Empathize
If dating stays digital, how do we build real-world chemistry?
In this section
Research plan
& script
Interview
takeaways
User
persona
Key
objectives
Research plan
& interview script
Research approach
To dive into how people genuinely meet, date, and build friendships today, I conducted 1:1 interviews to surface personal stories, challenge assumptions, and uncover needs around spontaneous social experiences. These sessions helped reveal what truly matters to users trying to connect in a digital-first world.
Methodology
1:1 conversations with 3–5 users via in-person or Google Meet. Notes were transcribed using Otter.ai for deeper analysis.
Objectives
Understand how people currently discover and connect with others, identify friction points in their journey, and explore what helps or hinders genuine relationships based on shared experiences.
User behavior & motivations
- How do you usually meet new people, romantically or socially?
- What’s your experience been like using apps for dating or making friends?
- What’s the hardest part about forming a meaningful connection with someone new?
- Have you ever attended a date or meetup centered around a shared activity? What was that like?
- Do you enjoy spontaneous plans or prefer structured experiences?
- Can you recall the last time you tried something new with someone you just met?
- How do you feel about meeting people online compared to in-person?
- What makes a first meetup or date feel relaxed and natural for you?
- What does a “genuine connection” mean in your own words?
- Is there anything you wish more people understood about your social/dating journey?
Current tools & future ideas
- Which apps do you use to meet new people? What do you like or dislike about them?
- Do you prefer connecting based on profiles or through shared interests and experiences?
- Have you tried any platforms that recommend activities or events as part of the meetup?
- What types of activities would make you feel excited to meet someone new?
- How comfortable are you with going out to meet someone for the first time?
- Would having a shared activity help break the ice?
- How do you usually decide what to do on a first date or casual meetup?
- Can you remember the last time you formed a new connection through an app? How did that happen?
- How do you feel about AI suggesting potential matches or experiences?
- Would you use a feature that helps plan your first meetup automatically?
- What’s missing in today's social or dating apps that you wish existed?
Interview
takeaways
Shallow interactions
Users often feel disconnected on typical social platforms. Conversations rarely lead to something real, and many are left feeling unfulfilled by endless chatting and swiping without purpose.
Disconnected
Bored
Planning fatigue
While people want to meet offline, the back-and-forth of planning often becomes a blocker. Finding common times, places, and interests turns spontaneous moments into chores.
Drained
Overwhelmed
Social hesitation
Many people feel unsure about reaching out or making the first move. Fear of rejection or awkwardness often gets in the way, even when there's genuine interest in connecting.
Anxious
Hesitant
User
persona
Alex Rivera
AGE
LOCATION
STATUS
OCCUPATION
EDUCATION
INTERESTS
INCOME
TECH USAGE
Background
Alex is a creative professional who recently moved to Austin. Passionate about design and community engagement, Alex seeks meaningful connections through shared experiences rather than traditional dating apps.
Apps & platforms
Meetup
Eventbrite
Spotify
Troov
"I prefer meeting people through activities we both enjoy; it feels more natural and less forced."
"Traditional dating apps feel like a chore. I want to connect over shared experiences, not just profiles."
Goals & Aspirations
- Forge authentic relationships through meaningful shared experiences rather than superficial digital interactions.
- Discover Austin's vibrant cultural landscape - from live music to food scenes - with companions who share my passions.
- Find a platform that facilitates real-world connections and minimizes endless messaging through structured activity-based interactions.
Challenges & Pain Points
- Frustration with swipe-based dating apps that prioritize appearance over shared interests and values.
- Difficulty coordinating schedules and planning activities due to demanding work commitments.
- Navigating social isolation in a new city while seeking genuine connections beyond transactional meetups.
Behavioral Patterns & Insights
- Spends 2+ hours daily across multiple platforms researching local events, meetups, and activity groups.
- Consistently attends 2-3 cultural events monthly but struggles to convert attendance into lasting connections.
- Actively seeks structured community activities where shared experiences naturally facilitate deeper conversations.
Financial Preferences
Prefers seamless digital payment options with strong security measures and rewards programs.
Key
objectives
Reduce the noise
How might we help people escape digital overload and give them one clear space to make social plans that feel natural and low-pressure
Spark real moments
How might we encourage spontaneous real-life meetups in a way that feels safe comfortable and easy to act on
Make it playful
How might we design social experiences that are light engaging and fun so people actually want to use it regularly
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Ideate
“The day before something is a breakthrough, it’s a crazy idea.”
In this section
project space
definition
Features
categorization
MVP
Roadmap
Project
Space Definition
Introduction
To effectively determine, categorize, and prioritize features for Troov, I conducted in-depth research into its core functionality as an activity-based social connection platform.
What is Troov?
Troov is a mobile platform that facilitates meaningful one-on-one connections through shared activities. Users create, discover, and join real-world experiences ("Troovs") based on mutual interests, moving beyond profile-based matching to activity-first connections.
Core Philosophy
Troov operates on three principles: Authentic Connections through shared experiences, Effortless Planning via AI assistance, and Safety First with verified profiles and location controls.
Troov Activity Types
1. Outdoor Adventures
Hiking, swimming, sunset watching, running, park activities
2. Urban Explorations
Vintage shopping, food tours, BBQ outings, shopping sprees
3. Cultural & Social Events
Concerts, art walks, museum visits, coffee meetups
4. Learning & Collaboration
Study sessions, workshops, collaborative projects
5. Sports & Fitness
Jogging partners, gym sessions, sports matches, yoga classes
6. Food & Dining
Restaurant hopping, food truck adventures, cooking classes
7. Special Interest Groups
Book clubs, gaming sessions, photography walks
Key Troov Features
1. AI-Powered Planning
Automated scheduling, location suggestions, personalized recommendations
2. Campus Verification
.edu authentication, campus-only matching, student safety features
3. Activity Management
Troov creation, calendar integration, real-time updates
4. Connection System
24-hour response guarantee, mutual confirmation, request management
5. Rewards Program
Troov Points system, partner perks, activity incentives
6. Safety Protocols
Location masking, ID verification, chat moderation, reporting tools
Features
Categorization
2 Step Method
To translate research insights into actionable features, I categorized and prioritized functionality using a dual approach: Cross-Categorization aligning features with core objectives, followed by MoSCoW prioritization for MVP definition.
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Cross Categorization Approach
Features were organized by functional area and mapped to Troov's key objectives: Simplify connections, Personalize experiences, and Ensure safety. Color coding shows each feature's primary objective alignment.
Activity Discovery
Search & Filter
Troov Details
AI Recommendations
Activity Notifications
Location-Based Discovery
Interest Matching
Calendar Sync
Save Favorites
My Troovs
Activity Feed
Connection Management
Request System
Mutual Confirmation
User Verification
Response Tracking
Activity Chat
Connection History
Profile Compatibility
Safety Controls
.edu Authentication
Block/Report
AI Concierge
Smart Scheduling
Personalization Engine
Activity Suggestions
Match Compatibility
Location Optimization
Time Coordination
Interest Analysis
Reminder System
Rewards & Engagement
Troov Points
Partner Perks
Activity Ratings
Experience Enhancement
Personal Feed
Offline Access
Rewards System
Custom Profiles
Social Sharing
Relation to Key Objectives
Simplify Connections
Personalize Experiences
Ensure Safety
2
MoSCoW Prioritization
Using the MoSCoW method to define MVP scope by categorizing features based on criticality:
- Must-have - Core functionality without which the product can't function
- Should-have - Important but not vital for initial launch
- Could-have - Desirable enhancements for future versions
- Won't-have - Excluded from current roadmap
Must have
- Activity Creation & Posting
- Troov Discovery & Browsing
- Connection Request System
- 24-hour Response Guarantee
- User Verification (.edu/auth)
- AI Scheduling Assistant
- Safety & Privacy Controls
- Calendar Integration
Should have
- Campus-Specific Features
- Troov Points Rewards System
- Personalization Engine
- Activity Ratings & Reviews
- Social Sharing Capabilities
- Advanced Filtering Options
- Offline Access
- Partner Integrations
Could have
- Group Activity Support
- Premium Subscription Tier
- Activity Challenges & Badges
- AR Location Features
- Mood-Based Matching
- Video Profile Introductions
- Event Collaborations
- Wearable Device Integration
Won't have
- Virtual Reality Meetups
- Cryptocurrency Payments
- Traditional Dating Algorithm
- Professional Networking
- Marketplace Features
- Content Streaming
- Job Matching Services
- Travel Planning Tools
MVP
Roadmap
5
Prototype
Building connections
through experiences
In this section
Activity flow
& wireframes
User
testing
insights
Troov
design system
Final
prototype
Activity Flow
& Wireframes
Why focus on activity flow?
I prioritized designing the journey for a new user creating their first Troov activity. The goal was to develop intuitive wireframes for testing, ensuring both onboarding and activity creation would be seamless for first-time users unfamiliar with activity-based social platforms.
Activity Creation Flow | Preview | v1
Onboarding & Activity Setup | Low fidelity wireframes | v1
User Testing
Insights
Research Approach
Observed users completing core tasks: creating a hiking Troov and joining a coffee meetup. Participants verbalized actions and emotions throughout the activity flow.
Methodology
1:1 moderated testing | 5 participants | Observational protocol
Figma prototype | Note-taking via Otter.ai
Objectives
• Identify friction points in activity creation
• Optimize first-time experience for retention
• Measure emotional response during key interactions
• Track task completion time and success rate
Activity Setup
Complexity
Finding. Users struggled with multi-step activity creation, especially with location and time selection fields.
Solution. Simplified to 3-step process with AI auto-suggestions for locations and smart time slots based on availability.
Connection
Uncertainty
Finding. Users felt anxious waiting for responses to join requests with no status visibility.
Solution. Added real-time status indicators and automated "response within 24h" reminders to reduce anxiety.
Safety
Concerns
Finding. First-time users hesitated sharing location details before mutual confirmation.
Solution. Implemented graduated location sharing: neighborhood-level first, exact address only after mutual acceptance.
Troov
Design System
Why "Troov"?
The name "Troov" blends "true" and "move", reflecting our mission to foster authentic connections through shared experiences. It captures the spirit of genuine human interaction and the momentum of real-world activities.
Vibrant & Energetic Palette
Our color scheme reflects the dynamic nature of real-world activities. The gradient from indigo to coral symbolizes the transition from digital connection to real-world experiences, while maintaining visual clarity and accessibility.
Adventurous Illustrations
Our illustrations feature active silhouettes and nature elements that embody the spirit of exploration. They guide users through the app with a sense of movement and anticipation, reinforcing the excitement of new connections.
Logo Design
Colors
Typography
Troov UI Previews
